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THE OPPORTUNITY

East Texas A&M University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Art. This nine-month faculty appointment with year round administrative duties and carries senior rank with tenure. The successful candidate will provide strategic direction and administrative leadership for a comprehensive department that integrates professional design practice studio arts and art education across two locations (Commerce campus and Dallas) positioning the program for sustainable excellence and regional significance.

East Texas A&M University seeks a strategic and experienced leader to head the Department of Art which encompasses Visual Communication (Dallas-based) Studio Art (campus-based) and Art Education. This comprehensive department has strong fundamentalsnationally competitive professional design program excellent facilities talented faculty and notable alumniand is positioned for a leader who can integrate programs across locations and position the department distinctively in the competitive regional landscape.

The department is ready to welcome a forward-thinking leader who will build on these strengths and guide its continued success. With a community of dedicated faculty outstanding studio and design facilities and a nationally recognized Visual Communication program in Dallas the department offers rich opportunities for collaboration and creative achievement. Supported by the institutions commitment to the arts the next department head will shape a unifying vision that strengthens academic programs fosters meaningful connections across campuses and enhances the departments impact throughout the region and beyond.

THE CONTEXT

The Visual Communication program in Dallas has thrived winning national awards (Graphis ADDY Creative Quarterly) and maintained strong industry placement. Faculty across all programs have remained committed to students and their disciplines. The new department head will have the opportunity to bring these programs together under a cohesive vision.

Key opportunities for the incoming head:

• STRATEGIC DIRECTION: The department needs a leader who can provide the vision integration and strategic decision-making to ensure the long-term vitality of its programs strengthen graduate and undergraduate offerings and reinforce its reputation for excellence in art and design education.
• GRADUATE PROGRAM REIMAGINING: An opportunity to re-envision the Studio Art MFA/MA programs for the futuredeveloping distinctive innovative graduate offerings that reflect the departments creative strengths respond to emerging trends and attract the next generation of artists and scholars.
• PROGRAM INTEGRATION: The department operates across two locationsDallas (Visual Communication) and the Commerce campus (Studio Art with Art Education integrated across both). The next department head will lead efforts to align programs encourage collaboration among faculty and students and develop cohesive structures that preserve each sites unique character while advancing a unified vision for excellence in art and design education.
• BUILDING ON STRENGTHS: The department has excellent facilities (Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building with ceramics facility dedicated sculpture lab with foundry comprehensive photography facilities state-of-the-art Dallas design studios with letterpress) dedicated faculty notable alumni success and a nationally recognized Visual Communication program. These foundations provide a strong platform for strategic growth and repositioning.
• TEACHER PREPARATION RENEWAL: With intentional focus and support the Art Education pathway can help meet regional demand for qualified art educators while advancing the universitys historic mission of preparing educators for Texas schools.
• INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT: With the support of the Dean Provost and university leadership the incoming head will have the opportunity to guide the department through thoughtful program assessment and strategic planning. This includes making informed decisions that strengthen programs align resources and enhance the departments regional and national presence. The role provides a platform for visionary leadership that ensures talented faculty and strong programs continue to thrive well into the future.

THE ROLE

The Head will lead the Department of Art with strategic operational and academic oversight fostering alignment across programs and campuses while promoting faculty and student success. This dual-focused role combines inward facing rolesstrengthening programs and faculty initiativeswith outward facing roles including partnerships regional presence and opportunities for advancement.

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Conduct comprehensive assessment of all programs within first year with particular focus on Studio Art graduate program viability and make evidence-based recommendations regarding continuation restructuring consolidation or reimagining.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan that strengthens the departments distinctive regional role by emphasizing community partnerships clear academic pathways and effective leadership.
• Make strategic programmatic decisions including potential graduate program realignment or suspension ensuring decisions reflect market demands and advance the institutional mission.
• Identify and develop strategic program innovations potentially including low-residency graduate models community-engaged emphases creative technologies integration (certificate model) or artist-educator pathways.
• Position art teacher preparation as valued pathway alongside professional design and studio practice with strategic recruitment and curriculum enhancement to serve regional workforce needs.
• Foster a cohesive partnership between the Visual Communication program (Dallas) and the department to advance shared goals in academic excellence professional distinction and national reputation.
• Lead curriculum development and program assessment in alignment with university standards and professional expectations.

