Director of School of Media Arts Job Description

Director, School of Media Arts

College of Fine Arts

The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona College of Fine Arts seeks a dynamic, experienced and visionary Director to lead the School of Media Arts.

After 30 years of status as a department, the newly established School of Media Arts is embarking on the next stage of its development and the successful candidate will lead efforts to achieve its goals, including: developing terminal graduate degree programs (MFA and/or PhD); expanding liaisons with the film and television industry; and securing support and funding from local, regional, and national groups and individuals invested in creative expression in the media arts.

The School of Media Arts provides students with professional preparation in the art of filmmaking and for scholarly activity in media arts. The School currently consists of 325 full-time students and maintains highly selective admission standards for the B.A. in Film and Television Studies, B.A. in Producing, B.F.A. in Film and Video Production, M.A. in Media Arts, and a Minor in Media Arts.

Students and alumni have enjoyed recent success, including a major production grant from Kodak, festival screenings at Sundance, an Academy Award, and acceptance into respected graduate programs. Alumni success stems in part from an active and respected internship program, which annually provides over 100 students with professional experiences locally and nationally.

The School's 15 faculty members include scholars, filmmakers, producers, and scriptwriters whose works continue to receive national and international recognition. Eight administrative and technical staff members support the daily operations of the School’s teaching, research and outreach missions. The School recently moved into a new complex of offices and teaching facilities, including a soundstage, post-production labs, and fully equipped media classrooms.

As one of five professional schools in the College of Fine Arts, the School of Media Arts encourages interdisciplinary teaching and research within the College, and promotes public understanding of media through outreach in Arizona and the Southwest. Faculty members lead and support Tucson and southern Arizona’s active media landscape.

The School of Media Arts enjoys a close working relationship with the Hanson Film Institute, which provides and supports educational programs, public events, and creative projects to advance the art and business of film. In partnership with the Hanson Film Institute, the School helps support the Latino Producers Academy, an annual program of The National Association of Latino Independent Producers conducted in Tucson.

The University of Arizona is a Research I, land-grant institution that enjoys a national and international reputation for its creative work in the arts, and its scholarship and research in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. The University of Arizona has long been an integral part of the vibrant culture and growing economy of the city of Tucson, a metropolitan area of nearly one million.

For more information about the School of Media Arts: http://web.cfa.arizona.edu/mediaarts/

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the chief academic, administrative and fiscal officer of the School of Media Arts and represent the School on the College of Fine Arts’ team-based strategic planning task force.
2. Provide leadership for the School's current and future plans for expansion and curricular development.
3. Support and balance the needs of the School’s divisions and programs.
4. Serve as the primary advocate for the School in academia and the film and television industry.
5. Establish and implement a development plan to draw upon the resources of alumni, philanthropic, community, and industry-based groups.
6. Guide collaborative projects of the Hanson Film Institute.
7. Teach and maintain research.

Qualifications:

1. MFA or PhD and evidence of accomplishments that merit appointment as a tenured full professor.
2. Proven record of successful leadership in an organizational or administrative environment.
3. Broad-based knowledge of the media and film arts and awareness of new directions.
4. Demonstrated success in developing and supporting cultural and curricular diversity in the academic community.
5. Experience and demonstrated success in fundraising, development and community outreach.

To apply on-line, visit the Human Resources website. Please reference job #39506.

Applicants should send a letter of interest, full curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Application review will continue until an appointment is made.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, the University of Arizona recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences and backgrounds. The University of Arizona is an EEO/AA-M/W/D/V Employer.