Assistant professor of teaching drawing

Assistant Professor of Teaching: Drawing

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Assistant Professor of Teaching: Drawing at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Located in the heart of Detroit's Cultural Center, Wayne State University is seeking qualified candidates to fill a full-time non-tenure track appointment as Assistant Professor of Teaching in the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design with teaching emphasis on Drawing and related 2D art/design practices.

The ideal candidate is, first, excited to come to Detroit. This person understands Detroit is a city of arts and culture, where its core identity is rooted in innovation and creativity. Wayne State University's distinct characteristic is its Detroit location. A center for design and innovation, Detroit is the only city in the US designated as a UNESCO City of Design. The Detroit Institute of Arts, recognized as one of the nation's premier art museums, is located just one block from campus. Detroit is rich with engagement opportunities; of note are the annual Detroit Month of Design, a series of exhibitions and events in venues across the city, and the Kresge Artist Fellowships, awarded annually to emerging and established artists residing in the metropolitan Detroit tri-county area.

Drawing is both a concentration and a core requirement of our degree programs and serves fine art and design majors. This position is the perfect opportunity for someone who is enthusiastic about immersing themselves in the fine art and design community, teaching at an access university, and joining our diverse faculty and staff in strengthening our programs.

This position requires excellence in teaching an array of drawing courses and the ability to synchronize the Drawing 1 coursees and advance the Drawing curriculum. The candidate may also teach in other areas across the department that are connected to their research expertise, such as painting, printmaking, digital arts, or other 2D media.

Responsibilities include:

Teach undergraduate courses

Oversee Drawing curriculum in collaboration with colleagues

Contribute to curriculum development

Participate in appropriate service / committee work

THE JAMES PEARSON DUFFY DEPARTMENT OF ART, ART HISTORY, AND DESIGN: The department has a deep history in Detroit located at the center of the historic Cass Corridor art movement. The department offers programs leading to the following undergraduate degrees: BA in Art, BFA in Art, BFA in Design, BA in Art History and BA or BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising. The department also offers the following graduate degrees: MA in Art, MFA in Art, and MA in Art History. The department currently has 27 full-time faculty for approximately 10 graduate students and 600 undergraduate students. The department is regionally and nationally recognized for providing a high-quality education in the fine arts, design, and art history. For more information, visit

THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY: As a university, we have a responsibility to uphold diversity as a value, and demonstrate commitment, through our policies and actions. Through our everyday activities and interactions, creative and scholarly practices, curricular design and teaching, and service and community engagement, we seek to create an inclusive institutional atmosphere that recognizes and celebrates the inherent value of a diverse campus community.

We are a university of access and opportunity, and we have a responsibility to demonstrate a commitment to our mission of providing access to an excellent and affordable college education. We are here to make our students' lives and futures better. Financial aid avenues that help support this commitment are the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Wayne State Guarantee (a tuition-free program open to all Pell Grant-eligible Michigan residents, as well as most families who earn less than $70,000) for first time students, and Michigan Reconnect for transfer pathways. In addition, the Detroit Promise award ensures any eligible Detroit-resident student graduating from a high school in the city will have a tuition-free path to a bachelor's degree.

The James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design, is one of four departments in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; the other constituent units are the Department of Communication, the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, and the Department of Music. The college offers 17 undergraduate programs, 10 graduate programs and three graduate certificate programs. It is home to today's aspiring artists, performers, scholars, dancers, debaters, entrepreneurs and communication professionals who all represent the college's legacy of excellence in our respective fields.

From debate to dance, jazz to journalism, and fashion design to center stage, our students create captivating performances, inspire artistic and academic excellence, and conduct innovative research on behalf of our Detroit community. The college's alumni include a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and winners of and nominees for the Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Obie, Screen Actors Guild and Caldecott awards.

Wayne State University is a Carnegie Tier 1 Research (R1) university enrolling more than 24,000 students in 350 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the University's 13 schools and colleges. Wayne State's immediate neighbors in our Midtown Cultural Center include the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Opera Theatre. The vibrant Midtown and Downtown areas are also home to active theatres, galleries, professional sports stadiums, and entertainment venues ranging from Detroit Artist Market and the Fox and Fisher Theatres.

Qualifications:

We are seeking an exceptional educator with a strong teaching practice related to drawing and 2D art/design and strong organizational skills. An appropriate terminal degree or equivalent professional experience is required in art, design or a closely related field. A willingness to mentor students from diverse populations is essential.

All applicants must apply on Wayne Talent at with the required documents.

Applications must include the following:

Completed application form

Cover letter

Curriculum vitae

Application materials compiled as a single bookmarked PDF. Please upload these as one document in Other.

Teaching philosophy

Sample Syllabus

20 images of work samples or link/s to a portfolio of 20 work samples

Names and contact information for three references

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on January 4, 2026 Applications remain open until the position is filled. The position begins August 18, 2026 ; salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Inquiries about the position may be directed to:

Adrian Hatfield, Committee Chair
Department of Art, Art History, and Design
Wayne State University
150 Art Building
5400 Gullen Mall
Detroit, MI 48202
[email protected]

Preferred qualifications:

Experience teaching various aspects of drawing and 2D art/design is preferred, as is experience working across disciplinary boundaries. Additionally, a minimum of two years of teaching at the college level and evidence of teaching effectiveness is desired.

School/College/Division:

H04 - Fine & Performing Arts

Primary department:

H0402 - Art, Art History, and Design

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Academic/Faculty

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary

Working conditions:

This position must be filled pursuant to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, and as such may be filled by a qualified bargaining unit member, should one apply.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.