General Information of Campus and Unit
New Mexico State University invites you to apply to be a part of a diverse, dynamic and welcoming learning and working environment in Las Cruces, NM. NMSU seeks employees who are creative and flexible in developing and evaluating new ideas and ways to evolve NMSU into the future. Located in the borderlands and adjacent to the mighty Rio Grande, NMSU is a proud Hispanic-serving institution in the minority-majority state of New Mexico. Southern New Mexico features an average of 294 days of sunshine annually, making NMSU ideal for job-seekers who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and bird-watching. NMSU is committed to sustainability through improving and maintaining the quality of human life while preserving the integrity, stability, and beauty of ecological systems for the future. We are looking for student-centered employees with a passion for success. NMSU invites you to take the first step to your successful and rewarding career by applying today.


NMSU is New Mexico’s land-grant and space-grant institution, a comprehensive research institution dedicated to teaching, research, public service and outreach. In addition, the NMSU system includes a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, Cooperative Extension Service offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. New Mexico State University is the institution of choice for more than 15,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries.


The City of Las Cruces is the second largest city in New Mexico and is located in Doña Ana County, approximately 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas, and 225 miles south of Albuquerque. Las Cruces is the economic and geographic center of the Mesilla Valley, the agricultural region on the floodplain of the Rio Grande which extends from Hatch to the west side of El Paso, Texas. The Organ Mountains, 10 miles to the east, are dominant in the city’s landscape, along with the Doña Ana Mountains, Robledo Mountains, and Picacho Peak. Las Cruces lies within a short driving distance of the Mexican border at Santa Teresa, as well as many other locations in the broader borderland region.


Geography, climate, demographics, and ambiance of Las Cruces and NMSU combine to offer a truly excellent place to thrive. Family members will discover a warm, open community that offers an attractive array of activities and outdoor recreation, amenities, services and opportunities, whether they are looking for top-notch education, meaningful employment, or simply a safe and comfortable place to live.
Position Number 197473
Position Job Title Assistant Professor of Art History
Rank Assistant Professor
Tenure Status Tenure Track
Position Summary
The Department of Art at New Mexico State University is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Contemporary Art History and Visual Studies. Responsibilities include teaching a 3/3 annual course load and advising at the undergraduate and graduate levels; building and maintaining an active and innovative research agenda and record of dissemination through scholarly publications and/or curatorial activities in national and international venues. The successful applicant will help collaborate with the redesign and updating of fundamental and Gen. Ed survey courses to better reflect current conversations around representation, as well as the lived experiences of our diverse students. The candidate will also develop courses to support department needs, including upper-level courses and advanced seminars that are cross-listed at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The candidate will keep up with contemporary trends through networking with regional art institutions. Duties also include service contributing to departmental and university initiatives and outreach responsibilities.

The Department of Art is housed in the new state-of-the-art Devasthali Hall and offers BA degrees in Studio Art and Art History, BFA degrees in studio art and museum conservation, an MA degree in Art History and an MFA in Studio Art. NMSU also offers a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies.
Required Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Art History, Visual Studies or a related field with an emphasis in Contemporary Art, and an active research record in their area of specialty. Applicants who are ABD may also be considered but Ph.D. is required by the start date in August 2023. Specialty is open, and candidates must show a demonstrable knowledge of the history of global theoretical discourses within art; a focus on contemporary art and craft practices; and an active awareness of global trends in art, aesthetics, and politics.
Preferred Qualifications (optional)
We especially welcome applicants who bring methodologies and research interests that address the cultures of the complex Borderplex region in which NMSU is located. We also welcome applicants who bring complementary strengths in fields such as Indigenous art and visual culture, Latin American and LatinX art, curatorial practice, museum studies, and/or other emerging or underrepresented areas of scholarship. Teaching experience beyond the graduate assistantship preferred.
Special Requirements of the Position
Special Instructions to Applicants
All applications must be submitted online. Please submit a letter of interest, current CV, unofficial transcripts, statement of research agenda as well as a sample of research, statement of teaching philosophy, and names and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2022. Applications received after that date may not be reviewed