Instructor - Art & Design Foundations

The Austin Peay State University Department of Art + Design invites applications for a full-time Instructor in Foundations to support the first-year experience for students studying art and design. This is a three-year, renewable position which will begin July 30, 2027. The teaching responsibilities will be on campus in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Department of Art + Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers BFA and BA degrees with concentrations in Studio Art, Graphic Design, Animation and Visual Effects, Art History, and Art Education. The department consists of eighteen full-time faculty, three support staff, and twelve part-time instructors who celebrate the mission of teaching and innovation in serving 250+ undergraduate majors. 

On-campus galleries and the growing art communities of Clarksville and Nashville provide ample opportunities for professional and student exhibitions. The Department of Art and Design is comprised of 60,000 square feet of studio, classroom, and office space spanning two buildings. Austin Peay State University is located less than an hour north of Nashville in the city of Clarksville, TN, which was named the #1 Best Place to Live in 2019 by Money Magazine. Clarksville offers accessible amenities in combination with easy access to the outdoors all within an affordable lifestyle that is 13% below the national average.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach a 4/4 course load that may include foundational courses in drawing, two-dimensional design, three-dimensional design, digital creative technologies, and general education Introduction to Art

• Teach all levels of students, who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences

• Implement a range of pedagogy and resources in curriculum including the application of technology in creative practice

• Participate in the assessment of the students, program, and department

• Maintain an awareness of contemporary art, design, career paths in art, relevant technological advancements, and sharing those in the classroom

• Coordinate the ordering of supplies for the adjunct instructors teaching foundations courses

• Assist in the organization and communication of Foundations Portfolio Reviews

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficient in the fundamentals of art and design composition, materials, and theory

• Comprehensive understanding of contemporary artistic practices and practitioners

• Depth of knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud applications

• The ability to manage multiple purchase orders, institutional timelines, and policies for purchasing. 

Required Minimum Qualifications

MFA in studio art, graphic design, animation, visual effects or another related field completed by the July 30, 2027.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practicing professional artist, effects artist, animator, or designer

• Depth and breadth of knowledge in a variety of artistic disciplines

• Passion for teaching entry-level college students

• One (1) year teaching experience 

Required Application Documents

• Cover Letter- Include links to images

• Curriculum Vitae

• Teaching Philosophy

• Portfolio of Student Work (10-20 images)

• Portfolio of Recent Personal Work (10-20 images)

• List of three References with contact information or three letters of Recommendation

Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.