Chairperson, Department of Interactive Media at Slane College of Communications and Fine Art at Bradley University

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Bradley University seeks a dynamic and imaginative Chairperson to continue the extraordinary development and growth of its nationally ranked department of Interactive Media. The Chairperson is the chief academic and administrative officer of the Department and reports directly to the Dean of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts. The successful chairperson will be:

  • a leader who, based on consensus with the faculty, will evaluate, cultivate, and articulate a vision for the department to develop programs and initiatives commensurate with its growing national reputation as one of the foremost programs of its kind.
  • an excellent teacher with a record of achievement in university-level instruction in new media fields and in scholarly research and publication and/or creative production;
  • an active collaborator who will create dynamic partnerships with other units in the college, across the university, with community organizations, other educational institutions, and commercial and not-for-profit enterprises;
  • a person of vision and wisdom, knowledgeable of the state of affairs and the state of the art in new media and in higher education in the region, in the nation, and worldwide; and
  • an administrator with significant experience and skills in personnel matters, budget management, fundraising, timely decision making, public relations and marketing, entrepreneurial initiatives, recruitment and retention of students and faculty, and delegation of responsibilities. The Chairperson will also be a mentor to guide students to appropriate academic and career paths and to facilitate and promote the professional development of faculty.

The Department

The Department of Interactive Media offers three areas of undergraduate study: Game Design, Animation and Visual Effects, and Interaction Design, with a total (and growing) enrollment of approximately 150 majors and 50 minors. The Department has four full-time faculty members, ten adjunct faculty members, a tech support staff, and an administrative assistant. This highly interdisciplinary department has strong ties to the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems through the joint coordination of the Game Design and Development programs. The Department also maintains strong interdisciplinary collaborations with the Departments of Art, Theatre Arts, Communication, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine. The Department of Interactive Media was created over ten years ago and is currently one of the fastest growing academic units at Bradley University. Both the Animation and Game Design concentrations have been ranked among the best programs in the country for several years, and the Department is a locus of award-winning innovative interactive design and production with an expanding national reputation. 

The Department of Interactive Media is part of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts that consists of the Departments of Art, Communication, Interactive Media, Music, Theatre Arts, an interdisciplinary Global Scholars Program, and its nationally renowned Hollywood Semester. The Slane College enrolls approximately 1,000 students and has a generous endowment, with excellent integrated technology to support teaching and scholarship in six exclusive campus buildings.

Resources

The offices, classrooms, labs, and production facilities for the Department of Interactive Media are located in the renowned Caterpillar Global Communications Center, a multi­million dollar state-­of­-the­-art facility that includes high-­end intermedia computer labs, a videoconference center, digital audio and video editing bays, fully mediated videoconference­-enabled wired and wireless classrooms, and the full HD studio and post-production facilities of the John C. Hench Production Art Studios.

Interactive media students also take classes in the Heuser Art Center with its two campus galleries and facilities for digital photography, printmaking, and 3D rapid prototyping. The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship, a not-for-profit program located at Bradley, assists existing businesses and students with internships, business plans, and start-ups opportunities. The Department partners with Peoria Riverfront Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, to produce an annual showcase of student and faculty creative work as a major event that draws industry leaders and thousands of attendees.  

Responsibilities

Duties of the Department Chairperson include managing the Department budget and facilities; administering faculty retention, development, promotion, and tenure procedures; participating in strategic planning as a member of the Dean’s Executive Committee; working with internal and external constituencies to enhance active support; friend and fund raising; improving academic programs; recruiting and retaining excellent faculty, students, and staff; and facilities management in conjunction with full time university staff. The Chairperson is a member of the faculty and has release time for administrative duties. Teaching responsibilities usually include two courses each semester. At least one of the courses usually focuses on production and will engage students in a studio setting. Course instruction should be in the candidate’s areas of highest competency in one of our three programs: Game Design, Animation and Visual Effects, or Interaction Design.

Rank and Compensation

Associate or Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Interactive Media. Salary and benefits are very competitive. Appointment is for nine months with summer duties at additional compensation. Employment at Bradley University is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check.

Qualifications

Required: Qualification for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure; an earned appropriate terminal degree in a related area of study such as Game Design, Animation, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Digital Media, Graphic Design, or Film and Television Production; a record and evidence of successful university teaching at the undergraduate level; evidence of leadership and significant academic administrative experience including personnel matters, budget management, fundraising, timely decision making, public relations and marketing, entrepreneurial initiatives, recruitment and retention of students and faculty, delegation of responsibilities, and the capacity to be the primary driver for an active and highly successful unit; experience in the commercial sector and/or other professional experience in interactive media; and a record of traditional and/or applied research and creative production. Candidates should also have a history of building industry relationships and professional partnerships, and the ability to leverage and build student opportunities through applied research and creative production. Preferred candidates will be conversant in new media theory and demonstrate a high level of technical skill in at least one of the department majors.

Starting Date: August, 2015

Application

Send a letter of interest addressing suitability for the specific requirements of the position; curriculum vitae; portfolio evidence of research and/or creative production; and the names, titles, and contact information of at least three current professional references. Review of applications and nominations begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations and applications for this position should be sent electronically in PDF format to Robert Rowe, Search Committee Chairperson at imchair@bradley.edu.

Visit Bradley University online at: www.bradley.edu

Visit the Slane College of Communication and Fine Arts at: http://gcc.bradley.edu/slane/

Visit the Department of Interactive Media at: http://gcc.bradley.edu/im/

Bradley University, highly rated by U.S. News and World Report, is an independent, comprehensive university enrolling 6000 students. Founded in 1897, it is among the finest universities in the Midwest. Bradley combines the advantages of larger research universities with those of smaller liberal arts colleges. Midway between Chicago and St. Louis, Peoria is a metropolitan area of 350,000 people with a very active creative community which hosts many professional arts organizations including two renowned symphony orchestras, ballet, theatre companies, and a Smithsonian-­affiliated museum. The metropolitan area is also home for many interactive media firms and outlets. The Peoria Civic Center houses convention facilities, a sports/concert arena, and a 2,200-seat theatre that hosts Broadway touring productions. Peoria is home to several companies with international operations, major medical facilities, and a regional airport with direct connections to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Detroit, Minneapolis, Tampa, and Orlando.

 

Bradley University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Members of ethnic minorities and women are especially encouraged to apply and identify their status.