Director, School of Art

The University of Arizona School of Art in Tucson invites applications for our next Director. Step into the heart of the Sonoran Desert and lead a dynamic, nationally recognized art school within a top-tier university.

Weve built a collaborative ecosystem that connects teaching, research and community engagement. It allows students and faculty to move seamlessly between newly renovated classrooms and studios, and galleries and world-class creative institutions such as the Center for Creative Photography and the University of Arizona Museum of Art all within steps of one another.

Founded in 1927, the School of Art offers nationally ranked programs and a broad range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art History; Art and Visual Culture Education; Studio Art (including 2D Studies; 3D & Extended Media; Illustration, Design and Animation; and Photography, Video and Imaging); and Design Arts and Practices. Our Photography program is ranked No. 3 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

Application review begins January 5, 2026.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Vision and Excellence

• Lead faculty in sustaining and evolving a forward-looking curriculum that merges artistic rigor, conceptual exploration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

• Encourage innovation in teaching and research while strengthening the Schools deep traditions of studio practice and art scholarship.

Faculty, Staff, and Culture

• Cultivate a community built on respect, transparency, and shared purpose.
• Champion the professional growth of faculty and staff and nurture a culture of collaboration and creativity.

Student Experience and Success

• Strengthen recruitment and retention through programs that connect learning, professional practice, and community engagement.
• Champion opportunities that prepare students for meaningful, sustainable creative careers.

Research and Creative Practice

• Support faculty and student research, exhibitions, publications, and practice-led inquiry across disciplines.
• Enhance the Schools visibility and impact within the Universitys AAU/R1 research ecosystem.

Partnerships and Advancement

• Collaborate with College and Arizona Arts development teams to build relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners.
• Serve as an ambassador for the School locally, nationally, and internationally, amplifying its reputation and reach.

Operational Leadership

• Manage budgets, personnel, and resources with care and transparency.
• Ensure facilities and equipment remain exceptional and responsive to the evolving needs of art and design education.

Aptitude

• Demonstrated capacity to inspire and unify a dynamic academic community, cultivating excellence across a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary landscape.
• Commitment to support the professional development of faculty, appointed professionals, and staff.
• Interest in developing strong ties and connections with external constituencies and individuals, amplifying the Schools reach and relevance.
• Commitment to engaging in strategies for successful development on behalf of the School and the College.

Minimal Qualifications

• An appropriate terminal degree or equivalent
• Professional activity to warrant tenure at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor.
• Demonstrated capacity to inspire and unify a dynamic academic community, cultivating excellence across a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary landscape.
• Commitment to support the professional development of faculty, appointed professionals, and staff.
• Interest in developing strong ties and connections with external constituencies and individuals, amplifying the Schools reach and relevance.
• Commitment to engaging in strategies for successful development on behalf of the School and the College.

Preferred Qualifications

• Academic administrative experience commensurate with the demands of the position.
• Established record of research and leadership that aligns with the Schools programming and mission.
• Experience working with financial models of large complex universities.
• Experience administering academic and professional programs in the context of a research institution
• Experience and qualifications sufficient for appointment at the rank of Professor

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