Assistant Professor, Creative Leadership + Entrepreneurship

ABOUT WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY :

Willamette University founded in 1842 is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs including Oregons top-ranked MBA program the Northwests oldest law school as well as MA / MFA programs at PNCA and masters degrees in data science and computer science.

Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary includes options for health dental life insurance retirement substantial paid time off tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette please contact our HR Department or call us at .

College Background

Pacific Northwest College of Art is the oldest professional art & design college in Oregon. It began as the Portland Art Museum school in 1909 and operated independently until its merger with Willamette University in 2021. PNCA is now the second largest college within the University. Willamette University provides rigorous education in the liberal arts arts & design law and management through its undergraduate and graduate programs and lifelong learning programs. PNCA has approximately 550 students in 10 undergraduate and 6 graduate programs. PNCA sparks curiosity and sharpens skills so students can build resilient creative careers anchored in innovation justice and civic addition to our academic programs we serve as a cultural front porch bringing artists designers scholars and community partners together through the Center for Contemporary Art Culture where we showcase lectures talks exhibits and events that connect Portlanders to art design and creative exploration.

Campus Community

PNCAs campus model is centered on a framework of wellness. We believe artists designers writers scholars must be connected healthy and collaborative in order to thrive. Our Academic Wellness Student Affairs Office of International Education Maker Spaces and Career Design Center weave together with our teaching faculty to support the whole student fueling a campus that sparks fierce collaborators bold makers and citizen artist / designers.

Position Background

In 2023 the faculty initiated a curricular review of core programs and general education. Grounding the review was an examination of alumni data national research on arts / design and creative careers and an overarching question what information skills and experiences do todays creative workers need to thrive in a changing world The data revealed several key trends for today / future arts workers :

Rapid acceleration of technology and associated skills

High demand for creative work in non-creative sectors increasing need for creative transdisciplinarity world view and knowledge

Increased emphasis on universal management skills like financial planning project management marketing and entrepreneurship

The ability to adapt and change career pathways and roles over time with a focus on risk taking adaptability and collaboration

This combined with the increased demand within higher education to support career readiness for students led to a revision of both the college learning outcomes and the adoption of a new general education 2026 we will initiate the new program of study which sunsets our traditional humanities sciences mathematics and art history model and launches a framework of Foundation Studies Interdisciplinary Studies and Applied Creative Practice (ACP) . Applied Creative Practice courses are scaffolded over 4 years and expose students to concepts scholarship and tactical skills in business management entrepreneurship arts administration and venture development alongside a wider examination of creative and cultural citizenship in a changing world. All of this is done with a focus on collaborative and project-based learning.

Overview of Duties

This position will work with the chair of Applied Creative Practice to teach core courses in the department. The position may also teach in other areas based on candidate discipline and college addition to teaching the position will have service assignment coordinating with the Office of Career Design to design / build / scale and align project based client opportunities student ventures and career-based community partnerships. This is an opportunity for an innovative and dynamic arts / design / arts administration leader / scholar to help shape and build a program and curriculum for creative arts leadership and career success.

Teach courses annually in Applied Creative Practice or Foundation.

Mentor students and coordinate departmental visiting artists and studio visits.

Maintain a service assignment within the Office of Career Design to support program development and adjacent career projects opportunities and partnerships

Participate in admissions recruitment open houses portfolio reviews and industry events as requested by the Dean and Sr. Associate Dean.

Under the direction of the Assessment Coordinator participate in annual assessment.

Participate in required faculty professional development orientation and onboarding

Participate in faculty governance service to school and the wider creative community

Participate in holistic student care and case management processes.

Keep up to date with professional and industry best practices.

Foster an inclusive learning environment.

Faculty at PNCA

The primary professional responsibilities of instructional faculty members are : teaching research scholarship and / or creative activity and service to the College and larger University profession and to the community. These responsibilities generally include : developing and enhancing curriculum advising students participation in campus and University-wide committees maintaining office hours working collaboratively and productively with colleagues building external partnerships and industry relationships and maintaining a vibrant creative practice and engagement with faculty and university governance. PNCA faculty are engaged and active in the classroom community and in governance.

Desired Knowledge Skills and Abilities

The candidate will have a scholarly and / or professional background in arts administration creative leadership creative enterprise / entrepreneurship or significant professional applied skills with these areas of knowledge in arts / design / cultural administration. This may include :

Knowledge of theoretical frameworks critical perspectives professional standards and foundational business practices within arts design and associated creative sectors

Broad world view including theoretical and / or applied work in artistic economies cultural organization leadership or cultural policy

Teaching experience in applied creative practice topics such as :

Strategy systems thinking

Creative Venture development Entrepreneurship

Branding Marketing and Social Media

Arts administration and cultural leadership

Creative Project Management

AI or LLM ethics or practices within the creative industries

Cultural Policy

Applicants will have relevant academic degree and field / work / applied experience in at least one of the above areas of knowledge as it pertains to professional applications for artists and designers across creative sectors.

Applicants will be comfortable with using technology used in a classroom setting.

Applicants will be able to demonstrate pedagogical knowledge of their subject area and have previous experience teaching at the collegiate level.

Minimum Qualifications

Masters level terminal degree or equivalent professional experience or BA with 5 years of relevant higher education or formal community based teaching experience.

Evidence of an active professional practice and teaching within the field of arts administration creative leadership entrepreneurship or creative career advising

Evidence of successful collegiate teaching or rigorous community-based teaching experience

Evidence of advancements in their own field of professional practice.

Demonstrated professional networks in associated fields of practice.

We ask that candidates follow instructions to ensure effective material review. To apply you will need to upload the following documents as part of your application materials in the My Experience section labeled Resume : Please note that Workday limits material document submissions to only five total documents.

Cover letter highlighting your interest and relevant teaching experience

Professional resume / CV

Creative Research summary that should include overall statement of creative or scholarly research link to portfolio or website (if applicable) and up to five specific pieces of recent creative work or scholarly work that includes links descriptions and dates for created work. This should be saved as one PDF.

A statement of inclusive teaching and at least 5 examples of selected student work projects or sample assignments with equivalent course information. This should be saved as one PDF.

Salary : Starting at $62424 commensurate with experience

Applications should be received by December 1 2025 for optimal consideration . The position will remain open until filled.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Questions may be directed to Professor Ardis DeFreece .

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT :

All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT :

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS :

Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments listed at the bottom of the page must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.

Key Skills

Experience Working With Students,Classroom Experience,Medical Management,Library Services,Pharmacy Residency,Research Experience,Teaching,Higher Education Teaching,Curriculum Development,Grant Writing,Mentoring,Research Laboratory Experience

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1