Position Announcement: Director of the School of the Visual Arts
Virginia Tech, College of Architecture & Urban Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University (Virginia Tech) seeks a capable, energetic visionary leader to be the
Director of the School of the Visual Arts (SOVA). The Director will provide
effective intellectual, creative and administrative leadership and further
develop the prominence of the School. SOVA currently offers an expansive
undergraduate education in fine arts, art history, and visual and digital
design, embracing contemporary and traditional techniques. Through Studio Art,
Visual Communication Design and Art History Programs, SOVA offers an inclusive
approach toward educating artists, implementing new and established
technologies in analog and virtual realms that are uniquely available at
Virginia Tech.
The School offers the following undergraduate
degrees: BFA in Visual Communication Design; BFA in Studio Art; BA in Art
History and a new MFA in Creative Technologies. Building upon strong
undergraduate programs, SOVA will begin admitting students into the new MFA
program in Creative Technologies in the fall of 2011. A new master's degree in
Material Culture and Public Humanities is also being implemented. The goal is
to educate talented, imaginative, and diverse artists, designers, and scholars
who interface creatively and positively with the society of the 21st Century.
A vibrant community of artists, scholars,
educators and students, SOVA encourages collaboration, collegiality, and
conversation within the context of the arts and the greater community. The
School of Visual Arts is one of four schools in the College of Architecture and
Urban Planning (CAUS), a multi-disciplinary college with highly ranked programs
in art and design. SOVA is comprised of 23 faculty, instructors, and staff
members serving approximately 275 students in art and design majors in a
student body of 30,000 university students. In recent years, an impressive
infusion of new faculty talent has been added to a solid foundation of senior
faculty. These new faculty bring specialties in Animation, Creative
Technologies, Interactive Design, New Media and Visual Culture.
The Director will articulate and implement a
vision for the future of SOVA and represent the school in several arts-related
initiatives including: Virginia Tech's Strategic Initiative in the Arts that
includes an $89 million Center for the Arts, currently under construction and
The Collaborative for Creative Technologies in the Arts and Design (CCTAD).
CCTAD was created in response to the Provost's call for new initiatives in the
areas of the biosciences, critical technologies, and the arts, humanities, and
social sciences at Virginia Tech and brings together the artistic and
technological expertise in the School of Visual Arts and the departments of
Communication, Computer Science, and Music.
In addition the Director will lead fund raising
efforts, provide leadership for interactions with partners within the art
community and exercise administrative responsibility for fiscal management,
human resources and communications within the school.
Candidates should have achieved national
distinction in their discipline, administrative experience, and visionary
leadership. It is anticipated that the appointment will be at the rank of
Professor with tenure. The successful Candidates should be an artist, designer
and/or scholar who have significant experience and achievement in his or her
field. The candidate should have a terminal degree and an established record of
academic achievement. The candidate should be distinguished in leadership
within creative arts and have a demonstrated record of working collaboratively
with colleagues.
Highly desirable attributes include: administrative
success, demonstrated experience in leading diverse faculty, research and/or
professional programs, fund-raising and work with industry partners.
The initial term of appointment for the Director
is 5 years with the opportunity for reappointment.
Application: All applicants must submit an
Electronic Submission (required) to the Online Virginia Tech Job Site athttp://www.jobs.vt.edu referencing
posting 0100714.
Applicants must include:
· Cover Letter
· Curriculum Vita/Resume CV
· Candidate Vision Statement: Addressing the
Future of the Creative Disciplines
· Contact information for at least 5 individuals
providing references
All Documents are to be attached as PDF or a Word
File.
Established in 1872 as a land-grant college,
Virginia Tech is a comprehensive research university with more than 29,000
students. Blacksburg is consistently ranked among the country's best places to
live. It is a scenic and vibrant community nestled in the New River Valley
between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains. The town is near national
forests, state parks, and other regional attractions of Southwest Virginia,
renowned for their history and natural beauty.
Virginia Tech has a strong commitment to the
principles of diversity, inclusion, and to maintaining a work and learning
environment that is free of all forms of discrimination. It is the recipient of
a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to
increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering
careers. Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
The committee will begin reviewing applications on
November 1, 2010. Examples of scholarly work or a portfolio may be requested as
the review process proceeds. Applications will be received and evaluated until
this position is filled. Inquiries about the position or from individuals
desiring accommodations in the application process should be directed to:
Dr. Patrick A. Miller, Search Committee Chair ([log in to unmask])
Assoc. Dean for Grad. Studies and Outreach
College of Architecture and Urban Studies
202 Cowgill Hall (0205)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone 540-231-0611 Fax 540-231-6332
Jeremy Hunsinger
Center for Digital Discourse and Culture
Virginia Tech
Devendra Dilip
Potnis, PhD, MPA, MS
Assistant
Professor
School of
Information Sciences, University of Tennessee
Suite 442
Communications Bldg., 1345 Circle Park
Knoxville, TN -
37996