[Air-L] position: Director of the School of the Visual Arts Virginia Tech

[jeremy hunsinger]

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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 at http://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 (pmiller at vt.edu)

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


Words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. --Byron