Position Overview
Merrimack College is seeking applications from individuals interested in working within an exciting, interdisciplinary, growing academic environment. Applicants should be committed to excellence in teaching and service. The full-time position integrates contemporary web and app design, user experience, and motion design through the lens of brand identity design. The Graphic Design major is one of four majors within the interdisciplinary Department of Visual & Performing Arts in the School of Arts and Sciences. The position is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Required Qualifications:
- MFA or PhD (completed by August 15, 2024) in Interactive Design or related design discipline
- Thorough knowledge of discipline’s contemporary processes, methodologies, and technologies applicable to UX, UI, interactivity, and web design
- Ability to teach interactive design, as well as a range of foundation/advanced level courses across the Graphic Design curriculum
- Professional demonstration of excellence in Graphic Design relevant to the position
- A desire to identify and foster creative and innovative interdisciplinary collaborations within the Department and the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as across the College as a whole
Preferred Qualifications:
- Professional working knowledge of best practices within the professional design industry in regards to teaching interactive design and brand identity.
- 3 years College-level teaching experience
- Knowledge of and ability to teach web design, user experience, and motion graphics
Primary Teaching Responsibilities
- Deliver three undergraduate courses in an academic semester
- Stay current with emerging trends and advancements in the field to ensure course content is up-to-date and aligned with industry needs
- Mentor and advise students toward academic and professional success
- Maintain regular office hours for student consultations
- Actively participate in departmental and institutional activities
- Collaborate in a collegial and professional manner to foster a supportive and positive working environment
Primary Service Responsibilities
- Direct the Warriors to Work program for graphic design majors
- Revise and maintain the Department’s website: major and minor revisions, additions, news on students/faculty and alumni, etc.
- Direct and manage the Annual VPA Lecture and Workshop Series (6-8 programs each year)
- Committee member on the McCoy Gallery Working Group
- Help organize and participate in both Sophomore and Junior Portfolio Reviews (individual critiques of 15-20 portfolios a year)
- Assist in development of Graphic Design program curriculum, as well as interdisciplinary departmental curriculum and courses
- Assist with student recruitment and internship advisement
- Develop interdisciplinary partnerships with other programs: Comp Sci and Entrepreneurship
- Participate in College and departmental service and governance
Application Materials Should Include:
- Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- 3 samples of relevant course syllabi
- Names and contact information for three (3) professional references
- Digital samples or a link to 10 examples of creative/scholarly work
- Digital samples or a link to 10 examples of student work
Deadline: Preference will be given to applicants who apply before February 1, 2023. This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Vaccinations and Work Location
This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.
The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
