Assistant Professor in Art & Art History - Photography

The California State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Photography with a focus on emerging technologies, including AI, digital imaging, computational photography, and related tools shaping contemporary lens-based practice. We seek an artist-scholar whose work engages imaging technologies within interdisciplinary practice.

The ideal candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses, contribute to interdisciplinary programs, and help develop the Photography

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Photography, Fine Art, Media Art, or related field by appointment time.
• Active exhibition record and a clearly articulated research agenda in photography and lens-based media.
• Strong grounding in history, theory, and philosophy of photography and image culture.
• Ability to teach undergraduate (BFA) and graduate (MFA) levels in digital photography, studio lighting, and related areas.
• Awareness of educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population.

Responsibilities

• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in Photography and interdisciplinary art.
• Advise BFA and MFA students in Photography.
• Conduct research and creative activity in areas of expertise.
• Participate in shared governance and service assignments.
• Organize all classes within the Canvas LMS.
• Demonstrate awareness and experience with diverse student needs through inclusive teaching materials and advisement.
• Contribute to development and evolution of the Photography curriculum with contemporary methods.

Skills

Exhibition record in photography

History/theory of photography

Cross-disciplinary teaching

Diversity-minded teaching

Teaching at undergrad and grad levels

Education

MFA/PhD or terminal degree in Photography or related field

Tools

AI in photography

Computational imaging

Digital imaging

Hybrid media

Job description

Position Rank and Title

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Photography, emphasis in AI and Digital Imaging

School/Department Name

Department of Art and Art History

Compensation

Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $90,000 - $94,000. Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date

August 15, 2027

Application Deadline

15 December, 2026

Position Description

The Department of Art and Art History at San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Photography with a focus on emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital imaging, computational photography, and related tools shaping contemporary lens-based practice. We seek an artist-scholar whose work critically and creatively engages new and evolving imaging technologies within interdisciplinary contemporary art practice. At a moment when AI and machine learning are often construed as technological threats to the independence of artistic labor, we are particularly interested in candidates who approach these emerging technologies as tools within a broader, conceptually rigorous set of processes, integrating digital technologies, including AI, with material, embodied, and socially engaged forms of production. We are especially interested in artists whose practices move fluidly between digital and physical forms, and who explore how emerging technologies intersect with material processes, installation, performance, sculpture, print, or other expanded media. Collaborative and cross-disciplinary approaches are highly valued. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SJSU offers a unique context for examining the aesthetic, cultural, political, and ethical dimensions of AI and technological innovation. The College of Humanities and the Arts hosts an Advanced Institute for Ethical Technologies (AI-ET) and a Digital Humanities Center, the latter in collaboration with the SJSU King Library. The ideal candidate will help students develop critical, adaptive, and responsible creative practices that prepare them to navigate and shape a rapidly evolving visual landscape.

San José State University is committed to excellence through diversity and to fostering an inclusive academic community. We encourage applications from candidates who will contribute to the cultural and intellectual diversity of our campus. The Department of Art and Art History and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Terminal Degree in Relevant Field: MFA, PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in Photography, Fine Art, Media Art, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• An active exhibition record and a clearly articulated research agenda in photography and lens-based media.
• A strong grounding in the history, theory, and philosophy of photography and image culture.
• The ability to teach across undergraduate (BFA) and graduate (MFA) levels in digital photography, studio lighting, and/or related areas.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Two or more years of university teaching experience.
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Technical Aptitude for and Critical engagement with emerging technologies such as AI/ML, generative imaging, computational or expanded photography, digital video, and hybrid analog/digital processes.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration within a department that includes robust programs in Digital Media Art, Studio Practice, and Art History; and within a college that includes an Advanced Institute for Ethical Technologies and a Digital Humanities Center.
• Experience in mentorship and student-centered learning: Preference will be given to applicants with a strong background in mentorship and a commitment to student-centered learning approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in Photography and appropriate areas of interdisciplinary art.
• Advise BFA and MFA students in Photography.
• Conduct research and creative activity related to areas of expertise.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of the Photography curriculum, incorporating contemporary methods and practices in lens-based practices.

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of background and reference checks (including criminal records and prior employment) are required. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at [e-mail].

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at [e-mail].