Association of Academic Museums and Galleries

The Art department at Furman University seeks a tenure-track Assistant, Associate, or Professor of Art History who can contribute to our departmental goal of providing students with academic and practical experiences in museum/gallery work, public humanities, and/or similar publicly-engaged disciplines. In addition to courses supporting these goals, the successful candidate should also be prepared to teach global art history survey and upper-level thematic art history courses, preferably focused on global or cross-cultural contemporary art. We seek an applicant who is committed to teaching and mentoring, has an active research agenda, is capable of contributing to an innovative undergraduate curriculum with high-impact learning experiences, and can support and enhance Furman’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The candidate should be prepared to strengthen a recently redesigned art history curriculum, based around thematic courses that integrate global content and de-emphasize chronological teleologies. We seek applicants who can think creatively about further curricular developments and bring new content and perspectives into our program. This position would begin August 1, 2023.

Job Description:

This professor will teach a 2/2 course load alongside administrative responsibilities for the Thompson Art Gallery and True Inspiration Artist in Residence program. This position will typically lead the second half of a two-semester art history survey (14th century-present) and thematic upper-level courses that can be designed around their research and teaching interests. Candidates able to support curatorial and archival course work, teach with primary sources, facilitate student research, or those with experience in writing instruction and/or curriculum design are especially encouraged to apply. This professor should be able to help develop an interdisciplinary minor with partners in public history and the University’s Special Collections and Archives. There is also the potential to develop additional courses with our new MA in Advocacy and Equity Studies, interdisciplinary partners across campus, including Study Away and MayX, our experiential three-week May term.

This professor will be charged with directing the Thompson Art Gallery in the Roe Art Building and the True Inspiration Artist in Residency program. The gallery hosts 5-6 exhibitions each academic year with national calls for proposals, ideally intersecting thematically with campus initiatives and programs, including our Institutes. This position will oversee programming, manage logistics, install/deinstall artwork, train students and student workers to assist in gallery operations, collaborate with on-campus and regional partners, and participate in fundraising or grant-writing efforts.

Our department focuses on developing students with technical proficiency in studio art and art history, but also stresses an interdisciplinary approach to viewing and making art that emphasizes critical thinking and writing. Our curricular structure encourages double majors, with our students often partnering with the Business and Accounting, Communication Studies, English, or Psychology departments. With small class sizes and support for undergraduate research, the ideal candidate is excited to mentor students interested in the arts and humanities in support of The Furman Advantage.

Furman University is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of university life, and strives to create an anti-racist community through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and programming. Numerous initiatives and programs are underway or planned to promote these ideals, including: historic projects, dialogue initiatives, the Center for Inclusive Communities, and new academic programs and majors. The Art department is committed to amplifying the stories of individuals and communities who have been historically marginalized in academic scholarship, museum collections and exhibitions, and artists’ shows. The successful candidate will have the ability to work with historically underrepresented students and be committed to assisting the university in its continuing efforts to become a model of inclusive excellence. The Art department at Furman is committed to increasing the representation of historically marginalized or underrepresented perspectives in academia.

Furman University is a small liberal arts university located in Greenville, South Carolina. As the largest city in South Carolina, Greenville is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant arts scene, including numerous artists’ studios, galleries, fairs/festivals, and civic museums.The Art department offers BAs in Studio Art and Art History in a combined art history/studio department and has approximately 60 students majoring in studio art and art history, 6 full-time faculty, and offers classes in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, graphic design, sculpture, printmaking, and art history.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Duties include, but are not limited to:  

• Teach 4 undergraduate courses each year, including an introductory survey; potential exists to develop additional Study Away, and May Experience courses, or to teach in graduate programs at the University
• Direct the Thompson Art Gallery and True Inspiration Artist in Residence program
• Advise students (first-year students and majors)
• Provide mentorship opportunities for students, in line with The Furman Advantage. 
• Maintain a significant research agenda, producing a significant body of high-quality scholarship
• Participate in meaningful service on the department and university level towards our strategic goals and priorities. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, sitting on committees and community engagement. 

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications 

All applicants must have 

• Terminal degree completed by August 2023
• Academic or practical experience with public humanities, museum studies, or gallery operations 
• An established record of scholarship
• Ability to develop new courses 
• Demonstrated proficiency in teaching
• Effective written and oral communication skills 
• Evidence of abilities to collaborate productively with colleagues and undergraduate students. 
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students in creative scholarship 

Applicants should submit materials no later than January 2, 2023, through the Furman University employment portal. A complete application is comprised of two PDF documents:

PDF_01 should include:

• letter of application that describes how your teaching philosophy and pedagogy aligns with Furman’s commitment to high-impact teaching and learning.
• curriculum vitae.
• diversity statement that describes how your pedagogical practices, professional experience, scholarship, mentoring, and/or service might contribute to the community of a liberal arts college committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.
• names and contact information for three references who could supply letters of reference upon request. We will only contact references for finalists in the application process.

PDF_02 should include:

• statement of current research agenda.
• sample of recent research.
• a one-page course proposal that you would hope to teach in the near future.
• a sample writing/research assignment (does not need to originate in the course proposed).

We anticipate conducting first-round interviews by video conference in January. Questions about the position can be directed to Sarah Archino at sarah.archino@furman.edu.