Assistant Professor of Art and Art History

The Department of Art and Art History at St. Olaf College invites applications for a full-time tenure track position in Photography and New Media at the Assistant Professor level to begin August 2026. We are looking for a dynamic artist and educator whose pedagogy encourages both practical and experimental practices within photography and digital media. Candidates must be able to teach digital and film photography as well as introductory level Photoshop video and audio techniques. Those with additional skills in graphic design professional practices video animation or other digital media are especially encouraged to apply. We are looking for applicants who have the potential to provide future leadership as department chair and who will engage in the community of the department including attending lectures art exhibit openings and regular meetings.

The majority of current St. Olaf Studio Art majors are interested in careers in art and design and believe that the most important technical skills they will need after graduation will be graphic design and digital media (for their application to a wide variety of fields) drawing and painting (for teaching and art therapy) and photography and video (for their importance in documenting working creating portfolios and pursuing careers in multimedia or content creation).

A full-time teaching load consists of five courses a year including introductory courses in photography and digital media upper level courses in photography and digital media our capstone course for the studio art major and other courses based on applicants interests and abilities. Other responsibilities include working closely with the studio technician to manage student workers and oversee the photo facilities and equipment which includes film and digital cameras a darkroom large format digital photography printers and a lighting studio.

Salary: $74190 - $79000

Qualifications
Completed M.F.A in Photography with experience teaching photography and new media courses at the undergraduate level.

The department is looking for a dynamic artist and educator who is able to teach a diverse range of photography and new media techniques has potential for future administrative leadership and is actively engaged in the community of the department. Candidates who can support our efforts to promote environmental sustainability accessibility and diversity equity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.

About the Department
The Department of Art and Art History at St. Olaf College is housed in the Center for Art and Dance. We have six faculty members in studio art three in art history and a technical supervisor who oversees a robust student work program and safety within the department. Our generous facilities include multiple computer labs a lighting studio darkroom and digital photography studios and a growing digital fabrication lab. Other studios in the department include drawing painting printmaking ceramics sculpture and other interdisciplinary spaces.

The department has dedicated funds to regularly host visiting artists/filmmakers for lectures and demonstrations and to facilitate class field trips to the Walker Art Center Minneapolis Institute of Art and other regional art venues. A newly developed BIPOC artist residency designed to further broaden the diversity of perspectives within our program provides an opportunity for an artist or art historian to be in community with faculty staff and students. Our department also has a unique Emerging Artist program through which recent graduates have the space and time to develop their artistic practice exhibit work and mentor undergraduate students. Studio art graduates have had great success in admission to top MFA programs and successful careers in art related fields.

St. Olaf has a strong relationship with Carleton College a top tier school with strong Studio Art and Cinema and Media Studies programs. We are located 45 miles south of the Twin Cities a vibrant cultural and urban center. A recent New York Times piece states that As Americas first tier cities like New York Los Angeles and Miami have become euro-fueled luxury romper rooms creative types with more ideas than cash are fleeing to second cities where its possible to paint play cook build and still eat. Minneapolis/St. Paul was cited as one of five such cities. For more information about the department visit strive to be a campus of welcome where students faculty and staff thrive by bringing their full humanitygender identity sexuality race ethnicity national origin socioeconomic class disability religion spirituality and ageto St. Olaf each day. Our goal is to generate conversations and processes that over time create greater clarity transparency trust cooperation consensus respect and measurable outcomes. Practices that support this goal include listening cultivating a growth mindset respecting those with different views being informed by data and understanding that the work is ongoing collaborative organic and ever evolving. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Community and Belongingwebsite to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

How to Apply
Throughout your materials include how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at our college through your teaching research and/or service. A complete application includes the following:

References: Provide contact information for three professional references who can speak to your abilities in teaching and scholarship. Letters will be solicited from references by the search committee for candidates who advance to the interview stage.

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