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Position Description

Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor: Art History & Visual Culture, Faculty of Arts & Science 2024/25
Job Code 3359
Department Faculty of Arts & Science
Employment Type Permanent
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OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work, and create.

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.


The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours program in Visual and Critical Studies (VCS) is defined by a global, critical, decolonial vision of art history and visual culture. The Faculty of Arts & Science invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position in Art History and Visual Culture at the rank of Assistant Professor. Candidates may specialize in any subject area or period, but their scholarship and teaching experience should support the unique global and decolonial vision of the VCS program. We are open to a broad array of specializations grounded in art history and visual culture, with a special focus on media studies. Ideally, candidates will have supplemental interests in global and Indigenous art history, transnational and diasporic studies, curatorial studies, design studies or other related academic disciplines. This position offers an exciting opportunity to join an interdisciplinary research community at a leading art and design university, and to work alongside the Faculty of Arts & Science's other degree programs in Creative Writing, Criticism and Curatorial Practice, Digital Futures, Indigenous Visual Culture, and Liberal Studies generally.

The appointment is expected to commence on August 1, 2025 and is subject to budgetary approval.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will:

  • Teach five art history and visual culture courses per year at all undergraduate levels, including first-year survey courses, with a primary home in the Visual and Critical Studies program
  • Course assignments will depend on the candidate’s areas of expertise. Possible courses include (but are not limited to): Animation: Critical Perspectives; Contemporary Documentary Media; Experimental Film & Video; Feminist Film & Video; Future Cinema–Digital Narratives; Introduction to Film Studies; History of New Media Art; History of Photography; Introduction to Games Studies. (Course descriptions here.)
  • Teach a graduate course when available in one of OCAD U’s six graduate programs (which will reduce the undergraduate courseload). Graduate courses will most likely be available in the programs for Criticism and Curatorial Practices (MFA); Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Art Histories (MA); or the Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media and Design (MA, MDes and MFA)
  • Contribute to the development of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, when possible
  • Contribute to undergraduate and graduate thesis supervisions
  • Maintain an active research profile and professional practice within art history, media studies or related area
  • Be responsible for all aspects of course outline development, course preparation, and curriculum delivery, and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines
  • Provide service to the program, Faculty, and University-wide governance system, as well as participate in building the University community and promoting the quality of student life and University culture
  • Contribute to a range of service activities, including supporting student projects and outreach initiatives that support the Visual and Critical Studies program and the University

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have:

  • A terminal degree in a relevant discipline (a PhD in Art History, Media Studies or a related field)
  • Experience teaching art history and media studies courses or experience teaching within related art or design programs, or equivalent work experience
  • A strong record of research, scholarship and publication. An active curatorial practice will be considered an additional asset
  • Experience advancing decolonization, diversity, equity, and sustainability in research, teaching, curriculum development, creative practice and service
  • An aptitude for innovative curriculum development. Experience teaching in interdisciplinary programs and in a studio environment will be an asset
  • Experience teaching and supervising student projects, thesis students or graduate students
  • A demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity with a proven record of promoting a respectful and inclusive work and learning environment for students, staff, and faculty.

REMUNERATION

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications with access to full benefits and pension contributions after one year of service.


APPLICATION PROCESS and DEADLINE

Applications must include the below materials as one continuous document in PDF format:

The PDF file must include the following:

  1. A cover letter stating the candidate’s experience and qualifications in the areas of teaching, research/professional practice, and service pertaining to the job posting.
  2. A curriculum vitae, including relevant links to recent work and publications.
    • All electronic supplemental materials (journal articles, professional website pages/social media accounts, podcasts, interviews, conference presentations, etc.) must be hyperlinked in your CV in the appropriate areas.
  3. A research statement.
  4. A teaching dossier that includes teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as sample assignments, course outlines, relevant teaching materials, etc.) pertaining to the job posting.
  5. Names and contact information of three referees.

Applicants are also welcome to include a digital portfolio of recent work/publications.

* Any supplemental materials not published digitally can be included in candidate applications via PDF format (such as book chapters).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your uploadFirstName_LastName-AHVCS2024

Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Chair, Tenure- Track Assistant Professor Art History & Visual Culture Search Committee, Faculty of Arts & Science, online by clicking “Apply Now” below.

The review of applications will begin on Friday, November 22, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.


As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University (OCAD U) recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD U understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity- seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous faculty, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment

process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.

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