Contractually Limited Term Appointment, Assistant Professor: Indigenous Visual Culture

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create

OCAD University , Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan  and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.

OCAD University invites applications for a full-time one-year (with possibility to be renewed for up to a three-year term) CLTA position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Indigenous art history, curatorial and artistic practice in the Indigenous Visual Culture program. This position is expected to commence August 1, 2025 and is subject to budgetary approval.  

The Indigenous Visual Culture (INVC) program at OCAD University combines practice-specific and interdisciplinary studio-based learning, and courses in the visual, cultural, social and political history of Indigenous peoples. The program prepares students to engage in complex and evolving global discourses in Indigenous history, art history and contemporary art practice across a range of expressions, material and media. It can lead to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or an interdisciplinary minor.  

The Faculty of Arts & Science and Indigenous Visual Culture seeks qualified Indigenous candidates who can demonstrate how their lived experience and community responsibilities inform their work and whose theoretical and making/design expertise provide offerings that meet current areas of need within the Faculty. The successful candidate will be expected to teach at all undergraduate levels, to maintain an active research profile, to contribute to the ongoing development of the INVC curriculum, and to participate in other activities that contribute to the thoughtful and accountable bringing of Indigenous knowledges into the university. 

The ideal candidates will have a PhD or equivalent in Indigenous Studies, Art History or Fine Arts related discipline with a specialization in current aesthetic, theoretical, axiological and methodological concerns of Indigenous works, traditions and perspectives. Official community recognition of Indigenous knowledge keeper status, a Master’s degree, or equivalent experience will also be considered. Candidates should hold a proven record of creative community activism, professional practice and/or collaborations relevant to Indigenous art and design. A strong record of research, scholarship and professional creative practice; evidence of positive post-secondary teaching experience; and an aptitude for innovative curriculum development in a degree-granting art and design institution are considered assets. 

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES 

The successful candidate will: 

• Teach five (5) undergraduate courses in the area of Indigenous Visual Culture within the Faculty of Arts & Science. 

Courses may include:  

Additional Responsibilities:  

• Participate in contributing to student success at OCAD U through the ongoing development, decolonization, and bringing of diverse knowledges into the undergraduate curriculum, policies and promotion through Faculty and Program meetings and initiatives  
• Perform course outline development, and course delivery inclusive of lectures, critiques, grading, mid-term evaluations, and final evaluations/reviews, including responsibility for health & safety and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines  
• Provide service to the faculty and University-wide governance system, as well as participate building the University community and promoting the quality of student life and University culture 
• Participate actively in professional practice, research and/or scholarship within a relevant discipline is an asset 

QUALIFICATIONS 
The ideal candidate should have: 

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline, such as Art History, Indigenous Studies, Curatorial Studies. A Master’s degree or equivalent professional and community experience will also be considered 
• Demonstrated ability to teach Indigenous Visual Culture at the post-secondary level  
• Experience proactively advancing decolonization, diversity and equity, Indigenous knowledges and sustainability in curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and creative/professional activities  
• A record of research or professional practice in a relevant area 
• An aptitude for developing and delivering innovative curriculum 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and organizational skills 
• Demonstrated collegiality, conflict resolution skills, and sensitivity to the learning needs of students 
• A proven record of promoting respectful and inclusive work and learning environments for students, staff, and faculty 
• Experience teaching art and design students is a strong asset 

REMUNERATION 

Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications with access to full benefits and pension contribution after one year of service. 

Applications should include:  

• A letter of intent stating the candidate’s interests in the areas of teaching, research/professional practice, and service to Faculty- and University-wide governance 
• A curriculum vitae 
• A statement of teaching philosophy that responds to the profile of the position 
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (such as sample assignments, student feedback, course evaluations, etc.) 
• A digital portfolio of recent work/publications (if applicable) 
• The names and contact information of three referees 

Application Deadline: Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Chair, CLTA, Indigenous Visual Culture, Search Committee, Faculty of Arts & Science, online by clicking “Apply Now” below.  

*Please upload your resume and cover letter as one PDF. Please name your upload:  FirstName_LastName-Job Code

The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD University understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous administrators, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

OCAD University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please  contact  People & Culture for more information or refer to  OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities  .

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.