Program Integration & Faculty Leadership

• Cultivate a strong collaborative departmental community across both campuses (Dallas and main) by fostering shared governance transparent decision-making and a collective focus on strategic goals.
• Support faculty productivity professional development and scholarly/creative activity across all program areas (exhibitions publications professional practice).
• Manage faculty cultures (design professionals studio artists art educators) with respect for different career paths professional identities and measures of success.
• Lead faculty through necessary programmatic changes with transparency.
• Build consensus around strategic priorities while providing clear timely decisions.
• Ensure academic quality and program innovation at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Oversee faculty hiring evaluation promotion and tenure processes in alignment with university policies.

Partnership & External Relations

• Develop strategic partnerships with College of Science and Engineering (creative technologies certificate) Communication Studies (strategic communication pathways) and College of Business (arts administration certificate/MBA emphasis).
• Build and maintain relationships with K-12 school districts across East Texas for teacher preparation professional development partnerships and community engagement.
• Cultivate relationships with DFW arts organizations design firms galleries and cultural institutions to enhance student opportunities and program visibility.
• Position department as regional cultural leader through exhibitions community projects public art and partnerships that serve East Texas communities.
• Activate and expand alumni network across all program areas (VisCom Studio Education) for mentorship career connections and advancement support.
• Enhance department visibility and reputation through strategic communications exhibitions awards and media engagement.
• Pursue external funding opportunities through grants and donor cultivation.

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage department budget strategically allocating resources to align with department priorities.
• Make data-informed decisions about resource allocation scholarship strategy graduate assistant funding and program development.
• Implement transparent budget processes that help faculty understand resource allocation and growth opportunities.
• Oversee facilities and specialized equipment across multiple studios and labs (ceramics sculpture/foundry photography painting/drawing Dallas design labs and letterpress).
• Maintain and enhance the departments physical infrastructure in coordination with university facilities.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and any applicable accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate curriculum and scheduling across campus and Dallas locations.

Student Success & Enrollment Management

• Develop and implement strategies for sustainable enrollment across all programs with particular attention to graduate program viability.
• Enhance student recruitment retention and career/graduate school placement across all pathways.
• Provide vision for student experience integrating curricular and co-curricular opportunities.
• Support student professional development through exhibitions competitions portfolios internships and industry connections.
• Oversee academic advising processes and ensure students receive appropriate guidance.
• Foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that promotes student success.

QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS

Required:

• Terminal degree (MFA PhD) in studio art design art education or closely related field.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible administrative experience as department head program director associate/assistant dean or equivalent in higher education art programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to art teacher preparation as central component of comprehensive art program mission (not peripheral or optional).
• Understanding of both professional design practice and studio arts traditions; ability to value and integrate multiple approaches to art-making and creative careers rather than privileging one over others.
• Experience managing geographically distributed or multi-site programs or demonstrated ability to lead across locations and integrate separated units.
• Proven track record of program assessment and making difficult programmatic decisions based on evidence (restructuring consolidation or closure where necessary for sustainability).
• Record of building productive partnerships with academic units K-12 institutions or community organizations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills combined with demonstrated ability to make unpopular decisions when necessary for program health.
• Commitment to shared governance faculty development and student success.
• Eligibility for appointment at rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure.

Strongly Preferred:

• Prior experience rebuilding reimagining or significantly restructuring graduate programs at regional comprehensive universities.
• Deep understanding of regional graduate education markets and competition; demonstrated success in positioning programs distinctively.
• Experience with innovative graduate program models (low-residency cohort-based community-engaged interdisciplinary) beyond traditional residential MFA.
• Track record of addressing structural enrollment challenges through programmatic change .
• Professional connections in design/advertising industry (DFW region preferred) OR significant exhibition record and professional recognition in studio arts.
• Experience developing interdisciplinary programs or certificates involving multiple colleges/departments.
• Grant writing experience and successful external funding acquisition for program development or facilities enhancement.
• Understanding of creative technologies and their strategic integration with traditional studio practice.
• Fundraising and donor relations experience.
• Experience at regional comprehensive universities balancing access excellence teacher preparation and professional/creative practice missions.
• Knowledge of Texas teacher certification requirements and K-12 art education landscape.
• Experience managing complex budgets and making strategic resource allocation decisions.

