The University of Arizona School of Art in Tucson invites applications for our next Director. Step into the heart of the Sonoran Desert and lead a dynamic, nationally recognized art school within a top-tier university.

We’ve built a collaborative ecosystem that connects teaching, research and community engagement. It allows students and faculty to move seamlessly between newly renovated classrooms and studios, and galleries and world-class creative institutions such as the Center for Creative Photography and the University of Arizona Museum of Art — all within steps of one another.

Founded in 1927, the School of Art offers 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.

Application review begins January 5, 2026.

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