Assistant Professor - Art & Design - Ceramics

The Austin Peay State University Department of Art + Design invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor of Art in Ceramics to lead the ceramics area at APSU. The teaching responsibilities will be on campus in Clarksville, Tennessee and will begin July 30, 2027.

The current curriculum in ceramics includes a three-course sequence covering a wide range of materials, processes, techniques, and concepts including wheel-throwing, hand-building, clay and glaze mixing, and electric and gas kiln firing.  The curriculum also includes stand-alone courses in ceramic sculpture and ceramic slip casting. This position offers opportunities for the successful candidate to re-imagine the focus and trajectory of the program. Candidates are also encouraged to demonstrate their experience working with innovative strategies and new technologies. Other teaching responsibilities may include courses in Foundations. There are opportunities for the development of a special topics, study away, and study abroad courses.

The Department of Art + Design is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers BFA and BA degrees with concentrations in Studio Art, Graphic Design, Animation and Visual Effects, Art History, and Art Education. The department consists of eighteen full-time faculty, three support staff, and twelve part-time instructors who celebrate the mission of teaching and innovation in serving 250+ undergraduate majors. 

On-campus galleries and the growing art communities of Clarksville and Nashville provide ample opportunities for professional and student exhibitions. The Department of Art and Design is comprised of 60,000 square feet of studio, classroom, and office space spanning two buildings. Austin Peay State University is located less than an hour north of Nashville in the city of Clarksville, TN, which was named the #1 Best Place to Live in 2019 by Money Magazine. Clarksville offers accessible amenities in combination with easy access to the outdoors all within an affordable lifestyle that is 13% below the national average.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach a 3/3 course load to include the ceramic studio area and foundations level courses

• Teach all levels of students, who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences

• Participate in the development of curriculum and the assessment of the students, program, and department through portfolio and capstone reviews.

• Maintain an awareness of contemporary art, design, career paths in art, relevant technological advancements, and sharing those in the classroom

• Collaborate with fellow faculty within and across departments and participate in APSU’s shared governance; partner with staff to identify and accomplish shared goals

• Maintain and oversee the APSU ceramics facility and student workers alongside the studio technician

• Advise and mentor students in their course of studies and individual research

• Engage in ongoing creative research and professional activities in ceramics 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• The successful candidate should have experience in both traditional and innovative ceramics processes

• The successful candidate should have experience with the management of a ceramics studio; health and safety standards, kiln operation and maintenance, clay mixing and reclamation, and glaze mixing

• Comprehensive understanding of contemporary artistic practices and practitioners

Required Minimum Qualifications

• MFA in Ceramics or related program completed by July 30, 2027.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practicing, professional artist with a dynamic exhibition history 

• Two (2) years of post-secondary teaching experience

Physical Requirements

• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects 

Required Application Documents

• Cover Letter- Include links to images

• Curriculum Vitae

• Teaching Philosophy 

• A Portfolio of Student Works (20 images) with annotated written project descriptions- You may provide link

• A Portfolio of Recent Personal Work (20 images)- You may provide link

• List of three References with contact information or three letters of Recommendation