SMU #51226 Assistant Professor of Art History (Medieval Art)

Description

The Department of Art History in the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University seeks a specialist in the art and architecture of the Medieval period, broadly defined. Applications are welcome from scholars specializing in any period from AD 400-1400, whose research focuses on Europe, the Mediterranean, and/or culturally interconnected artistic traditions (Jewish, Islamic, African/Indian Ocean traditions).

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinarity, strong visual analytic skills, theoretical fluency, and a broad knowledge of Medieval visual culture. Potential research interests may address questions of art and thought;

institutional and social/historical critiques of artistic production and reception; history and theories of vision, artistic media, and spatial practice; ritual performance and sacrality; interconfessional relations and exchanges; cultural poetics of gender and sexuality, social identity, and the political imaginary; cross-cultural exchange and interculture. We encourage candidates whose teaching would engage the resources

and programs of cultural institutions on campus and in the area, including the art collections at the Meadows Museum, Bridwell and DeGolyer Libraries, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Kimbell Art Museum. We particularly encourage applications from candidates whose work crosses disciplinary/methodological boundaries, engages with emerging fields, and leverages or enhances the department's existing strengths. 

We are a collaborative department built around innovative faculty research and teaching. Our faculty and our undergraduate, MA, and PhD programs pursue critical reassessment of historical and new media, a broad understanding of visual/cultural/somatic technologies, and a particular interest in race, gender, and class. We seek a colleague who will play an important role in shaping the future of research, curriculum, and pedagogy in department and the university. 

All applicants must be able to teach introductory and upper-level undergraduate courses, as well as lecture courses and undergraduate and graduate seminars in their area of specialization. The standard departmental teaching load is 2/2; the successful candidate will also advise graduate research at the MA and PhD levels. Faculty in the Department of Art History receive leaves, research and travel support. In collaboration with colleagues in allied specialties in the Department of Art History, the candidate will assume an important role in shaping the future of research, curriculum, and pedagogy at the institution. 

Position starting date: August 1, 2026. Salary commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

·      Ph.D. in-hand by August 2026

Application Instructions

Applications Must Include:

• Cover Letter, CV, one or more publications
• Names and contact information for three letters of reference/support.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio at the following link: URL. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by November 17, 2025, though the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. 

About The Meadows School:

Founded in 1969, the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University is one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. The Meadows School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in advertising, art, art history, arts management and arts entrepreneurship, creative computation, music, theatre, dance, film and media arts, public affairs & corporate communication, journalism and fashion media. The goal of the Meadows School of the Arts, as a comprehensive educational institution, is to prepare students to meet the demands of professional careers. The Meadows School is a leader in developing innovative outreach and community engagement programs, challenging its students to make a difference locally and globally by developing vital connections between art, entrepreneurship and change. The Meadows School of the Arts is also a convener for the arts in North Texas, serving as a catalyst for new collaborations and providing critical industry research.

About Smu:

SMU, a private nonsectarian university of roughly 12,000 students, is an inclusive and intellectually diverse community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas and is dedicated to academic excellence. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is a culturally rich arts and global business center and home to over eight million people, offering exceptional museums, diverse cultural attractions and a vibrant economy. .

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.