Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo - Design

Job Title:

Faculty Non-Tenure Track-9 Mo

 Kent Campus - Kent, OH

Salary:

Basic Function:

The Kent State University School of Visual Communication Design invites applications for a non -tenure track assistant professor position. This is a 9-month, teaching-intensive, full-time faculty position available starting August 2026.

Additional Basic Function – if applicable:

Examples of Duties:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following: 

The selected candidate will be expected to teach all levels of visual communication and graphic design, and to engage in departmental duties and committee work. The position offers continuing annual appointments contingent upon performance and budget, with annual reviews and opportunity for promotion in rank.

Additional Examples of Duties – if applicable:

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates must:

• Possess a terminal degree (MFA, PhD, MDes, MGD, or equivalent) by the position start date
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to higher education and the professional practice of visual communication design
• Support and complement our faculty members in the areas of graphic design, interaction design, illustration, and/or photography

Preferred Qualifications – if applicable:

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which require assessments

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:

Light work-Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Incumbent must be able to communicate with others. Incumbent may be required to travel from building to building frequently and off campus occasionally.

Special Instructions Summary:

For priority consideration, applications should be submitted by March 13, 2026, but the search will stay open until the position is filled. Specific questions may be addressed to the Search Committee Chair, Jessica Barness at jbarness@kent.edu.

• Applications received by March 13, 2026 will be given priority consideration

Please reference position number: 986062

Applicants will need to submit the following items:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Portfolio of creative, professional, and/or scholarly work (submitted as a pdf/link/web address with 10-20 samples)

Candidates who advance to the next stage of review will be asked to provide the following:

• Three references.
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy (limit to 1 page).

Additional Information:

Must pass a security check.

The School of Visual Communication Design (VCD) is a rigorous and dynamic program that offers comprehensive undergraduate (BS, BA, and BFA) and graduate (MA and MFA) degree programs. Our undergraduate and graduate students have become leaders in the industry, scholars, and active participants in the national and international design community. Recently, VCD started offering a BS in User Experience Design, helping Kent State become the first public institution in Ohio to offer such a degree. The school is located at Taylor Hall, a building that provides students with an abundance of classrooms, studio spaces, labs, photo studios, and galleries. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), VCD is uniquely housed in the College of Communication and Information (CCI). CCI is the only college in the nation that combines design, technology, media, information, and communication in one interdisciplinary college. CCI and its schools offer a supportive and collaborative environment that values both research/creative activity and teaching.

Founded in 1910, the university is the third largest in Ohio, with an enrollment of approximately 24,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Kent is a small but vibrant college town close to the cultural, dining, and professional sports activities of Cleveland, Akron, and other Northeast Ohio cities, along with the recreational opportunities of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the many lakes in the region.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has awarded Kent State University the esteemed R1 status for research, which is the highest recognition that doctoral universities can receive.

The Chronicle of Higher Education identifies Kent State as one of the Great Colleges to Work For, and U.S. News & World Report ranks Kent State in the coveted top-tier of Best Colleges.

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international. For additional details, visit www.kent.edu/smoke-free.

Disclaimer:

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.