Director & Head of the Department of Art

Location: Commerce, Texas, with leadership responsibility across the Commerce campus and Dallas location

Company

East Texas A&M University is a regional comprehensive university with academic programs in Visual Communication, Studio Art, and Art Education.

What you will do

• Provide year-round strategic, academic, administrative, and operational leadership for the Department of Art across two locations.
• Assess programs, enrollment trends, student outcomes, regional demand, resource utilization, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan covering program innovation, curriculum, assessment, teacher preparation, and graduate education.
• Lead faculty hiring, evaluation, promotion, tenure, professional development, scholarly activity, and programmatic change.
• Build partnerships with K-12 districts, arts organizations, design firms, galleries, cultural institutions, alumni, and community organizations.
• Manage budgets, facilities, specialized studios and labs, enrollment initiatives, advising, student retention, and external funding efforts.

Requirements

• Terminal degree, such as an MFA or PhD, in studio art, design, art education, or a closely related field.
• At least two years of progressively responsible administrative experience in higher education art programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to art teacher preparation and experience supporting enrollment, retention, and graduation outcomes.
• Understanding of professional design practice, studio arts, evidence-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and resource stewardship.
• Experience building partnerships with academic units, K-12 institutions, or community organizations.
• Eligibility for appointment as Associate Professor or Professor with tenure; teaching expectations will be negotiated annually with the Dean.

Nice to have

• Experience restructuring graduate programs, developing innovative graduate models, or addressing structural enrollment challenges.
• Professional connections in the design or advertising industry, exhibition experience, or recognition in studio arts.
• Experience leading multi-site programs, developing interdisciplinary programs, writing grants, fundraising, or managing complex budgets.
• Knowledge of Texas teacher certification requirements and the K-12 art education landscape.

Culture & Benefits

• Twelve-month, full-time administrative appointment with senior faculty rank and tenure.
• Limited teaching responsibilities reviewed annually in consultation with the Dean.
• Opportunity to shape the department’s academic direction, regional partnerships, and cultural presence.
• Faculty and staff leadership across Commerce and Dallas, with a focus on shared governance, transparency, professional development, and student success.

Hiring process

• Submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references through the university’s electronic application system.
• Applications receive priority consideration if submitted by October 9, 2026; review begins October 12, 2026 and continues until the position is filled.
• Zoom interviews are planned for the first week of November, followed by finalist campus visits before Thanksgiving.