Position Title: Assistant Professor

Employee Classification: LC Faculty TT/TN 9m

College/Division: Arts and Sciences College

Department: 440105-CREATIVE MEDIA

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate with qualifications

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The Creative Media Institute at New Mexico State University is seeking to fill a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Animation and Visual Effects.

Classification Summary:
The Creative Media Institute at New Mexico State University invites applicants for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Animation and Visual Effects, with an appointment to begin in the Fall semester of 2026.

The Creative Media Institute (CMI) is a department of The College of Arts and Sciences at New
Mexico State University. CMI is a dynamic, cross-disciplinary program that prepares students
for the 21st century in animation, creative writing, and digital filmmaking. At CMI,
we are dedicated to developing and nurturing the artistic endeavors of student filmmakers
through industry-standard education, research, and collaboration in the art, craft, and
production of the moving image through storytelling. The animation program at CMI was
ranked 17th in the nation in 2024 by the Animation Career Review, placing New Mexico State
University in the top 20% of public animation programs.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative community of arts and media faculty who are shaping the future of media education. You will have opportunities to develop forward-thinking curriculum, engage in scholarly and creative activities, and contribute to our department's tradition of excellence in teaching and learning. We seek a dynamic artist-educator who will collaborate with CMI colleagues to effectively teach the interwoven animation and visual effects curriculum.

Classification Standard Duties:
The successful applicant will have responsibilities in the areas of teaching and student advising, creative or scholarly research, and service to the department, university, industry, and community. The position carries a course load of 9 credit hours per semester and may involve classes like Previs, Storyboarding, Visual Effects, and Light/Shade/Render. It also requires research or creative activities with high relevance to Animation & Visual Effects

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
● Terminal degree (MFA or equivalent) in animation or other relevant field, or equivalent professional experience (2 years or more).
● Demonstrated proficiency in Sequence Design, Visual Effects, Lighting, and /or Compositing.
● A Generalist Animator familiar with the 3D Animation Pipeline.
● Demonstrated ability to develop and teach courses at the foundational and advanced
undergraduate level in animation.
● A student-oriented teacher, able to support a diverse student body with evidence of instructional effectiveness in higher education,
● An empathetic and team-based teacher who thrives in an interdisciplinary setting.
● A research record or potential research agenda pertaining to animation or related fields.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
We are looking for a talented and collaborative colleague who specializes in compositing and visual communication design. Candidates should also have a comprehensive knowledge of 2D & 3D animation / VFX post-production workflows. The candidate must be able to teach undergraduate-level courses in Animation & Visual Effects at both the foundational and advanced levels. Preference will be given to candidates who can teach any of the following:

● Previs
● Storyboarding
● Visual Effects
● Light / Shade / Render
● Other classes in the 3D/VFX Animation pipeline

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Teach 3D Animation and Visual Effects classes for the Creative Media Institute in a 3/3 load, perform departmental service and outreach, conduct creative and/or scholarly research, and collaborate with other faculty on new curriculum and program development.

Preferred Qualifications

-Software Proficiencies:
Nuke or equivalent compositing software.
Maya or equivalent 3d software.
Adobe After Effects

-Traditional art background with hand-drawn experience.
-Understanding of the principles of animation.
-Experience in pursuing external funding and involving undergraduates.

Special Requirements of the Position
To apply, please submit the following:
-A cover letter stating your experience in relation to the required and preferred qualifications and your commitment to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment in the classroom, department and university.
-A Teaching Statement describing teaching philosophy and pedagogical approaches.
-Curriculum Vitae
-URL Links to an online portfolio, with samples of professional and scholarly work.
-The contact information for three references who will be contacted at a later time.

Department Contact:  Ilana Glassco Lapid, 575-646-4403, ilapid@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.