Assistant Professor of Studio Art

Sweet Briar College is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders. Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation. Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women's leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts, and its legendary equestrian program.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women's colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women's leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions, and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints who would strengthen the College.

Position Description

Sweet Briar College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in studio art with a primary emphasis in printmaking, to begin in the Fall 2027 semester. We seek an artist-scholar committed to excellence in teaching, creative practice, and mentorship within a vibrant liberal arts environment.

The Studio Art Program seeks an artist-educator with a strong creative practice, a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching, and the ability to lead and support a dynamic printmaking area. The successful candidate will teach a range of printmaking courses at introductory and advanced levels, oversee the printmaking studios, equipment, and safety protocols, contribute to the development of the studio art curriculum, maintain an active creative and scholarly agenda, and participate in departmental, college, and professional service.

The position carries a teaching load of six courses per academic year. In addition to teaching, responsibilities include mentoring students, contributing to the Studio Art Program's exhibitions and programming, and participating in the broader intellectual life of the College.

We welcome applicants whose work demonstrates strong technical, conceptual, and historical engagement with printmaking, including traditional, contemporary, expanded, and interdisciplinary approaches. While printmaking will be the primary area of instruction, the successful candidate will also contribute to the broader studio art curriculum. We are especially interested in applicants who can teach in an additional area such as design, photography, drawing, digital media, or another complementary discipline.

In addition to teaching within the Studio Art Program, faculty contribute to Sweet Briar's interdisciplinary Leadership Core curriculum. The College's academic calendar, including an immersive three-week January Term (J-Term), encourages innovative, interdisciplinary courses and close collaboration between students and faculty. Institutional support for creative activity and research includes internal faculty grants, year-long faculty and student research opportunities, and the Honors Summer Research Program.

Sweet Briar maintains an outstanding art collection, with particular strengths in works by women artists and an extensive collection of works on paper. Holdings include prints by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, Anni Albers, Josef Albers, and many others. The College also hosts regularly rotating exhibitions of contemporary women artists. With the visual arts serving as one of the College's signature strengths, more than 25% of Sweet Briar students major in the arts or complete a certificate in arts management. The successful candidate will have opportunities to incorporate the College's art collection into both teaching and creative or scholarly work.

Qualifications

• MFA or equivalent terminal degree in Studio Art (Printmaking emphasis preferred).
• Demonstrated record of effective undergraduate teaching.
• Active creative practice in printmaking and/or related media.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, student-centered teaching.
• Evidence of ongoing professional achievement through exhibitions, publications, residencies, or equivalent creative activity.
• Ability to teach in a secondary area such as design, drawing, digital media, or another complementary discipline is preferred.
• Experience managing studio facilities and equipment is desirable.
• Commitment to teaching in a small liberal arts environment that values close faculty-student engagement and mentorship.

Application Instructions

To apply, visit the Sweet Briar College Career Center: https://sbc.edu/human-resources/faculty-staff-job-openings/. All applications should include: 1) cover letter; 2) CV; 3) statement on teaching philosophy and creative/research interests; 4) portfolio including both the applicant's creative work (up to 20 images or an equivalent digital portfolio) and student work (up to 20 images or an equivalent digital portfolio); and 5) the names and full contact information for three professional references. Items should be submitted in a single PDF file. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Review of applications will begin on November 2, 2026. and continue until the position is filled.

The salary range for this position is $55,000.00- $61,000.00 per year. This is commensurate with education and experience and will be determined in accordance with institutional guidelines.