Assistant Professor, Drawing at InsideHigherEd

Assistant Professor, Drawing

Job Identification:  42057

Job Category:  Faculty

Posting Date:  11/07/2025, 10:21 AM

Apply Before:  01/09/2026, 10:21 AM

Degree Level:  Master’s Degree

Locations:  4202 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33620, US

Essential Personnel:  No

Job Description

Department/Department Number: School of Art & Art History/240400

College: College of Design, Art & Performance

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Job Title/Code: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Drawing (9003)

Position Number: 330107228

Due Date for Applications: To ensure full consideration please apply by January 9th, 2026; however, applications will be received until the position is filled.  

The School of Art & Art History at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Drawing, with an anticipated start date of August 2026.

The successful candidate, in line with the performance expectations of an R1 AAU institution, will maintain an active record of high-impact creative research at the national or international level. They will demonstrate a strong commitment to original creative production that significantly contributes to the field of contemporary drawing and its expanded practices. The candidate’s research agenda should articulate a forward-looking vision for drawing within the School of Art & Art History, expanding the program’s reach through innovative, cross-disciplinary, and community-engaged initiatives. Evidence of progress toward these goals will help identify a strong applicant.

The Drawing area at USF supports a wide range of approaches—from observational and technical foundations to experimental and conceptually driven practices. The ideal candidate will bring a deep engagement with drawing as a critical and evolving medium within contemporary art, while also contributing to the dynamic curriculum of the School’s undergraduate and graduate programs. While grounded in the traditions of drawing, the program embraces digital and new media approaches that extend contemporary drawing practices.

Organizational Summary:
The USF School of Art & Art History serves as the visual arts and design educational hub in a dynamic, diverse region of over 3 million residents, with over 600 majors and more than 30 full-time faculty across two campuses (St. Petersburg and Tampa). We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in studio art, graphic arts, and art history, along with minors and interdisciplinary certificates for non-majors. Located in a vibrant metropolitan setting, our school provides graduate students with exceptional studio space, technical facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with distinguished faculty. We immerse students in visual culture, encouraging critical thinking and a strong sense of citizenship within a global context. Our nationally ranked Master of Fine Arts program fosters creativity and experimentation, offering an environment for students to push boundaries while working with cutting-edge resources. Additionally, the Kennedy Family Artist and Scholar program invites recognized artists and scholars to develop interdisciplinary projects and teach, fostering dialogue and outreach that enrich academic research and community engagement.

As the creative center of the University of South Florida, the College of Design, Art & Performance provides an enriched, creative, and professional environment for tomorrow’s leaders in architecture, design, art, art history, dance, music, and theatre. The college is home to the university’s arts district, Contemporary Art Museum, Graphicstudio and the Florida Center for Community Design.  The college embraces opportunities to embed new and existing arts programming in the rapidly growing regional communities and serves as an integral engine for socioeconomic progress through its research, advocacy, and engagement. 

Responsibilities:

• The teaching load is two courses per semester, typically at the undergraduate level, with the possibility of teaching graduate courses as needed.
• Mentor graduate students in the MFA program, providing critical feedback and professional guidance.
• Develop new courses and curricula that engage with both traditional and experimental drawing practices, and that may intersect with painting, printmaking, or other studio disciplines.
• Participate in service at the program, school, college, and university levels.
• Actively contribute to the research profile of the School of Art & Art History and the broader College of the Design, Art & Performance.

This position also allows the faculty member to propose and sponsor visiting artists through the Kennedy Family Artist and Scholar Residency Program, which brings nationally and internationally recognized artists to engage students and the Tampa Bay community through lectures, critiques, and collaborative projects.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• MFA or equivalent terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated record of achievement in teaching, creative research, and service.
• Evidence of an active research practice in drawing or drawing-related media, with potential for national or international recognition.
• Ability to teach a broad range of drawing courses, including both traditional and experimental approaches.

Preferred Qualifications

• A strong exhibition record with evidence of high-impact creative research.
• Experience teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Proficiency in a secondary area such as printmaking, new media or interdisciplinary studio practice.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor graduate students.
• Engagement with cross-disciplinary or community-based art practices.

Applicants MUST provide the following documents when completing the application online at https://fa-ewkd-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/USF/job/42057/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Artist Statement
• Links to a curated online portfolio of work examples. If the works require passwords for viewing, please include them. Files that cannot be easily accessed may not be reviewed.  
• Links to student works must also be accessible online as examples of teaching.  

Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.