CCIS Assistant Professor, Renewable Contract, Book Arts, School of Library and Information Studies – 528411

Department/Organization
207401 - School of Library and Info Studies

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month non-tenure track renewable contract assistant professor in Book Arts to begin August 16 2026.

Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month non-tenure track renewable contract assistant professor in Book Arts to begin August 16 2026.

Position Summary & Responsibilities:
This position provides an exciting opportunity for a passionate creative scholar and educator with a background in papermaking digital design and bookbinding or letterpress printing/printmaking to shape the character and direction of the School of Library and Information Studies which has a strong Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Book Arts program and an undergraduate minor in Book Arts.

This energetic individual is expected to:
Maintain a modest research agenda relevant to their areas of expertise
Teach four courses per semester at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels in the fall and spring. Instructional modes can include synchronous online distance education and face-to face.
Advise and mentor masters students as part of our NASAD-accredited Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) Book Arts program
Engage with colleagues and students in cross-disciplinary collaborative endeavors
Supervise the management of the Book Arts studios
Attract and recruit potential Book Arts graduate students for both the MFA and Certificate programs

This teaching focused position is based on a 3-year renewable contract cycle with opportunities for promotion. Successful applicants will display the ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The standard teaching load for renewable contract faculty members is four courses per semester. All candidates are expected to engage in service to the School College of Communication and Information Sciences the University and relevant professional communities

Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair Professor Anna Embree at

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
An earned MFA in Book Arts and/or terminal degree in a related field
Demonstrated teaching ability in the areas of papermaking digital design bookbinding and/or letterpress printing/printmaking
Demonstrated interest and ability in making Book Arts accessible and meaningful across disciplines
Commitment to work with students colleagues and partners with a range of backgrounds perspectives and levels of experience

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (considered after all minimum qualifications are met) Active involvement in relevant professional organizations Previous experience teaching and supervising graduate students in the Book Arts

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applicants must apply online at and submit the following required materials. 1. Cover letter highlighting your overall match for the position 2. Curriculum vitae 3. Names and contact information for three references 4. Teaching philosophy 5. Creative Research Portfolio of 10 to 15 examples of scholarship (pdf format) Special Instructions to Applicants: Prior to hiring the final candidate must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and submit official university transcript(s) of all graduate level coursework.

About the Division/College/School
The College of Communication & Information Sciences has four academic units approximately 110 full-time faculty members and serves approximately 3500 students across bachelors masters and doctoral degree programs including approximately 95 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program. The colleges Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses nonprofit organizations government agencies foundations and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. The College is also home to the Public Opinion Lab equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an interactive VR/theater lab among others. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research community engagement and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40000 square-foot Digital Media Center which is home to Alabama Public Radio and WVUA 23 a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa Alabama named one of Travel Leisures 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nations premier universities UA offers bachelors masters and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023 the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39000 students including more than 8200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this the University made Forbes list of Americas Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazines list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Reviews list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015 UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space over 150 new research-intensive faculty signature research areas (e.g. The Alabama Research Institutes) and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2100 faculty and over 4500 staff with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award the nations most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOCs Know Your Rights: Workplace ( discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality free speech and academic freedom.