School of Art and Design - Assistant Professor in Photography

Title Information

Faculty TitleAssistant Professor

Job Class Code10031

FLSAExempt

Position Information

Posting NumberFRGV2074

Working TitleSchool of Art and Design - Assistant Professor in Photography

Number of Vacancies1

LocationRio Grande Valley, Texas

Division/OrganizationProvost - Academic Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position

Tenure StatusTenure Track

FTE1.0

Scope of Job

The School of Art and Design at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ( UTRGV ) invites applications for a tenure-track position in Photography at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning September 1, 2027. The successful candidate will contribute to the growth and excellence of the Photography area through teaching, creative research/scholarly activity, student mentorship, and service.

The successful candidate will maintain an active program of creative research and/or scholarly activity in photography, lens-based media, or related contemporary practices and demonstrate the potential to achieve national and international recognition. The candidate will be expected to contribute to the intellectual, artistic, and curricular development of the Photography area and support interdisciplinary initiatives across the School of Art and Design.

Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses within the B.A., B.F.A., and M.F.A. degree programs. The successful candidate will mentor student projects, exhibitions, internships, and graduate theses, and will be prepared to teach in face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning environments. Coursework may include introductory and advanced digital photography, studio lighting, digital imaging, photographic theory and criticism, professional practices, alternative and historical processes, and contemporary lens-based media.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in shared governance and provide service to the program, School, College, University, profession, and community.

UTRGV faculty are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to student success and to advancing the missions of the University, College, and School. UTRGV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and emerging research university dedicated to educational opportunity, community engagement, and academic excellence.

The School of Art and Design serves approximately 1,000 undergraduate majors and 33 graduate students and offers programs in studio art, graphic design, art history, and art education. Faculty maintain active records of creative and scholarly achievement while supporting a vibrant culture of teaching, research, and service.

Minimum Qualifications

• An MFA or other terminal degree in Photography, Lens-Based Media, Imaging Arts, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and creative research/scholarship appropriate to the discipline.

• Evidence of an active creative research agenda and the potential to develop a record of achievement capable of attaining national or international recognition.

• Demonstrated commitment to student success and inclusive teaching practices.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications

• Expertise in contemporary photographic practice and theory.

• Demonstrated proficiency in digital photography workflows, image editing, color management, digital output, and photographic production.

• Experience with professional photographic equipment, studio lighting systems, and photographic studio practices.

• Knowledge of the history and contemporary discourse of photography and lens-based media.

• Ability to teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced photography courses.

• Demonstrated commitment to student success.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute collaboratively to the development of the Photography area.

• Experience integrating photography with interdisciplinary, experimental, or emerging artistic practices.

• Ability to supervise the appropriate use of photography studios, digital imaging laboratories, photographic equipment, and related instructional resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of university-level teaching experience in photography, digital imaging, lens-based media, or related fields.

• Record of exhibitions, publications, grants, residencies, commissions, screenings, or comparable professional accomplishments demonstrating emerging or established recognition in the field.

• Experience teaching a range of photography courses, including digital imaging, studio lighting, contemporary photographic practices, photographic theory, and professional practices.

• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate student creative research.

• Evidence of interdisciplinary practice and engagement with emerging technologies, including video, multimedia, installation, computational imaging, AI-assisted imaging, or related contemporary media practices.

• Experience developing community-engaged, collaborative, or cross-disciplinary projects.

License or Certification Required?No

SalaryCommensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Desired Start Date09/01/2027

Posting Detail Information

EEO Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date10/05/2026

Close Date

Additional Information

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas ( TRS ), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program ( ORP ) instead of TRS , subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dear Applicant,

Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following:

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Gender

Ethnicity/Race

Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days.

Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check ( CBC ). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

To apply for this job posting visit: careers.utrgv.edu

Required Documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. List of 3 References – This list should include the name, title, and contact information, such as email address and/or phone number.

3. Letter of Interest – (addressing your ability to meet the above responsibilities).

4. Unofficial Transcripts (graduate and undergraduate – Once hired, official transcripts are required).

5. Teaching Philosophy – One-page maximum statement addressing the applicant’s approach to photography pedagogy, instruction, and student learning.

6. Research Statement – One-page maximum statement addressing the applicant’s research/creative activity, current practice, and future goals.

7. Other Document – Include the applicant’s professional or artist website URL and links to time-based, interactive, or other work that cannot be adequately represented in the submitted portfolio, as applicable.

8. Creative Work Portfolio – A PDF containing up to 20 images representing up to 10 works by the applicant, with an accompanying image list.

9. Evidence of Teaching – A PDF containing up to 20 images of student work with an accompanying image list. Where possible, examples should represent work produced in courses relevant to the teaching responsibilities of this position.

Please Note

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

Quick Linkhttps://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/52735

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Teaching Philosophy

• Other Document

• Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness

• List of 3 References

• Curriculum Vitae

• Unofficial Transcripts

• Letter of Interest

• Research Statement

• Additional Document

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

• Resume

• Writing / Publication Sample

• Reference Letter 1

• Reference Letter 2

• Reference Letter 3

• Multi Media

• Certifications and Licenses

• Training Certificates

• Unofficial Transcripts 2

• Unofficial Transcripts 3

• Unofficial Graduate Transcripts

• Teaching Statement

• NCCPA Certification

• State Licensure