2027–28 Stuart B. and Barbara H. Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence (Adjunct Salaried)

Summary

The Stuart B. and Barbara Padnos Distinguished Artist-In-Residence position, made possible by the generosity of Mr. Stuart Padnos, is designed to enhance the learning experiences of students in the Department of Visual and Media Arts, both majors and non-majors. The Department is honored to have been the first unit on the GVSU campus to have an Endowed position.

Through sustained engagement with students and their practice, artists-in-residence provide instruction that strengthens both artistic technique and professional practice. Their teaching includes studio demonstrations, lectures, collaborative projects, critiques, portfolio development, and instruction in the business of the arts, including entrepreneurship, marketing, and career preparation. Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to work effectively with students in a mentorship/teaching context.

Individuals from all backgrounds, including from underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must be able to effectively engage with students, colleagues, and community members with a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

This position is consistent with Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees Policy 4.1.10.  Further information about the position is available at https://www.gvsu.edu/vma/padnos-distinguished-artist-in-residence-125.htm

Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Complete 80 working hours of curricular and co-curricular student engagement activities per academic year, including but not limited to:

• Conducting/presenting lectures, seminars, or workshops that support the curriculum offered in the Department of Visual and Media Arts
• Teaching Studio demonstrations and technique instruction
• Providing career coaching and professional guidance
• Teaching about the business of being an artist/designer/filmmaker/ photographer
• Other high-impact experiences that foster the development of the student’s creative practice

• Be available on campus throughout the academic year
• Complete the selected project by June 30, 2028.
• Maintain a high level of creative/scholarly activity and professional visibility. Projects that involve the local community as well as the student population are encouraged.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Collaborate effectively with the university community (students, faculty, administrative and support staff) to complete a successful residency.
• Maintain any documentation, permissions, or materials that pertain to the project and the appointment.
• Contribute to the Department’s presence in the news and/or social media.
• Promote the importance of education in visual and media arts in all communities they serve.
• Ensure health and safety requirements in accordance with University policies and guidelines.
• Complete a report at the end of the residency according to University guidelines.

Required Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Distinguished professional achievement in a discipline reflected/represented by the Department of Visual & Media Arts: Art Education, Art History, Film and Video Production, Film and Video Studies, Photography, and Studio Art (Foundations, Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Studies)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect and empathy. 
• Demonstrated the ability to work effectively with students in a mentorship/teaching context .

Salary/Benefits

Compensation per semester in residence:

• Fall semester: $25,000
• Winter semester: $20,000

Limited benefits package including medical, life insurance, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire

Additional Forms of Support

• Housing allowance: $8,000
• Project Development budget: $20,000 (the proposed project must be completed by July 31, 2028, and presented in September 2028). The Project Development Budget may be used for material support for developing the project, professional development opportunities pertaining to the development of the project, production assistance toward execution of the project, and equipment purchases pertaining to the project. Any equipment purchased with these funds will remain property of the University.
• Private workspace in the Calder Arts Center, measuring approximately 10x10 ft.
• Working Laptop for the duration of the appointment
• Advisory Board support
• Welcoming Event in the fall 2027 semester
• Dissemination event in the fall 2028 semester
• Access to Visual and Media Arts production spaces, galleries and equipment after consultation with the appropriate facility managers.

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Department: The Department of Visual and Media Arts strives to uphold the values of a liberal education while offering intensive engagement in the production and critical examination of the visual and media arts. As educators, artists, and scholars, we value investigation of the world through participation in broad cultural discourses. In addition to preparing students formally and conceptually for careers in the visual arts, the department strives to foster the broadly transferable skills of inquiry, reflection, critical analysis, dialog, and expression. 

The department is located in Allendale, MI. It has 38 full-time faculty members (28 tenure-stream and 10 non-tenure stream) and has over 500 majors. The Department offers major degrees in Art Education (BA, BS), Art History (BA), Film and Video Production (BA, BS), Photography (BA, BS), and Studio Art (BA, BS, BFA with emphases in Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Studies). Additionally, the Department also offers minors in Art History, Film and Video Production, Photography, Studio Art, as well as a rich catalog of courses for non-majors. Grand Valley State University is an institutional member of the National Association of Schools in Art and Design (NASAD), and its Art and Design programs are fully accredited. 

The Department is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for digital and physical media, including computer labs, digital fabrication labs, digital printing labs, animation labs, a film/photography studio, a woodshop, a metal shop, a print shop, studios for painting and ceramics, and a darkroom. Further information about the department is available at http://www.gvsu.edu/vma.

College: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at GVSU, offering over 50 bachelor’s degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

University: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts approximately 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources - Human Resources - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service.

Grand Rapids Region: Culturally, the Grand Rapids area is an active hub for art and design, housing the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the South Division Street Corridor known as Avenue for the Arts, and the international art competition ArtPrize.

How to Apply

There will be two separate rounds in the application process. The search committee will contact selected applicants to submit their Round 2 application directly.

Round 1 Information

A complete Round 1 application must include the following items. Candidates must apply online at GVSU Careers. The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically, in the same file location. Please note that the online application system has a maximum quota of 10 Mb.

• A Creative Work Proposal (≤ 800 words), that addresses the following (PDF):
  • The work(s) you intend to execute
  • Past projects/experiences that helped form/shape this project.
  • How this(these) work(s) contribute to your field.
  • Which intended audiences you wish to engage with your project
• A Student Engagement Proposal (≤800 words), that addresses the following (PDF):
  • Interested in mentoring undergraduate students in any of the disciplines in the Department of Visual and Media Arts
• A letter that addresses how you imagine the residency impacting the Department of Visual and Media Arts and/or the University community? (PDF)
• Curriculum Vitae, with a link to a portfolio site/electronic document featuring other completed works. (PDF)
• A Statement of Creative Practice, indicating contextual information relevant to the work.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

If you need technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. If you have questions about the position or the posting, please contact Renee Zettle-Sterling, [email protected].

Application Deadline

The review process will begin on November 15, 2026. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University thereafter.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.