OPEN CALL: University of Arizona School of Art seeks new director

The School of Art at the University of Arizona is thriving and ready for its next chapter. If you believe art is not just a discipline but a transformative force that shapes culture and society, this is your opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most distinctive and forward-thinking art schools.

Our programs rank among the best in the country, guided by faculty who are internationally recognized artists, educators, and scholars redefining creative practice. With revitalized facilities, robust resources, and a student body that is diverse, curious, and fearless, we stand at the forefront of innovation and impact. We seek a director who will harness this momentum. Someone who honors our achievements, expands our reach, and leads with imagination and purpose.

This is a rare chance to lead from strength and shape the future of a school grounded in excellence, both academically and operationally. We are looking for a leader who values creative inquiry, champions interdisciplinary connections, and cultivates an environment where faculty, staff, and students thrive and push boundaries.

As Director, you will join a school that believes in the arts as a force for transformation, personally, intellectually, and socially. You will guide an extraordinary faculty, nurture a community of students across multiple disciplines, and champion work that matters: research that expands understanding, art that sparks dialogue, and education that shapes future leaders in creative industries and beyond.

You will have the support of a financially sound, forward-looking university that values the arts as central to its mission. You will also have the partnership of Arizona Arts, where cross-disciplinary collaboration is not only encouraged but expected, and where you can connect the School’s strengths to broader university research, public impact, and innovation.

About the School

Founded in 1927, the School of Art currently enrolls nearly 700 majors and 60 graduate students. We offer nationally ranked programs and a broad range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art History; Art and Visual Culture Education; Studio Art (including 2D Studies; 3D & Extended Media; Illustration, Design and Animation; and Photography, Video and Imaging); and Design Arts and Practices. Our Photography program is ranked No. 3 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

Alongside newly renovated facilities that foster experimentation and collaboration, the School of Art also maintains about 65,000 square feet of instructional and research space, including the nearby Visual Arts Research Studios (VARS). This space provides graduate and faculty studios, exhibition areas, and additional classrooms, creating an extended environment for creative work and learning.

Our visiting artist program brings global voices to Tucson, our alumni shape creative industries around the world, and our 30 full-time faculty and 14 adjunct faculty earn Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships, exhibit at major biennales, and publish field-defining research, as do an impressive number of alumni.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Vision and Excellence

• Lead faculty in sustaining and evolving a forward-looking curriculum that merges artistic rigor, conceptual exploration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Encourage innovation in teaching and research while strengthening the School’s deep traditions of studio practice and art scholarship.

Faculty, Staff, and Culture

• Cultivate a community built on respect, transparency, and shared purpose.
• Champion the professional growth of faculty and staff and nurture a culture of collaboration, creativity, and inclusion.

Student Experience and Success

• Strengthen recruitment and retention through programs that connect learning, professional practice, and community engagement.
• Champion opportunities that prepare students for meaningful, sustainable creative careers.

Research and Creative Practice

• Support faculty and student research, exhibitions, publications, and practice-led inquiry across disciplines.
• Enhance the School’s visibility and impact within the University’s AAU/R1 research ecosystem.

Partnerships and Advancement

• Collaborate with College and Arizona Arts development teams to build relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners.
• Serve as an ambassador for the School locally, nationally, and internationally, amplifying its reputation and reach.

Operational Leadership

• Manage budgets, personnel, and resources with care and transparency.
• Ensure facilities and equipment remain exceptional and responsive to the evolving needs of art and design education.

Minimum Qualifications

• An appropriate terminal degree or equivalent
• Professional activity to warrant tenure at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor.
• Demonstrated capacity to inspire and unify a dynamic academic community, cultivating excellence across a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary landscape.
• Commitment to support the professional development of faculty, appointed professionals, and staff.
• Interest in developing strong ties and connections with external constituencies and individuals, amplifying the School’s reach and relevance.
• Commitment to engaging in strategies for successful development on behalf of the School and the College.

Preferred Qualifications

• Academic administrative experience commensurate with the demands of the position.
• Established record of research and leadership that aligns with the School’s programming and mission.
• Experience working with financial models of large complex universities.
• Experience administering academic and professional programs in the context of a research institution
• Experience and qualifications sufficient for appointment at the rank of Professor

Learn More and Apply

Please visit https://talent.arizona.edu/ to apply with CV and cover letter. Review of Applications begins January 5, 2026, and will remain open until filled. The University of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity Vets/Disabled institution.

Apply Now