Assistant/Associate Adjunct Faculty in Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP 497) Arts Administration

Description

Background

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary's is a residential campus nestled 20 miles east of San Francisco in the picturesque Moraga Valley. Based in the Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts traditions, Saint Mary's currently enrolls more than 4,000 students from diverse backgrounds in undergraduate and graduate programs. The De La Salle Christian Brothers, the largest teaching order of the Roman Catholic Church, guide the spiritual and academic character of the College.

As a comprehensive and independent institution, Saint Mary's offers undergraduate and graduate programs integrating liberal and professional education. Saint Mary's reputation for excellence, innovation and responsiveness in education stems from its vibrant heritage as a Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts institution. An outstanding, committed faculty and staff that value shared inquiry, integrative learning and student interaction bring these traditions to life in the 21st century. The College is committed to the educational benefits of diversity.

The LEAP Program

LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals) is an internationally recognized distance education Bachelor of Arts degree program specifically designed for current and former professional dancers, with students from across the country. Given the demands of a professional dance career (training, performing, traveling), dancers have rarely been able to pursue academic education beyond high school, making it difficult to prepare for the career transition that every dancer inevitably faces. LEAP makes it possible for these working adults to receive a comprehensive liberal arts education and earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's College in 3 to 4 years of part-time remote study.

This course will be taught remotely through distance learning over the 2026 Spring Term (February 2 - May 31, 2026).  This class will primarily be asynchronous in format with online office hours. 

Course:

LEAP 497: Arts Administration

 

Course Description: This comprehensive course examines the world of arts administration, providing students with essential knowledge and practical skills needed to manage cultural organizations effectively. This course is designed specifically for LEAP students in mind, focusing on Performing Arts organizations and applying the student’s administrative experience to the assignments and learning. Students will explore the intersection of artistic vision and business acumen required to sustain and grow arts institutions in today's cultural landscape, including current trends in arts funding in the United States. 

 

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the organizational structure and operational needs of various types of arts institutions through an equity framework 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the nonprofit company structure, governance, finances, and infrastructure 

• Understand an equity framework and set goals intended to promote fairness and reduce disparities for historically marginalized groups.  

• Develop comprehensive marketing and audience development strategies for cultural organizations 

• Create realistic budgets and understand financial management principles for nonprofit arts organizations 

• Design effective fundraising campaigns incorporating individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, and government funding

• Evaluate board governance models and understand the relationship between board, staff, and artistic leadership 

• Apply legal and ethical frameworks relevant to arts administration, including intellectual property, contracts, and employment law 

• Assess community impact and develop strategies for meaningful civic engagement through the arts 

Responsibilities

 

The LEAP Program at Saint Mary's College seeks to hire an adjunct faculty member (per-course) to teach LEAP 497: Art Administration. The successful candidate must be able to work in a highly collaborative and culturally diverse learning community, and will be expected to contribute to the mission of the College, which is informed, animated and expressed by its Liberal Arts, Catholic and Lasaillian traditions. 

 

 

Qualifications

We seek instructors who are familiar with adult development and experiential learning theories, and have experience teaching in both synchronous and asynchronous distance education modalities. 

Minimum qual