Position Details

Position Title:  Indigenous Studio Arts, Tenure-track Faculty Member

Job Summary

The Evergreen State College seeks a versatile and broadly trained faculty colleague to teach design and studio arts from an Indigenous perspective. Applicants should have expertise working with any of a variety of materials used by North American Indigenous artists to produce three- and/or two-dimensional works and should have expertise in the ways such materials have historically been and are currently being used in North American Indigenous communities to create art. Candidates must understand the various customs, protocols, and issues that surround the creation of both traditional and contemporary Indigenous art forms, and should be able to create curriculum that explores the variety of contexts in which Indigenous artists work.

Candidates must be able to teach students to work with a variety of tools and techniques for art making including both those developed by artists in Indigenous communities, and those appropriated from a variety of cultures by Indigenous artists to create their art. We particularly welcome candidates that work in carving or weaving, the predominant art forms of Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples. Candidates must be prepared to teach design fundamentals as well as to explain the history and cultural contexts of Indigenous art in a way that both explains and fosters the diversity of art practice inside the numerous Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest and around the Pacific Rim. Preference will also be given to artists who regularly exhibit work and can teach students how to pursue a successful career in the visual arts.

The Evergreen State College organizes the majority of its curriculum into interdisciplinary, team-taught coordinated studies programs centered on particular themes, and organizes its faculty into interdisciplinary planning units instead of traditional disciplinary departments. Applicants are invited to address (in their letters of application) their visions of innovative approaches to teaching across disciplines, including with other faculty trained in visual arts, Native American and Indigenous studies, and other disciplines. Faculty are expected to teach students at a variety of experience levels and to develop curriculum to serve beginning, intermediate, and advanced students at the college. Because faculty from diverse disciplines are involved in curriculum planning at the college, ideal candidates for the position will demonstrate an engagement with one or more disciplines outside of visual arts. The college encourages applicants who have had experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented populations to apply. Faculty at Evergreen are expected to advise and mentor students and participate in the college’s system of shared governance.

Job Expectations

Most faculty will teach in full-time, team-taught, 16-credit programs connected by a particular theme or line of inquiry. Faculty are generally responsible for evaluating 25 students/quarter, though their programs may include up to 50-75 students, depending on the size of their teaching team. This arrangement allows for in-depth, interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and the building of strong learning communities. Faculty are also responsible for advising students as they reflect on their learning process, develop a pathway of study, and formulate their own areas of concentration.

Our teaching is student-centered, which means we are interested in helping students develop strong skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaborative work. Because over 80% of our students come from underserved and marginalized groups, we are particularly invested in approaches to teaching that emphasize diversity and equity, that provide opportunities for challenge and growth, and that foster a learning environment where all are welcome and all can learn from each other.

A complete list of faculty responsibilities can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (follow the Collective Bargain Agreement link at https://www.evergreen.edu/offices-services/faculty-hiring/benefits).

Minimum Qualifications

• MFA or related professional experience
• Knowledge of Indigenous art history, art theory, and issues within the field of Indigenous art
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching in an interdisciplinary context
• Commitment to working with students from diverse communities
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills, (both verbal and written).

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years of demonstrated experience teaching visual arts at the college level or in community contexts
• Active exhibition record
• Extensive experience working in the Indigenous arts community;
• Experience in business management and marketing of Indigenous art.
• Experience teaching visual literacy, art or craft history, visual theory.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students to support and advance basic writing skills.

Conditions of Employment

* As a condition of employment, persons hired must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of beginning work.

* Prior to an official offer of employment, a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct form must be submitted to the college per RCW 28B.112.080. The college will contact current and past employers to verify this information. Applicants who provide inaccurate information in their declaration will be disqualified and, if the inaccuracies are discovered after the applicant has been hired, it shall be grounds for termination.

Application Instructions

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae or resume
• 1-2 page statement of your teaching philosophy and practice. Please focus specifically on your understanding and experience of interdisciplinary study and what you believe should distinguish a liberal arts education today
• 1-2 page statement of your experience and/or practice with diversity and equity issues (more information is available on our website: http://www.evergreen.edu/facultyhiring/equitydiversity)
• List of 3 professional references, two of whom must submit letters of reference, with current email address and phone number for each reference.
• Portfolio of 10-15 artworks (upload as Scholarly/Artistic Work)

OPTIONAL MATERIALS:

• Student evaluations and/or letters of support from current and/or former students (upload as Student Reference Letter(s))

About Evergreen

Evergreen is an innovative, public, liberal arts college emphasizing integrated interdisciplinary study and collaborative team-teaching throughout the undergraduate curriculum and in three graduate programs. Teaching is the central work of the faculty at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Successful teaching at Evergreen requires broad-ranging intellectual curiosity, the ability to formulate interdisciplinary questions, and the pedagogical skills to support our diverse student population.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. For more information regarding Evergreen’s non-discrimination policies or to report discrimination, please visit the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity webpage at www.evergreen.edu/equalopportunity or contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Officer at (360) 867-5371, Room 3102 Library Building, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia, WA 98505.

Full time/Part time: Full Time

Salary Information Range: $47,075-$106,116 per year. Faculty membership is unranked with salary determined on a non-competitive, open scale based on earned degrees and years of relevant experience.

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies: 1

Location: Olympia

Start Date: Fall 2025

Open Date: 08/23/2024

Review Start Date: Review of completed applications will begin on October 21, 2024. The posting may close at any time after that.

Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://evergreen.peopleadmin.com/postings/4093

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Portfolio
• Teaching Philosophy Statement
• Equity and Diversity Statement
• List of References

Optional Documents

• Student Reference Letter(s)