Essential Leadership Characteristics:

Beyond formal qualifications the successful candidate will demonstrate:

• STRATEGIC COURAGE: Willingness to make difficult evidence-based programmatic decisions including potential restructuring consolidation or reimagining of programs and balancing tradition with innovation.
• DUAL FOCUS: Capacity to manage inward (faculty culture operations integration) and outward (partnerships advancement visibility) with equal attention and effectiveness.
• INTEGRATION SKILLS: Ability to bring together geographically distributed programs and faculty with different professional backgroundsdesign studio and art educationwhile respecting distinct career paths and measures of success.
• FINANCIAL REALISM: Understanding that excellence comes through strategic resource allocation and focus rather than expansion; skill in transparent communication about budgets prioritizing initiatives and leveraging funding opportunities for maximum impact.
• HONEST ASSESSMENT: Willingness to perform thorough program assessments of all programs recognizing strengths identifying areas for enhancement and recommending strategic or innovative changes where necessary.
• CONFIDENT LEADERSHIP: Ability to provide confident and steady guidance supporting faculty and students through periods of growth and change making informed decisions that strengthen long-term departmental vitality and fostering a forward-focused environment.
• MARKET AWARENESS: Understanding of the regional higher education landscape competitive dynamics and factors influencing graduate program viability; skill in positioning the department effectively within a regional and national context.
• VISIONARY LEADERSHIP: Ability to inspire and motivate others by highlighting opportunities and potential guiding the department toward growth and achievement with clarity confidence and practical insight.
• EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: Ability to clearly articulate vision goals and decisions foster understanding and collaboration build consensus when appropriate and maintain trust through open straightforward dialogue.
• PARTNERSHIP CULTIVATION: Track record of building productive collaborations across organizational boundaries (K-12 schools other colleges community organizations industry partners)
• COMPREHENSIVE MISSION COMMITMENT: Genuine dedication to advancing all core programsprofessional design studio practice and art educationchampioning their contributions to the departments overall success.
• FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION: Commitment to supporting faculty success productivity and professional growth across different disciplines and career stages.

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY MATTERS

The right leader will find:

• Genuine authority to make consequential strategic decisions - The Dean supports programmatic changes including potential graduate program restructuring or consolidation if necessary for sustainability and excellence.
• Strong foundations to build on - Nationally recognized Visual Communication program with industry connections excellent facilities (ceramics sculpture/foundry photography Dallas studios) devoted faculty and notable alumni making significant contributions to their fields.
• Real partnership opportunities - College structure facilitates collaboration with Engineering (creative technologies) Communication Studies (strategic communication) and Business (arts administration); partners are identified and open to discussions.
• Distinctive positioning potential - Opportunity to serve regional needs differently than better-resourced competitors through community engagement teacher preparation comprehensive pathways and cultural leadership in East Texas.
• Two-location advantage - Unique ability to integrate metropolitan Dallas presence (professional design industry connections) with regional East Texas campus (studio arts teacher preparation community cultural leadership).
• Multiple pathways for impact - Curricular innovation graduate program reimagining interdisciplinary partnerships community engagement regional cultural visibility faculty development.
• Formative period for department identity - opportunity to establish clear strategic direction integrated culture and distinctive positioning for next decade.
• Talented committed faculty ready for leadership - Faculty who have maintained quality and demonstrated resilience now ready for clear direction and strategic vision.
• Institutional support for difficult decisions - Dean Provost and university leadership committed to honest assessment strategic investment and evidence-based programmatic changes needed for long-term success.
• Facilities and infrastructure in place - Not building from scratch but strategically positioning existing strengths and resources.
• Freedom to innovate and reposition - Support for creative approaches to graduate education partnerships and regional engagement.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ART

The Department of Art at East Texas A&M University is a comprehensive program encompassing Visual Communication (Dallas) Studio Art (Commerce) and Art Education serving approximately 170-180 undergraduate and graduate students with 17 faculty and staff members across two locations.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION (DALLAS): The Visual Communication program offers BFA concentrations in Art Direction Design and Motion Design plus an MFA in Visual Communication. Based in a state-of-the-art Dallas facility with professional computer labs and letterpress studio the program has achieved consistent national recognition through awards including Graphis New Talent Awards Dallas ADDY Awards National Student Show honors and Creative Quarterly recognition. The program maintains strong industry connections and excellent graduate placement in the competitive DFW design market. All upper-level Visual Communication courses are taught in Dallas positioning students in one of the nations key centers for advertising and design.

