Assistant Professor -Game Design/Creative Technologies

Title:Assistant Professor -Game Design/Creative Technologies
Division Name: Academic Affairs
College/Unit: Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts
Department: Creative Technologies Program
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University seeks to hire a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor to join its team of interdisciplinary digital arts faculty beginning August 16, 2024. The successful candidate will teach on-campus courses within the Program in Creative Technologies in the Game Design Sequence.
We seek a collegially minded digital creative emphasizing game design and development along with a strong teaching, research, and creative agenda. An ideal candidate will leverage technical skills within their work to build on our collective knowledge of how we relate to games and how they impact our lived experience, i.e. games for change, activism, art, learning, accessibility, etc.
We are looking for educators prepared to teach a variety of courses including introductory level courses in game design (analog games, digital prototyping tools) and development (Unity with C#, Unreal Engine with Blueprints, etc.), as well as more advanced classes reflecting their research agendas and interests. We encourage applicants with a body of innovative work that challenges traditional academic and cultural delineations of artistic production and gaming.
The successful candidate will be working with and teaching all levels of cross-disciplinary creative students for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Responsibilities of this position include teaching three courses per semester, continued scholarly/creative activity in the appropriate field, and university service including but not limited to committee work, departmental activities, recruitment, and curriculum development. Responsibilities also include scholarly research/publishing, effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, and service. The normal teaching load is nine credit hours per semester. The individual in this position is thus expected to teach 3 courses each semester in the Creative Technologies program.
The position is a nine-month, tenure track appointment with the possibility of summer teaching. Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience. The locus of annual evaluation, tenure, and promotion in rank will be in the Wonsook Kim School of Art. A comprehensive benefits package is included.

Additional Information

About the Program:
The interdisciplinary Creative Technologies Program emphasizes design and practice in the integration of digital technologies and the fine arts. In addition to foundational study across the fine arts, the major provides training and experiences across a range of creative/technical fields including video, sound, electronic music, music production, gaming, motion graphics, interactivity, AR/VR, UI/UX, mobile, web, and computer programming concepts. Creative Technologies majors can currently choose from three distinctive paths:
1. Sequence in Interdisciplinary Technologies - blending multimedia, technology, and fine arts training aimed at creative professional environments and the entertainment industry, along with developing the aesthetics, artistry, and technical skills of individuals looking for a broad range of career options.
2. Sequence in Game Design – integrating technical and creative capabilities, intentional design thinking, and player-centric awareness to craft engaging analog, 2D, and 3D games. This sequence equips students with the skills to develop immersive gaming experiences, while preparing them for a wide array of careers within the game and related industries.
3. Audio Music Production – cultivating expertise in sound engineering, sound design & composition, and audio technology to prepare students for diverse roles in music production, recording, and the broader music industry.
About the College & School:
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and student body committed to teaching and working in multicultural environments. We strongly encourage applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, women, veterans, individuals who are gender-fluid, or from other marginalized communities.
The programs within Creative Technologies and the Wonsook Kim School of Art are committed to increasing the representation of BIPOC people, women, disabled people, and people embodying all expressions of gender and sexuality. Candidates who have experience working with a range of faculty, staff, and students, and who can contribute to the culture of openness, belonging, and mutual support are especially welcome to apply.
The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts includes the Creative Technologies Program, the Wonsook Kim School of Art, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance—all of which have a rich and varied curriculum including drawing, animation, video, music composition, music business, voice acting, fight choreography, dance and movement, performance, production and lighting design, and text/script analysis.
Illinois State University: Illinois State University http://www.illinoisstate.edu, founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois. There are approximately 21,000 students in the six colleges of Illinois State University. In our most recent strategic plan Educate Connect Elevate, we have committed our resources to realizing seven core values: Learning and Scholarship, Diversity and Inclusion, Respect, Collaboration, Individualized Attention, Civic Engagement, and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our University being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Also visit the University’s metrics of excellence at (http://illinoisstate.edu/pointsofpride/).
Bloomington-Normal Community: Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. SmartAsset ranked Bloomington IL, in the top 20 of the most livable cities in the U.S. (2022). Zippia named Bloomington, IL, as #1 on their “Happiest Cities” list (2020), and Best Choice Schools listed the area on its “30 Small College Towns with Great Quality of Life” (2020). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis, two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis, and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield; many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via the Amtrak located 1 block from ISU’s campus. For more information on our community, please visit (http://visitbn.org/).

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Required Qualifications

1. Hold a terminal degree in Game Design or a related field; however, A.B.D. candidates will also be considered with an expected completion of their doctoral degree before May 15, 2024.
2. Evidence of active professional activity and research.
3. Experience in effectively organizing and delivering instructional content.
4.Practical experience designing and producing games or related interactive platforms.
5. State law mandates demonstrable oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position.

Work Hours

Varies

Proposed Starting Date

August 16, 2024

Required Applicant Documents

Please attach a single PDF file that contains the following:
1. Letter of application
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. A list of three references with contact information
4. Links to your work and, if available, examples of your student's work
5. A 2-3 pages statement describing your teaching and research/creative philosophy
6. A 1-2 pages statement demonstrating your commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching, research, and/or service (service can be both within the university or in the larger community)

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior

Special Instructions for Applicants

Initial review of applications begins December 1, 2023 and continues until the position is filled.

Contact Information for Applicants

Wonsook Kim School of Art
Amy Meyer
ammeyer3@ilstu.edu
309-438-5619
Human Resources
Michelle Klunke
msklunk@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.