Associate Professor of Graphic Design Tenure Track

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Summary:

The Art Department at the University of WisconsinMadison welcomes applications for a tenured Associate Professorship in Graphic Design. The position will begin in August 2027 and offers the opportunity to teach in and help lead a well-established well-equipped program at a major research university. The successful candidate should be a practicing artist who will contribute to the Art Departments intellectual and academic life through research teaching and service. The position includes undergraduate and graduate teaching in a program that integrates comprehensive technical training with a rigorous critical approach with ample opportunity for cross-disciplinary dialogue with graduate students across the department The department is a strong devoted community of practicing artists committed to its students collegiality and the ability to interface with all areas of the Art Department and its 25 tenured/tenure-track faculty members is a significant aspect of the position. The role also offers opportunities to engage with the Kohler Art Librarys collection of artists books.

The Art Department at the University of WisconsinMadison is nationally ranked among the Top 15 in Overall Fine Arts Programs by U.S. News and World Report. The departments current student population comprises 1800 undergraduates 51 graduate students and 250 certificate students. The Art Department is committed to excellence in teaching within a major research university and a vibrant intellectual community. Its mission is based on the premise that art is the nexus of all the humanities and that creative expression in the visual arts has provided some of the most enduring contributions to society and culture. The Art Department strives to provide both a fertile and challenging environment for aesthetic and critical engagement and the technical skills necessary for the practice of art in the changing landscape of the twenty-first century. We encourage innovation and cross-disciplinary activity and believe that students should utilize the universitys vast academic resources to inform and deepen their artistic vision.

The UWMadison Art Departments Graphic Design program serves 198 students enrolled specifically in the Graphic Design Certificate and the Graphic Design Degree Named Optiona figure that does not include the additional students across the university who take graphic design courses as electives. The program is anchored by three advanced computer labs featuring professional workstations and scanners with mid-size and large-format printing capabilities that support both digital production and high-quality physical addition students have access to 3D printing and related fabrication capacities enabling prototyping and material experimentation that extends graphic design workflows beyond the screen. The programs continued growth and student-centered development are further supported by the Anderson Fund and the Graphic Design Initiative Fund which help advance the area by addressing program needs with particular attention to the student experience.

The Art Department comprises 17 staff of which 8 are technicians; 25 tenured/tenure-track faculty; 4 Teaching Faculty; and 13 Lecturers. Our department is part of the UWMadison School of Education which is ranked the #1 School of Education in the nation. The school is proud of the breadth of its programs with departments in Education Health and the Arts and views this range as a tremendous strength.

The UWMadison School of Education is committed to the pursuit of excellence in research teaching learning and service by supporting and maintaining inclusive working and learning environments where all can flourish and where the unique contributions of students faculty and staff from a broad range of perspectives backgrounds beliefs and cultures are valued.

Principal Duties:

The undergraduate teaching load is 16 credits per academic year. Art Department classes include B.A. and B.F.A. students as well as non-majors and certificate students. Classes are typically 4 credits each.

Semesterly graduate teaching load consists of one of the following: an independent study section an interdisciplinary group critique or a graduate seminar.

Serve on graduate committees with M.F.A. candidates and advise and mentor graduate students within an interdisciplinary Art Department.

Provide leadership mentoring and guidance to students.

Work collaboratively and lead a team of instructors within a large and vibrant Art Department.

Maintain a studio practice at a nationally recognized level that meets tenure expectations at a major research institution.

Consult on the management of gift funds and endowments in place to support the advancement of the Graphic Design area.

Participate in service activities at the local state national and university levels.

Meet department and university teaching research and service expectations.

Seek extramural funds to support research and creative activity when possible.

Courses might include Introductory Intermediate and Advanced Graphic Design including:

Basic Graphic Design

Information Graphics

Graphic Design for Publication

Graphic Design for Posters

Graphic Design for Packaging

Graphic Design for Interactive Media

Typography

Branding

History of Graphic Design

Graphic Design for Accessibility

Graphic Design for Senior Thesis

Anticipated Begin Date: August 17 2027

Key Job Responsibilities:

Work collaboratively and lead a team of instructors within a large and vibrant Art Department.

Semesterly graduate teaching load consists of one of the following: an independent study section an interdisciplinary group critique or a graduate seminar

Maintain a studio practice at a nationally recognized level that meets tenure expectations at a major research institution.

Provide leadership mentoring and guidance to students.

Consult on the management of gift funds and endowments in place to support the advancement of the Graphic Design area.

Participate in service activities at the local state national and university levels.

The undergraduate teaching load is 16 credits per academic year. Art Department classes include B.A. and B.F.A. students as well as non-majors and certificate students. Classes are typically 4 credits each.

Serve on graduate committees with M.F.A. candidates and advise and mentor graduate students within an interdisciplinary Art Department.

Meet department and university teaching research and service expectations.

Seek extramural funds to support research and creative activity when possible

Department:

School of Education/ Art Department

Compensation:

Negotiable Academic (9-months)

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance tax-advantaged savings accounts and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications:

• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree; or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of five years of teaching experience at the university or college level.
• Demonstrated expertise in contemporary graphic design theory history and professional practice.
• Demonstrated experience teaching graphic design coursework across undergraduate curricula.
• Experience with curriculum development program planning or academic program leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and advise undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• Evidence of successful recruitment retention or student outreach efforts.
• Demonstrated leadership and service experience within an academic professional or creative organization.
• Strong written verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across disciplines.
• Experience working with or supporting diverse populations and fostering inclusive learning environments.
• Demonstrated proficiency in one or more contemporary graphic design practice areas such as typography; identity/branding systems; information graphics; publication/editorial; interaction/UX/UI; web; motion/animation; design research & strategy; service design; socially engaged/civic design; and/or the creative and ethical applications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Preferred Qualifications:

• National or international recognition in the field of graphic design or related discipline.
• Experience supervising faculty instructional staff or teaching assistants.
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary research or creative practice.
• Expertise in multiple graphic design content areas.
• Experience integrating emerging technologies including artificial intelligence into teaching research or creative practice.
• Experience securing grants external funding commissions or partnerships.
• Experience building industry community or cross-campus collaborations.

Education:

MFA in Graphic Design or related field

How to Apply:

Please apply through the portal:

The application should include:

• Letter of application addressing your vision of a contemporary undergraduate graphic design area and clearly outlining your experience and interest in joining UW-Madison
• Teaching philosophy
• Curriculum vitae
• Sample syllabus for an introductory intermediate or advanced graphic design class
• Artists or designers statement
• Documentation of artwork: submit up to 20 images.
• Documentation of student artwork: submit up to 20 images with assignment descriptions where applicable.
• Names/email addresses/telephone numbers of 3 references (no recommendation letters)

Applications must be received by July 20 2026 for full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

Contact Information:

Timothy McCarty

Department Administrator

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength creativity and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity culture background experience status abilities and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching research outreach and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students faculty and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to including but not limited to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g. application interview pre-employment testing etc.) please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.