Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice in Illustration and Entertainment Arts

Position Function:

The Department of Art at Mississippi State University invites
applications for a full-time non-tenure track faculty position in
Illustration and Entertainment Arts. Candidates will report to the
Head of the Department of Art and teach courses in support of an
emerging Illustration and Entertainment Arts program. We are
especially interested in candidates with professional experience in
visual development for games, animation, publishing, or related
industries, and those who can bridge professional practice with
innovative teaching. The successful candidate will play a key role
in shaping and expanding a growing Illustration and Entertainment
Arts program, including the opportunity to develop new courses
aligned with their professional expertise. Mississippi State
University is a supportive R1 institution with a collaborative
faculty environment, strong institutional resources, and a
commitment to growing creative disciplines in emerging areas of
entertainment arts. The anticipated start date for this position is
Fall 2027.

Salary Grade : UC

For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary
ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Since its establishment in 1968, the Department of Art has grown to
become Mississippi’s largest undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts
program. We provide dynamic, hands-on studio instruction in the
areas of graphic design, photography, and fine arts — covering
ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and
illustration. By balancing in-depth studio experiences with
thorough art history, theory, & criticism, our students benefit
from an immersive and rigorous learning environment. Our
accomplished faculty lead inspiring and innovative courses in
global contemporary art, video art, typography, furniture making,
life drawing, among many other advanced techniques and topics. In
addition to preparing students for professions in the fields of
fine arts, graphic design, and photography, we are committed to
fostering an inclusive and creative culture. We actively position
art in the service of the University, the community, and region
through our innovative gallery programming, a student-led design
agency, and contributions to local public art.

Recently, the College of Architecture, Art and Design has developed
a flexible, interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree designed to
integrate the disciplines of our four units: Architecture, Art,
Interior Design, and Building Construction Science. We have also
welcomed several new faculty to the Department of Art who
specialize in digital and multimedia processes. These changes
reflect our dedication to keeping our program relevant and
technologically current. As we expand our existing coursework in
digital design, entertainment arts, digital painting, digital
fabrication, and other media-based arts, we look forward to
bringing on new talent. Ambitious artists and designers are invited
to contribute to this dynamic period of growth and
opportunity!

Mississippi State University continues to earn national recognition
for excellence in both employment and community impact. Recently,
Forbes honored MSU as one of America’s Best Large Employers,
America’s Dream Employers, and Best Employers for New Grads—a
testament to our commitment to cultivating a supportive,
forward-thinking workplace.

Further affirming that reputation, MSU has been named to the
Chronicle of Higher Education’s Great Colleges Honor Roll and
recognized as one of the 2024 Great Colleges to Work For. This
places us among just 53 institutions nationwide to receive this
distinction, with top marks in critical categories such as job
satisfaction and support, compensation and benefits, professional
development, mission and pride, confidence in senior leadership,
shared governance, and faculty experience.

The accolades extend beyond campus. Our hometown of Starkville,
Mississippi, was recently named USA Today’s 2024[RJ3.1] and 2025
Best Small Town in the South, highlighting the vibrant, welcoming
community that complements the MSU experience.

Area of Specialization:

Illustration

Anticipated Appointment Date:

August 16, 2027

Tenure Track Status:

Non-Tenure Track

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach and help develop courses in Illustration and Entertainment

Arts across beginning to advanced levels as well as assisting with
Foundations classes.

• Integrate professional practice and contemporary industry

knowledge into teaching.

• Develop new courses aligned with the candidate’s area of

expertise and professional practice.

• Maintain an active body of creative work through exhibitions,

publications, or professional/industry engagement.

• Advise students and serve on undergraduate thesis

committees.

• Collaborate with faculty on curriculum development and portfolio

reviews.

• Participate in departmental, college, and university service as

appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

Terminal degree in a discipline appropriate for the position or an
equivalent level of professional achievement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A distinguished academic and/or professional record of creative

research activities.

• Historical and theoretical knowledge of illustration as related

to entertainment arts.

• Teaching experience beyond the TA level.
• A record of professional activity, creative research,

exhibitions, publications, competitions, and/or industry
engagements.

• Experience with industry relevant tools such as Photoshop, Clip

Studio Paint, Procreate, Illustrator, Blender, Maya, ZBrush, Unreal
Engine, or similar platforms is highly valued.

• Demonstrated ability in one or more of the following areas:

character design, 3D character modeling, creature design,
storyboards, editorial illustration, comics, graphic novels.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

•MFA or equivalent terminal degree by time of appointment.

•Proficiency in common digital drawing and design software.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Moderate physical activity. Studio courses are approximately three
hours in length.

Instructions for Applying:

All applicants must apply online at
http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu and attach a cover letter,
current resume or cv, and the complete contact information for at
least three professional references.

File 1: A single PDF document containing cover letter, cv, artist
statement, one page statement of teaching philosophy, and complete
contact information for at least three professional
references.

File 2: A single PDF containing twenty images of personal creative
work (or links to time-based media) clearly labeled with media,
dimensions, and date (maximum file size is 20MB).

File 3: A single PDF containing twenty images (or links to
time-based media) of student work reflecting instruction in
Illustration and Entertainment Arts. Images should be clearly
labeled with course title, assignment name/objectives, media,
dimensions, and date (maximum file size is 20MB).

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 6th, 2027, and will
continue until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.
Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or
activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy,
religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation,
genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status
to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal
opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office
of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O.
6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a
disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to
apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please
contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu .

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the
Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu . Upon
request, sections of this job listing are available in large print,
and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.