ABOUT WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY:

Willamette University founded in 1842 is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs including Oregons top-ranked MBA program the Northwests oldest law school as well as MA/MFA programs at PNCA and masters degrees in data science and computer science.

Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary includes options for health dental life insurance retirement substantial paid time off tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette please contact our HR Department or call us at .

POSITION SUMMARY

Applied Creative Practice (ACP) courses are central to the new General Education curriculum providing students with hands-on experiential learning opportunities that mirror the challenges they will face in their careers. These courses are required for all students and focus on the practical application of artistic and design skills in real-world contexts ensuring that students are not only theoretically informed but also technically proficient and professionally prepared.

The sequence begins in the Foundation Year with ACP100: Introduction to Creative Citizenship (described in the Foundation Studies section). In the second year course ACP200: Creative Project Management students will take on pitching public-facing projects (e.g. art fairs public art endeavors social impact projects or exhibitions) that offer real-world experience helping them build portfolios that demonstrate their skills and abilities.

In the third year students have two courses in the ACP sequence: ACP 300: Creative Entrepreneurship & Career Readiness and ACP 302: Applied Learning/Design Build Elective or Internship. In ACP300 students will learn about career pathways in a more targeted way with more connection to their areas of interest while still learning about the opportunities within creative entrepreneurship commercial and nonprofit sectors. They will also learn more about budgeting the future of AI in creative work intellectual property and legal concerns and more. ACP302 is a flexible applied course aimed at fostering real-world experience and collaboration in creative fields. Students may choose from various options including hands-on project-based courses internships with industry partners or cross-listed AGSM business-related courses that align with their career goals. This elective emphasizes the application of design thinking creative problem-solving and professional practice helping students build their portfolios and gain industry experience.

The fourth year requires the ACP400: Senior Seminar in which students focus on launching their careers more personally and build skills in real-world networking applying for opportunities outside of PNCA. They will formalize their dossier of professional documents portfolios and their online presence. Students will work closely with the Office of Career Design and with a network of professional mentors and their instructors to be as competent and confident in their chosen paths as possible when they leave PNCA. Critical thinking community ethics and responsibility as artist and designers are fostered in each course.

This hands-on learning is not only about refining technical skills but also about learning how to navigate the practical realities of creative work from managing deadlines to collaborating with clients. The emphasis on applied learning ensures that students leave PNCA with a clear understanding of how their artistic abilities translate into professional contexts. Whether they aspire to be independent artists designers or creative entrepreneurs ACP courses provide a solid foundation for career success.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach courses in Applied Creative Practice.

• Participate in required faculty professional development orientation and onboarding

• Participate in holistic student care and case management processes.

• Keep up to date with professional and industry best practices.

• Foster an inclusive learning environment.

Part-time instructors may teach a maximum of four 3-credit courses in an academic year. All part-time faculty are appointed at the rank of Assistant Adjunct Professor. The initial rank and salary for part-time faculty appointments will depend on past teaching experience and professional qualifications and be specified in the initial contract.

Other duties as assigned: Along with teaching in Applied Creative Practice Courses ACP Faculty will collaborate and meet with the Chair of Applied Creative Practice and collaborate with peer ACP Faculty a couple of times per semester to maintain curricular continuity and build community.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters level terminal degree or equivalent professional experience or BA with 5 years of relevant higher education or formal community based teaching experience.

• Evidence of an active professional practice and teaching within the field of arts administration creative leadership entrepreneurship or creative career advising

• Evidence of successful collegiate teaching or rigorous community-based teaching experience

• Evidence of advancements in their own field of professional practice.

• Demonstrated professional networks in associated fields of practice.

• Ability to teach in person in Portland for all assigned courses

Preferred Qualifications

The candidate will have a scholarly and/or professional background in professional practices in the arts arts administration creative leadership creative enterprise/entrepreneurship or significant professional applied skills with these areas of knowledge in arts/design/cultural administration. This may include:

• Teaching experience in applied creative practice topics such as:

  • Professional Practices in Art and Design fields

  • Community Based Art and Design Projects

  • Cultural Marketplace

  • Career Readiness

  • Strategy systems thinking

  • Creative Entrepreneurship

  • Branding Marketing and Social Media

  • Arts administration and cultural leadership

  • Creative Project Management

  • AI or LLM ethics or practices within the creative industries

  • Cultural Policy

• Knowledge of theoretical frameworks critical perspectives professional standards and foundational business practices within arts design and associated creative sectors

• Applicants will have relevant academic degree and field/work/applied experience in at least one of the above areas of knowledge as it pertains to professional applications for artists and designers across creative sectors.

• Applicants will be comfortable with using technology used in a classroom setting.

• Applicants will be able to demonstrate pedagogical knowledge of their subject area and have previous experience teaching at the collegiate level.

To apply please upload the following documents separately as part of your application materials in the My Experience section labeled Resume:

• Letter outlining the required/desired qualifications and presenting any other applicant characteristics which deserve emphasis.

• Current Resume/CV.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications should be received by December 1 2025 for full consideration. Applications are accepted until positions are filled. Open courses are available for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS:

Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments -- listed at the bottom of the page -- must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.