Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

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POSITION SPECIFICS

The Department of Graphic Design at the Stuckeman School in Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture invites applications for two full-time tenure-track positions in Graphic Design to support a systems-based approach to visual communications.

Appointment conditions: This is a tenure track, 36-week appointment with the possibility of supplementary summer appointments in research and/or teaching. Full University benefits apply. Penn State is committed to fair and merit-based hiring practices and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.

Responsibilities: The position will include teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in the Department of Graphic Design. Candidates are expected to continue engagement in professional research and creative activities. The position requires participation in departmental activities and service to the school, college, and University committees as assigned.

Required qualifications:

* Earned terminal degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a comparable terminal degree (such as an MFA in Design, a Master of Design, or a Ph.D. in Design) at the time of appointment;

* Evidence of a commitment to a successful design practice and to developing a significant program of research, commensurate with experience;

* Evidence of a commitment to excellence in teaching and advising, commensurate with experience;

* Evidence of thoughtful curriculum development, effective teaching practices that support student success, and collaborative engagement within the college community.

* Evidence of a commitment to collaborative and respectful engagement with colleagues and learners from a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

Desirable qualifications:

We seek dynamic designers and educators who bring a strong foundation in communication design and a demonstrated commitment to design thinking and innovative practice. We invite candidates whose work advances the field through creative, critical, and/or technological means.

We welcome applications from designers with strengths in any of the following areas:

* User Interface and User Experience Design (UI/UX)

* Information design and data visualization

* Typography, visual systems, and form-making

* Design for digital platforms or interactive environments, environmental or experiential design

* Computational or generative design

* Interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with Architecture, Landscape architecture, and beyond

* A strong record of professional and/or independent studio experience in graphic design, demonstrating excellence in creative practice

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State [http://www.psu.edu] is a comprehensive, multi-campus research university serving all regions of the Commonwealth, as well as the nation and the world in instruction, research, and service roles that require responsiveness to and support from society's public and private sectors. As a land-grant university, Penn State has responsibility for providing a wide array of programs in the professional and technical disciplines, as well as a balanced offering of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences. Penn State shares with other major research universities the traditional responsibilities to discover, develop, preserve, and disseminate knowledge.

The University Park campus is located within State College, PA, which was recently ranked number 5 in a ranking of top college towns by the American Institute for Economic Research, University Park/State College (86,000 inhabitants/44,000 students) is a delightful small city located in a central Pennsylvania valley of beautiful farmland amidst wooded mountains. Yet, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh can each be reached in a four-hour drive or less.

The College of Arts and Architecture

Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture [https://arts.psu.edu/] proudly serves as one of the major cultural centers between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The college is a comprehensive arts community committed to artistic and scholarly creativity, research and the preparation of specialized practitioners in a dynamic array of arts and design disciplines; to undergraduate general arts courses for all students; and to community engagement in its programs.

The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Art History, the H. Campbell and Eleanor R. Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the School of Music, the School of Theatre and the Penn State School of Visual Arts. Please visit the units' websites to learn more about the degrees they offer to approximately 1,700 students. The college also includes the Center for the Performing Arts, the Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State Centre Stage and Penn's Woods Music Festival, which serve as important cultural resources that provide educational outreach programs for Penn State and area communities. In addition, the college is home to research centers and institutes, which help to foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while at the same time leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university. The college is housed in sixteen buildings that include performance and exhibition spaces as well as specialized studios and labs.

The Stuckeman School

The Department of Graphic Design resides in the Stuckeman School [http://www.stuckeman.psu.edu] with Architecture and Landscape Architecture.The Stuckeman School offers a number of key research centers and initiatives, and a broad array of additional collaborative opportunities that exists University-wide and within the school, including Stuckeman Center for Design Computing, a collaborative research and teaching studio-lab focuses on developing and testing innovative computational design techniques, and Hamer Center for Community Design, a research center explores three key topical areas: design/build, community-based research, and public interest design.

The Department of Graphic Design

Penn State Graphic Design [https://arts.psu.edu/academics/department-of-graphic-design] has produced a legacy of success and leadership for generations of design professionals. We challenge designers to actively shape the world we live in. We anticipate an evolving context for professional practice through innovative problem-solving at different scales-from objects to systems-engaging with people-centered research and theory, ethical practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Our department is a close-knit community of designers, educators, and students united in a shared passion for design as a force for positive change. We value curiosity, collaboration, and experimentation, cultivating an environment where creativity and innovation thrive. Faculty and students together sustain a vibrant, supportive culture that welcomes diverse voices and approaches to making.

As part of a major R1 university, we offer the resources of a large institution paired with the personal connections and mentorship of a small program. For more than 50 years, our program has upheld a legacy of excellence in graphic design and design education, strengthened by a thriving global alumni network. Our graduates consistently distinguish themselves through exceptional creative achievement and leadership across the design industry. The Penn State Department of Graphic Design is a uniquely dynamic and rewarding place to teach, learn, and grow as a designer and educator.

Application Procedures

Applicants must submit letter of application documenting qualifications for the position, a current curriculum vitae, copies of official graduate transcripts (where appropriate), up to three representative reprints or preprints of scholarly publications (if available), and at least three names, mail and e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of academic references.

In your cover letter, describe how your academic research, creative activity, pedagogy, and service experience contributes to creating/maintaining an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues.

The College of Arts & Architecture is committed to fostering a culture that is fair, inclusive, and respectful of all individuals. We strive to create an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and all members of our community have equitable opportunities to succeed. Through our curricula, values, standards, policies, and practices, we promote inclusive excellence and uphold the principles of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Candidates are welcome to share experiences that demonstrate their commitment to these values and goals, and their ability to contribute to an inclusive academic community.

Applications received by December 4, 2025, are assured full consideration; however, applications will be received until the position is filled.

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BENEFITS

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

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