Assistant Professor or Associate Professor - Art

Position Function:

The Department of Art at Mississippi State University invites applications for a full-time tenure track faculty position in Illustration. Candidates will report to the Head of the Department of Art and teach courses in support of an emerging Illustration and Entertainment Arts program. The successful candidate, in collaboration with other faculty, will provide a strategic vision to further develop our Illustration and Entertainment Arts curriculum. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in illustration/entertainment arts and the ability to teach in one or more of the following areas: character design, motion, time-based, creature design, concept art, and editorial illustration. As part of a leading public, land-grant, R1 research institution, a successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and service. In addition to their teaching duties, the candidate will be expected to maintain an active body of creative research and pursue peer-reviewed/juried competitions, exhibitions, publications, and/or industry engagements at the national level. Service responsibilities include student advising and departmental, college, and university-wide committee appointments. The anticipated start date for this position is Fall 2026.

Salary Grade:  UC

For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Since its establishment in 1968, the Department of Art has grown to become Mississippi’s largest undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts program. We provide dynamic, hands-on studio instruction in the areas of graphic design, photography, and fine arts — covering ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. By balancing in-depth studio experiences with thorough art history, theory, & criticism, our students benefit from an immersive and rigorous learning environment. Our accomplished faculty lead inspiring and innovative courses in global contemporary art, video art, typography, furniture making, life drawing, among many other advanced techniques and topics. In addition to preparing students for professions in the fields of fine arts, graphic design, and photography, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and creative culture. We actively position art in the service of the University, the community, and region through our innovative gallery programming, a student-led design agency, and contributions to local public art.

Recently, the College of Architecture, Art and Design has developed a flexible, interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree designed to integrate the disciplines of our four units: Architecture, Art, Interior Design, and Building Construction Science. We have also welcomed several new faculty to the Department of Art who specialize in digital and multimedia processes. These changes reflect our dedication to keeping our program relevant and technologically current. As we expand our existing coursework in digital design, entertainment arts, digital painting, digital fabrication, and other media-based arts, we look forward to bringing on new talent. Ambitious artists and designers are invited to contribute to this dynamic period of growth and opportunity!

Mississippi State University continues to earn national recognition for excellence in both employment and community impact. Recently, Forbes honored MSU as one of America’s Best Large Employers, America’s Dream Employers, and Best Employers for New Grads—a testament to our commitment to cultivating a supportive, forward-thinking workplace.

Further affirming that reputation, MSU has been named to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Great Colleges Honor Roll and recognized as one of the 2024 Great Colleges to Work For. This places us among just 53 institutions nationwide to receive this distinction, with top marks in critical categories such as job satisfaction and support, compensation and benefits, professional development, mission and pride, confidence in senior leadership, shared governance, and faculty experience.

The accolades extend beyond campus. Our hometown of Starkville, Mississippi, was recently named USA Today’s 2024 Best Small Town in the South, highlighting the vibrant, welcoming community that complements the MSU experience.

Area of Specialization:

Illustration

Anticipated Appointment Date:

August 16, 2026

Tenure Track Status:

Tenured or Tenure-Track 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•Teach and develop courses in Illustration and Entertainment Arts, from beginning to advanced levels in the Department of Art.
•Candidates wi