Assistant Professor of Illustration

Position Title:

Assistant Professor of Illustration

Compensation:

$55,000-$62,000

Department:

School of Art

Start Date:

08/16/2027

About this opportunity:

The School of Art at Ball State University welcomes applications for a full-time, tenure-line Assistant Professor of Illustration to teach undergraduate courses in illustration, animation, drawing, and other areas of interest and expertise. The ideal candidate will be a creative teacher, thoughtful mentor, and collaborative colleague.

The School of Art has forty-five full-time faculty and staff and offers state-of-the-art facilities serving approximately 700 undergraduate majors. Programs at the BA, BS, and BFA levels include art education, art history, graphic design, graphic design studies, animation production, illustration, game art/design, visual effects, and a studio art program that includes drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, metals + jewelry, sculpture, photography, and video and new media. School of Art students enjoy world-class facilities, with over 73,000 square feet of classroom, gallery, and studio space in the Art and Journalism Building, Applied Technology Building, and the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass. Students and faculty work closely with David Owsley Museum of Art on campus, among the finest university art collections in the nation. Ball State University is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design.

Teaching responsibilities are on campus, in Muncie, Indiana.

This position is open until filled with a priority consideration date of November 1, 2026. Candidates submitting application materials on or before this date will receive full consideration.

Employer will consider sponsorship.

What you'll do and what you will bring:

Description:

Tenure-line faculty in the School of Art teach undergraduate courses at all levels, from first-year Foundations through senior projects. They also pursue creative and scholarly research in their field by exhibiting, publishing, and presenting their work professionally. All faculty participate in service at the School, College, and University level and are committed to student success and curricular innovation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Courses are generally scheduled on campus, with occasional courses scheduled online, either synchronously or asynchronously.

· Instructional load will include all levels of course work in classes such as AFA 101 Drawing Studio, ART 213 Introduction to Illustration, ART 214 Surface Illustration, ART 317 Book Works, ART 318 Comic Art, and ART 417 Editorial Illustration.

· Other teaching duties based on programmatic need and the expertise of the faculty hired individual may be assigned.

· Additional responsibilities include course development, mentoring students at all levels, and supervising senior capstone projects.

· Tenure-line faculty are also responsible for producing scholarship/creative work commensurate with the requirements for tenure.

· The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the School of Art, the College of Fine Arts, and the University by serving on committees and being active in their discipline’s community.

Minimum Qualifications:

· MFA degree in illustration, animation, art, or related field from an accredited institution by date of appointment or at least six years of documented professional experience in illustration, animation, art, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Significant industry experience in the field of illustration

· Evidence of current professional practice in illustration

· Experience and/or interest in developing new curriculum in illustration

· At least one year of teaching experience at the college level, gained concurrently or at any time.

How to apply:

For inquiries regarding this opportunity, please contact:

Lara Kuykendall, Director, lkuykendall@bsu.edu

Please follow upload instructions to attach one PDF of all of the required supporting documents listed below. NOTE: Do not use the Autofill feature for resume.

• Cover Letter

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae

• Sample syllabus for one college-level illustration course

• Portfolio of up to 10 images of applicant’s creative work (with links to time-based work if applicable). If document size exceeds 10 MB, a link to portfolio may be provided. 

• Contact information (including email addresses) for three professional references

This position is open until filled with a priority consideration date of NOVEMBER 1, 2026. Candidates submitting application materials on or before this date will receive full consideration.

(Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.)

What we offer:

At Ball State University, we understand the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being. That's why we offer 12 paid sick days and 10 holidays a year. Plus, our paid parental leave (6 weeks) is there for life's most significant moments. We offer affordable health and dental insurance, robust long-term disability and life insurance plans, as well a range of retirement benefits to provide financial security to you and your family. These benefits ensure that you can focus on your work and personal growth without worrying about the unexpected.

When you work for us, you are family. And to show our support of your family, we will cover 90 percent of your child's (or children's) undergraduate college tuition at Ball State. This offer is good from the very first day you start. It's just one way we do our part to uplift you.

Let's fly together toward a secure and prosperous tomorrow.

Curious about our excellent benefits package?

We have developed a calculator that shows you the value of our core benefits.

Select the Total Compensation Calculator - Faculty and download our calculator spreadsheet.

That's how Ball State works.

Goodness requires action to grow. We're dedicated to doing our part to keep goodness growing in Muncie, at our university, and as far beyond as possible. That's where you come in. When you join our team, you become part of goodness in action. Our main priority: uplifting students so they can discover their full potential. This is how we fly.

It all comes down to caring.

There are about 3,000 full-time faculty and staff in the Ball State University work family. Each brings unique gifts to help us be the kind of institution we want to be. In return, we do our best to take care of them through comprehensive medical and dental plans, a Health Savings Account (which we contribute to), and a whole range of wellness, retirement, and other benefits like covering the cost of tuition at Ball State for you and your family. We can offer you more.

A great place to work in a great place to live.

Where you live matters just as much as where you work. We get it. That's why we've invested since the very beginning in making our hometown work. On campus, find state-of-the-art facilities and one-of-a-kind arts and cultural events. In Muncie, you'll find a warm and welcoming community with affordable housing and a vibrant downtown arts, food, and music scene. What could be better? You here - for starters.

EEO/AA Statement

Ball State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or any legally protected status.

Disability Accommodations

Ball State provides accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the position. Contact Melissa Rubrecht, Director of Employee Relations, at 765-285-1823 for assistance.

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