Assistant or Associate Professor of Illustration

The School of Art+Design at Purchase College is seeking a full-time, tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor to join the Graphic Design Program, beginning Fall 2025. This faculty member will play a key role in developing and teaching courses for a new Illustration Concentration within the Graphic Design major.

Description

The ideal candidate will be a practicing illustrator, graphic designer, artist, or a combination thereof. Specifically, for the Illustration Concentration, the candidate’s skill set should include, but is not limited to: 
 
Illustration Drawing Skills: Proven expertise in design-focused illustration, with experience that distinguishes it from fine art drawing practices. Emphasis on applied illustration work. 
Digital Illustration Expertise: Comprehensive experience with cutting-edge software and hardware for digital drawing, including fluency in industry-standard tools and platforms. 
Time-Based Media Skills: Ability to contribute to and expand our motion-graphics curriculum, particularly through hand-drawn or frame-by-frame animation, bridging traditional illustration with contemporary animation techniques. 
Sequential Art and Visual Storytelling: Strong proficiency in storytelling mediums such as graphic novels, comics, and storyboarding, with a focus on narrative development through sequential imagery. 
Pedagogical Expertise: Demonstrated ability to teach and mentor undergraduate students across these diverse areas, with a commitment to fostering student growth in both creative and technical skills. 
 
In addition, the candidate is expected to possess strong typographic and design skills and proficiency in industry-standard tools like the Adobe Creative Suite is essential, particularly in software such as InDesign (Id), Photoshop (Ps), Illustrator (Ai), After Effects (Ae), as well as Procreate, and familiarity with 3D tools, and software. The candidate will contribute to required coursework in the Graphic Design core and the Foundations Program through the course, Visual Language. The candidate must demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to experiment with both emerging and established technologies.

Responsibilities also include participation on departmental, school and college committees, student advising, admissions and recruitment, reviews, curriculum building and other kinds of support as needed to maintain the programmatic offerings of the Graphic Design Department. Faculty serve as Chair of Graphic Design on a rotating basis; willingness and ability to lead and attend to administrative tasks are essential.

Founded on the principle that artists and scholars are indispensable to each other and to an enlightened society, Purchase College combines professional conservatory programs in the visual and performing arts and distinguished programs in the liberal arts and sciences. Located 25 miles north of Manhattan in New York, the campus celebrates individuality, diversity, and creativity. Special consideration will be given to candidates who excel in working with the diverse populations typical of a public university context and who share a strong enthusiasm for engaging with their students.

Qualifications and Salary:
 
Associate Professor: 
• Terminal degree (MFA) in Illustration or Graphic Design, or a BFA with extensive professional illustration experience. 
• At least 3 years of full-time college-level teaching, curriculum development, and service. 
• Professional practice that may include client-centered work, self-authored projects, or entrepreneurial accomplishments. 
• A professional record with national or international recognition is highly desired.

Salary: $70,000. + $3,026.(location pay) and benefits package

Assistant Professor: 
• MFA in Illustration or Graphic Design, or equivalent professional illustration experience. 
• At least 1 year of full-time college-level teaching experience or equivalent. 
• A professional practice that may include client-centered work, self-authored projects, or entrepreneurial accomplishments.

Salary: $60,000. + $3,026.(location pay) and benefits package

Instructions to Candidate:
To apply for the position, please visit our Purchase College Job Vacancy website at https://jobs.purchase.edu and complete an online application. Attach the following documents by January 30, 2025.
 
(1) A cover letter describing strengths relative to the responsibilities and qualifications cited above. 
(2) Curriculum Vitae
(3) Professional Portfolio
(4) Teaching Portfolio of student work at various levels and a brief description of those assignments 
(5) A statement of teaching philosophy. 
(6) Sample syllabi
(7) A list of three references with contact information

Special Note

Benefits - 
• Health, dental, and vision benefits are available to eligible employees after a 28-day waiting period. More information regarding other benefits such as generous paid time off, tuition assistance, and retirement systems can be found on SUNY’s Benefit Summaries website. https://www.suny.edu/benefits/benefit-summaries/
• Purchase College is a qualifying government employer allowing eligible employees to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
• Access to the NAEYC-accredited, on-campus child care at The Children’s Center. https://www.thechildrencenter.org
• Discounted access to the world-class Performing Arts Center https://www.artscenter.org/, free admission to the Neuberger Museum of Art https://www.purchase.edu/neuberger-museum-of-art/, and free access to the athletic facilities. https://www.purchasecollegeathletics.com
• Other benefits include business-casual dress and an opportunity to telecommute. For detailed information on some of the College’s employee benefits, visit the College’s Human Resources/Benefits website https://www.purchase.edu/offices/hr/benefits-information/

Nondiscrimination Policy – Purchase College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to service, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the Purchase community (including vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. To view the entire policy, please visit the following website: Purchase College Human Resources Policies and Procedures website. https://www.purchase.edu/offices/hr/policies-and-procedures/

Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Purchase College is an AA/EEO employer. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the University’s current campus security policies. Purchase College’s Annual Security Report is available at Purchase College NYS University Police Website.https://www.purchase.edu/offices/nysup/logs-and-records/the-jeanne-clery-disclosure-of-campus-security-policy/index.php

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at response@oer.ny.gov. 

Date to be Filled 09/01/2025

To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/5853402