LECTURER

Candidates shall have received the academic degree appropriate to the assignment of duties, or equivalent experiences or accomplishments in the field may be substituted.

School of Art + Art History
Faculty Position Announcement
Lecturer in Visual Communication Design
Position: Full-time, 9-month with summer appointment, non-tenure-accruing faculty position
Date of Expected Hire: August 16, 2026

The School of Art + Art History in the College of the Arts at the University of Florida invites applications for an instructional faculty member in Visual Communication Design at the rank of Lecturer. This position will contribute to a vibrant, growing program in Graphic Design/Design & Visual Communication with a forward-looking new curriculum at a top public research university. They will join the program at an exciting moment of expansion and development that parallels the university’s increased cultivation of research and the student experience.

During the academic year, this position will teach at all levels in the undergraduate curriculum, including General Education courses for non-majors; introductory courses on the form and philosophy of design or design technologies; upper-level courses on design research, tools, forms, and processes; and a course that guides students through all aspects of working with clients to co-design solutions to problems. The ideal candidate will have experience both as an instructor in higher education and as a professional designer, as well as proficiency with emerging technologies. During the summer, this position will teach one 6-week course and supervise several graduate instructors, with the possibility that the summer course may be taught online.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. As artists and scholars, we embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our students and faculty to shape that experience fearlessly through critical study, creative practice, and provocation. We seek a colleague who identifies as a change-maker. We seek a colleague who will position emerging artists and researchers as catalysts for justice on local and global levels.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution. 

This position is covered by the United Faculty of Florida Contract.  You can view this employment union contract here https://admin.hr.ufl.edu/compliance/employee-relations-and-ethics/union-negotiations/united-faculty-of-florida-contract/.  

Responsibilities:  

• Teach three 3-credit hour courses in the Fall semesters and in the Spring semesters
• This may include courses at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum from General Education courses for non-majors to Graphic Design certificate courses to upper-level courses in the Graphic Design major.
• Teach one 3-credit course during either the Summer A or Summer B semesters
• Supervise approximately 3-4 graduate instructors of record during the Summer semesters
• Serve as instructor of record for undergraduate internships during the Summer semesters

• Develop, revise and deliver undergraduate and graduate curricula
• Active participation in our learning community, finding innovative ways to connect design to critical discourse in other disciplines.
• Participate in shared governance through service to the School, College, and University

SCHOOL OF ART + ART HISTORY: The School of Art + Art History (SAAH) believes that art, design, and scholarship are critical to the cultural life and creative advancement of our local, national, and international communities. We empower each of our 360 undergraduate and 130 graduate students with knowledge, skills, and curiosity to engage thoughtfully and courageously with our changing world. The school offers BA, BFA, MA, MFA, and PhD programs, both residential and online, and students can study art education, art history, curatorial studies, graphic design, design & visual communications, museology (museum studies), and studio art. The 4Most Gallery and the three University Galleries provide exhibition space for international contemporary art and student work. The school has facilities in three on-campus buildings, and three off-campus sites. SAAH is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The School of Art + Art History nurtures a culture of critical inquiry in our scholarly and creative work. The school has 38 full-time (including one director) and 11 part-time faculty, plus 11 staff members. The faculty publish, present, curate, and exhibit widely and internationally at the highest level. They bring their scholarship and creative work into their teaching, offering innovative learning experiences to their students. The school’s programs have a focus on experiential learning and research that engages with our global and local communities. The school’s four galleries serve as a laboratory where students can participate in the lifecycle of the work of art, as artists who display their work, as curators who organize exhibitions, and as historians and critics who articulate what they see. The galleries hosted 26 exhibitions last academic year with dozens of additional exhibitions displayed in other school spaces. The school’s programs in art and design view their work as interdisciplinary and often collaborative with other disciplines across campus. The school’s innovative and growing design program aims to use the State of Florida as a laboratory to develop solutions to real-world problems. The endowed Harn Eminent Scholar in Art History Chair and partially endowed Visiting Artist Series sponsored lectures, masterclasses, and studio visits from 20 artists, scholars, and designers last year, with an additional 30+ paying virtual visits to SAAH classrooms. The annual SAAH New York and Museum Studies trips connect students to alumni and other industry professionals who are thriving in their careers.

THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS: The mission of the College of the Arts is to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond.  We achieve the university’s mission by training professionals and educating students as artists and scholars, while developing their capacities for critical study, creative practice, and provocation.  The College offers baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Approximately 1,700 students are pursuing majors in degrees offered by the College of the Arts under the direction of 135 faculty members in its three accredited schools— the School of Art + Art History, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre + Dance, and in the Center for Arts in Medicine, the Digital Worlds Institute, and the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. In addition, the college comprises the University Galleries, and the University level of the New World School of the Arts in Miami. 

The University of Florida: The University of Florida is a comprehensive learning institution built on a land grant foundation. We are The Gator Nation, a diverse community dedicated to excellence in education and research and shaping a better future for Florida, the nation and the world. Our mission is to enable our students to lead and influence the next generation and beyond for economic, cultural and societal benefit. UF is a graduate research institution with more than 50,000 students and membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. Gainesville, which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most livable cities, is located midway between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Together, the University and the community comprise the educational, medical and cultural center of North Central Florida.

In addition to salary, the University of Florida (UF) offers low cost State Health plans, a number of Dental plans to fit you and your family’s needs, and Vision. Domestic partner coverage through GatorCare is also available. Optional plans such as life, disability, legal and accident insurance are also available.

UF provides a variety of leave programs including sick leave, 11 paid holidays, and family medical leave. Nine-month faculty employees accrue approximately 13 sick days annually. UF also provides you the flexibility to deal with life’s challenges by offering paid family leave, eight full weeks of leave over a 24-month period.

Build a retirement roadmap with competitive pension plans, investment accounts and a host of voluntary add-ons, such as 457 deferred compensation and 403(b) plans.

UF Employees are also eligible for the GatorPerks discount program, which provides big savings at various business and retailers!

Explore UF’s plethora of benefit options here: FACULTY Benefits

$70,000 for 9-month contract, plus $6500 for summer contract for a total of $76,500 per year, with a comprehensive and highly competitive leave and benefits package

The successful candidate must meet all of the following

• Terminal graduate degree (MFA, MDes, MGD, PhD) in graphic design or related field by date of hire
• Experience as an instructor of record in higher education beyond graduate student assistantship
• Ability to teach courses across the Graphic Design/Design & Visual Communications curriculum
• At least 2 years of experience in professional design practice and an active engagement with design research, creative work, or professional practice

• Knowledge of contemporary design issues, concepts, methods, and technologies
• Evidence of successful collaboration and collegiality with faculty, students, and staff
• Evidence of skill in designing and facilitating academic work that advances curiosity, respect, open intellectual discourse, and the welcome incorporation and well-being of all in an environment of complex differences.

The successful candidate will meet some of the following

• Evidence of success as an undergraduate instructor in a BFA or other bachelor’s program that prepares students for professional practice
• Experience overseeing a student-run design studio or course organized as a student-run design studio that finds and serves clients
• 3+ years of professional design practice
• Experience of community-based projects that connect academic research with public interest, for example co-design and/or participatory design projects
• Evidence of a commitment to innovative and cross-disciplinary curricula
• Demonstrated understanding of the impact of design on society and culture

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin January 5, 2026 and continue until an applicant pool is established. To ensure full consideration, all application documents must be submitted by January 5, 2026.  Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority. 

Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system.  Online applications must include the following:

1. a detailed cover letter that explains how you match the particular qualifications of this position and how your work and perspective will contribute to and enhance our transformative community;
2. a curriculum vitae;
3. a PDF portfolio (one file, 5 MB maximum) or a link to a website, which includes 10-15 examples of your creative research, scholarship, professional praxis, or related production; and
4. Names and contact information for three professional references;
5. Name and contact information for a fourth reference. If possible, this should be an administrative or technical staff member. They will not need to write a letter, but we may contact them for a phone conversation.

The UF system will give you the option to upload letters of reference. We are not requiring letters of reference with initial application materials. Please ignore that option. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time, such as a teaching philosophy or sample syllabus.

Inquiries may be sent to:
Brian Slawson
Chair, Lecturer in Visual Communication Design Search Committee
Email: slawson@ufl.edu

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call +1 (352) 392- 2477or the Florida Relay System at +1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.