Recruit

The Department of Art at the University of California, Riverside, invites applications from artists whose work engages with image and representation, including but not limited to photography, video, interdisciplinary practices, and emerging technologies, to join the faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor. The starting date for the position is July 1, 2026.

We seek a colleague with broad knowledge of both contemporary and historical practices, a strong exhibition record, and the ability to mentor students across disciplines.

UCR is ranked among the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the nation. Faculty positions at the University of California entail responsibilities in research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate must demonstrate ability and a strong interest in teaching studio-based classes at all undergraduate levels and in contributing to diverse approaches to shaping the curriculum. The department serves a diverse student body, and the successful candidate will bring pedagogical approaches to foster an inclusive environment that encourages experimentation. In addition, the new faculty member should possess the versatility to teach MFA graduate students in an explorative and open approach to traditional and interdisciplinary media. The position's service roles include mentoring graduate students, participating in departmental and university committees, and sharing the governance of the Department of Art.

The UCR Department of Art offers extensive facilities for art production, including spacious painting and drawing studios, state-of-the-art photographic and digital imaging equipment, a full-scale sculpture lab with CNC and 3D printing capabilities, and video production equipment and editing stations. UCR has long been a leader in photographic and representational art, in part due to the presence of the California Museum of Photography, one of only a handful of museums in the country dedicated to the medium.

Our MFA program is non-media specific. Graduate students are offered generously sized, light-filled studios and competitive funding opportunities. The University is located roughly an hour (60 miles) east of Los Angeles and benefits from access to an internationally acclaimed art community.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience based on UC pay scales.

Apply here: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02192

Review of applications will begin on December 19, 2025. Apply by this date to ensure full consideration. For further information, please contact the Art Department Administration at artdept@ucr.edu or the Search Committee Chair Lynne Marsh at lmarsh@ucr.edu.

Qualifications
-MFA or equivalent training.
-A record of significant research (exhibitions, commissions, etc.).
-Experience teaching at the university level.

Document requirements
-Curriculum vitae
-Cover letter including a narrative bio summarizing your training, research, and teaching experience
-Artist statement and portfolio – upload a PDF document that includes images and/or links to video documentation curated explicitly for the search committee. Prioritize your recent and most accomplished work with any writings/statements and notable reviews.
-Teaching statement
–Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness- including one sample studio (any media) course syllabi and, if available, teaching evaluations.

Reference requirements
-The contact information for three references who can provide a recommendation letter upon request. References will be contacted only for shortlisted applicants.

Applicants who use Interfolio may utilize a feature provided by the Interfolio Service to allow Interfolio to upload their letters directly into AP Recruit. Applicants can input an Interfolio- generated email address in place of their letter writer's email address. Interfolio refers to this as Online Application Deliveries. The following link on the Interfolio website shows how to set this up http://help.interfolio.com/entries/24062742-Uploading-Letters-to-an-Online-Application-System.

The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table(s): https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/policy-covered-october-2025-scales/t1.pdf. Salary ranges for this position are: Assistant Professor $80,800 up to $104,700. “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input. Assistant Professors are required to undergo a mandatory 7th-year review for promotion to Associate Professor, although this can occur earlier.

Department: https://art.ucr.edu/

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement) is a preferred qualification.

We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC’s criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.

For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.