Lecturer - Photography

Georgia State University is a national model for innovation and opening opportunities for all, among the top five most innovative by U.S. News & World Report, ranked 1st among public universities in undergraduate teaching, the number 1 nonprofit university to award bachelor's degrees to African American students, 4th in the country for its first-year student experience, and highly ranked for enabling the social and economic mobility of its students. Among the most diverse universities in the nation, Georgia State opens global perspectives as the number 1 U.S. public university sending African American students to study abroad.

A regional gateway to higher education, the five suburban Perimeter College campuses provide more than 30 associate degree pathways. The downtown Atlanta campus offers more than 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate and first-professional degree levels.

With five university-wide research centers and numerous centers and institutes at the college and school levels, Georgia State's interdisciplinary, dynamic and productive research enterprises address major health and societal challenges. It is one of only 146 universities with an R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, an honor reserved for the nation's most active research institutions. Outgoing research expenditures have doubled in the last decade and topped $1.2 billion over the last six years, an indication of the University's rapid research growth.

Georgia State is vital to the regional economy, with a more than $2.9 billion economic impact, and is also a vital part of Atlanta's vibrant arts and entertainment community, with highly regarded programs in music, art, creative writing and film, the Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Creative Media Industries Institute that contributes to innovation and the workforce for interactive media and media entrepreneurship.

General information on faculty roles and responsibilities can be obtained from the Faculty Handbook https://faculty.gsu.edu/faculty-handbook/ and the Office of Faculty Affairs website https://faculty.gsu.edu/. All faculty at Georgia State are, as part of their essential job duties, expected to: (1) be physically present on-campus as needed to contribute to Georgia State's in-person educational experience, and (2) be able to teach in each of the following instructional modalities - in-person, online, or blended/hybrid - as determined by their Department Chair or Dean.

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University seeks a dynamic and innovative artist-educator for applications for a non-tenure-track position in Photography and Expanded Media at the rank of lecturer. This is a full-time, promotable appointment with an anticipated start date of August 2026.

Our structured curriculum integrates all major artistic media, each with dedicated labs and facilities. We support BFA and MFA students in exploring mediums with strong technical knowledge in an interdisciplinary program. The Photography and Expanded Media Program has just completed a renovation, featuring new digital labs, video labs, a lighting studio, printing workspaces with large-format printers, Epson and Hasselblad Flextight X-5 drum scanners, darkrooms for every film format, an alternative process and mural printing room, and cameras available for check out. The Welch School of Art and Design hosts an internationally established Visiting Artists and Scholars series, and the Photography and Expanded Media Program regularly invites artists and curators to class. The area includes four full-time professors, including an area head and a lab coordinator. All courses emphasize a strong technical foundation with a deep commitment to conceptual development, valuing critical theory and historical context to support artistic practice.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to teach and mentor photography students in a large R-1 arts environment in a major city. Georgia State University values both artistic excellence and pedagogical innovation, and has one of the largest photography programs in the Southeast. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to teaching, a deep engagement with the evolving discourse of contemporary photography and bring strong creative, technical, and professional expertise. Applicants should be well-versed in both historical and emerging photographic practices, including analog, digital, hybrid, alternative processes, expanded methodologies, video, and lens-based technologies that push the boundaries of image making.

This position will be part of a robust Photography program that has more than 400 students in courses each year. The photography lecturer will teach majors and non-majors, assist in program/curriculum planning and development and analog/digital lab management. Our campus is located in downtown Atlanta with a rapidly expanding arts community, placing Georgia State at the center of new creative development.

The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching a full load of undergraduate courses in Photography and Expanded Media in any of the following courses: Intro to Photography, Digital Photography, Film & Darkroom, Alternative and Expanded Practices, Studio Lighting + Large Format, Digital Video for Artists, History of Photography and Junior/Senior BFA Critique. Other responsibilities may include new course development, advising BFA students, mentoring MFA students, assisting in the general management of the photography area, assisting with lab logistics, participating in the overall enhancement of the program, service at the school, college, and university levels. Teaching load is eight courses per year (4/4), with a course release in the first year. There are opportunities for administrative advancement, internal funding, and professional development.

1-3+ years of full-time college-level teaching experience beyond the MFA.

MFA in Photography and/or related media by the time of appointment.

- Outstanding educator capable of working across all photographic media, with proficiency in analog and digital processes
- Demonstrated ability to teach, mentor, and support students from all backgrounds.

- Active studio practice with a record of a sustained artistic practice, including exhibitions, publications, awards and/or participation in residencies.

- Conversant with contemporary issues in art history, theory and photographic discourse with a commitment to critical thinking.

- Excellent Communication Skills.

A criminal background check is required.

For further information about the position, contact Search Chair, Associate Professor Jill Frank at jfrank@gsu.edu

Susan Richmond
srichmond@gsu.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To ensure consideration, submit all materials by April 1, 2026. Applicants should submit:

* a letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications and experience;

* a curriculum vitae;

* a statement of teaching philosophy and interests;

* a portfolio with 20 images of current studio work and an artist statement;

* a portfolio with 20 images of student work from courses taught and sample syllabi; and

Please note that documents have a size limit of 20 MB. For documents exceeding this limit, please use Other Documents 1, 2, and/or 3.

Should you be recommended for a position, an offer of employment will be conditional on background verification and the submission of three hardcopy letters of recommendation.

Georgia State University is an equal opportunity employer.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at
https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.