Assistant Professor of Ceramics

• Job Title: Assistant Professor in Ceramics (Tenure Track)
• Department: Department of Art
• Institution: University of South Dakota
• Program: Nationally Recognized BFA/MFA Art Program
• Appointment: Full-time, 9-month academic year
• Start Date: August 2025

Position Description:

The University of South Dakota is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Ceramics for a nine-month appointment beginning in August 2025. This position involves teaching ceramics at both undergraduate and graduate levels within a dynamic BFA/MFA Art program. The candidate will engage in research, teaching, and service activities according to the guidelines of the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR).

Responsibilities:

• Teaching 18 contact hours per semester
• Teaching foundational through advanced courses in ceramics including studio, seminar, and lecture formats.
• Teaching critical thinking, problem solving, contemporary theory, and emerging concepts in ceramics.
• Advising and mentoring students, contributing to student recruitment and retention.
• Actively participating in department, college, and university committees and activities.
• Pursue a current creative scholarship/research agenda in ceramics and remain actively engaged in the professional art field.
• Operation and upkeep of ceramic studio equipment, including gas, electric, and wood-fired kilns, pottery wheels, clay mixers, and related tools, with responsibilities also encompassing maintaining supplies and scheduling student assistants in the ceramic studio.
• Ability to contribute to a vibrant departmental visiting artist program.
• Working with diverse students, faculty, and staff.

Required Qualifications:

• MFA in ceramics or a closely related field.
• Experience in multiple ceramic processes; including but not limited to hand-building, wheel-throwing, mold-making/slip-casting, historical and contemporary techniques, and new-media applications.
• Knowledge of glaze chemistry, kiln firing procedures, and ceramic equipment.
• Established exhibition and/or scholarly record.
• Ability to teach critical thinking, problem-solving, contemporary theory, and emerging concepts in ceramics.
• Knowledge of operation and maintenance of ceramics studio.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:                                                               

• University-level teaching experience with three years of college-level teaching experience preferred but not required.
• Ability to maintain a vibrant visiting artist program in ceramics.
• Evidence of community building within and outside of the department.
• Commitment to building a strong ceramics program and establishing an MFA Ceramics program.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines.
• Evidence of grant writing.

Rank and Salary:
Assistant Professor, $48,000 – $53,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience; full standard benefits package

Application Process:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, with full consideration given to completed applications received by January 3, 2025.

Applicants are required to apply online at https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/41247

and should include:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• 20 labeled digital images of personal work
• Artist website URL and/or social media presence
• 20 labeled digital images of student work
• One representative course syllabus
• Teaching philosophy
• Artist statement
• Contact information for three professional references

Items that cannot be transferred digitally should be sent to:

Danielle Heeren, Office of the Dean
Ceramic Search Committee
College of Fine Arts
The University of South Dakota
414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069

Questions: Danielle.Heeren@usd.edu

About the Department

The Department of Art is housed in the College of Fine Arts at the University of South Dakota and offers both the BFA and MFA degrees in Art. USD is a community of approximately 100+ undergraduate majors, 10 graduate students and 10 full-time art faculty, recognized for a strong studio curriculum, visiting artist program, and accomplished alumni. Our facilities include studio classrooms in ceramics, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, drawing and sculpture. Our ceramics facilities include:

• Large, open ceramic studio with 25 Pacifica electric wheels, extruders and a slab roller.
• Dedicated clay mixing room with ventilation, vacuum deairing equipment, pugmill/clay mixer.
• Glazing area with a glaze spray booth.
• Indoor gas and electric kilns with hood ventilation.  Outdoor wood, raku and gas soda kilns.
• NASAD accreditation.

The University of South Dakota:

Located in southeast South Dakota, USD is the flagship liberal arts institution for the State of South Dakota (just under 10,000) and is composed of the College of Fine Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, Schools of Business, Education, Law, Medicine and Graduate School.  Information about the Theatre Department may be obtained on our website at /www.usd.edu/art.

USD is committed to fostering a dynamic and welcoming working and learning environments for all. USD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ideological, political, or sectarian opinions or perspectives; or race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, national origin or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. USD is committed to the principles of free expression and encourages the timely and rational discussion of topics in an environment that is intellectually and ideologically diverse.