STUDIO ART (COMMERCE): Studio Art programs offer BFA/BA degrees with strengths in ceramics sculpture painting photography and mixed media plus MA and MFA degrees in Studio Art. The program is housed in excellent facilities including:

• Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building (2004): One of the regions finest ceramics facilities photography facilities (Mac lab inkjet printing darkroom shooting studio) exhibition space and private graduate studios.
• Sculpture Lab: Full building equipped for various three-dimensional media including wood steel and foundry for metal casting.
• Main Art Building: Administrative offices art history classroom north-light painting and drawing studios and University Gallery for exhibitions.

ART EDUCATION: The department has historic commitment to preparing art teachers for Texas schools. It is part of the departments comprehensive mission and represents significant opportunity for strategic renewal given regional teacher shortages.

NOTABLE ALUMNI: The departments alumni include a world-renowned artist whose work is held by the McNay Art Museum a National Academy director and published author a Lone Star Emmy Award recipient a NASA photography intern and numerous accomplished professionals in design education and creative industries.

FACILITIES INVESTMENT: The university has made significant investment in art facilities including the 2004 construction of Wathena Temple Fine Arts Building and ongoing support for specialized equipment studios and the Dallas location.

THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES SOCIAL SCIENCES AND ARTS

The Department of Art is housed in the College of Humanities Social Sciences and Arts and will report to the Dean and serve as part of the Colleges Leadership Team. The College encompasses Literature and Languages History and Liberal Studies (including Civic Studies and Communication) Social Sciences (Political Science Sociology Criminal Justice) Art Theatre and Music. The College serves 1100-1200 undergraduate and graduate students and offers baccalaureates masters certificates and one doctoral program (English). Programs are offered in person at the Commerce campus as well as sites in DFW hybrid formats and online.

The College is positioned as a leader in the universitys mission to transform lives through student ready education emphasizing accessibility support and preparation for varied careers and graduate study. The college values interdisciplinary collaboration community engagement and comprehensive programs serving multiple student pathways.

Application Process and Nominations

The Search Committee Head will begin its review of applications on January 6 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration all materials must be received by January 5 2026. Zoom interviews are scheduled for January 19-28 2026 with finalist campus visits planned for February. Candidates for the position are asked to make themselves available for interviews during these times.

Application materials should include: (1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidates experience and qualifications intersect with the priorities and desired leadership characteristics outlined in this profile; (2) a curriculum vitae; and (3) the names addresses telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three references for future contact including the professional relationship of each reference.

Applications must be submitted electronically through ETAMU.

The starting date for the position is June 1 2026. The base salary established for this position is $90000 per annum with a stipend of $15000 paid over 12 months.

The search committee will be chaired by Dr. Flavia Belpoliti Associate Professor of Literature and Languages. Nominations should be provided to Dr. Belpoliti by e-mail at and arrangements for a conversation about the opportunity may be made.

WHY WORK AT EAST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Competitive Benefits & Work-Life Balance:

• Employee tuition assistance for masters and doctoral programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health dental vision life and long-term disability insurance.
• ETAMU contributes to employee health and basic life insurance premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays plus up to eight hours of paid sick leave and vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) with optional additional retirement plans (ORP).
• Physical wellness program and wellness release time for eligible employees.

Career Growth & Development:

• Access to cutting-edge research opportunities at a designated R2 Research Institution.

Academic Excellence:

• ETAMU is ranked among the top 30% in five online degree programs and offers national recognized academic programs.
• Over 140 degree programs including nationally ranked online and graduate options.
• First accredited institution to offer a competency-based bachelors degree in criminal justice.
• Distance education offerings in Corsicana Dallas Frisco McKinney Mesquite Bryan and online.

State-of-the-Art Facilities:

• Work in advanced facilities such as the 113470-square-foot Nursing and Health Sciences Building featuring a state-of-the-art simulation hospital and a 1300-acre agricultural research farm.

Vibrant Campus Life:

• Engage with over 95 student organizations and 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams contributing to a thriving campus community.

Prime Location & Growth:

• Enjoy the benefits of working in rapidly growing regions with abundant career opportunities at six locations across Dallas and Northeast Texas.

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All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.