The School of Media Arts & Design
James Madison University
Director Search

The School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD) at James Madison University seeks applications and nominations for the position of Director. The post will be a renewable appointment at the rank of tenured Professor or Associate Professor and will begin July 1, 2008.

We seek candidates with strong leadership skills, able to manage a converged media program and lead a diverse 20-member faculty in the development of a projected College of Communication, Information, and Media, which may include a graduate program.

Candidates should be able to help develop and represent the faculty's vision for future media education within an innovative, student-oriented environment that focuses on teaching across five concentrations: Journalism, Cinema Studies, Digital Video, Interactive Media, and Corporate Communication.

Responsibilities of the appointment include: administration of faculty, staff, and student affairs; budget and resource management; recruitment of faculty; and limited teaching. The Director also should be an effective fundraiser and a persuasive advocate for the School to university executives.

In addition to a terminal degree in a communications-related field, the position requires an active record of scholarly or creative achievement and significant teaching experience at the college level. Prior administration of a successful media and communications program is preferred.

The School of Media Arts and Design is a rapidly expanding program that currently enrolls 600 undergraduates. In 2005, SMAD moved into a new facility with a state-of-the-art high-definition television studio. For more information about the program and its activities, please access http://smad.jmu.edu.

James Madison University is a comprehensive state institution whose present enrollment of 17,000 students is expected to rise to more than 20,000 over the next six years. It has been ranked as the South's top public master's level university for the 14th consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 “America's Best Colleges” guide. JMU also has earned national recognition for its outstanding first-year experiences, learning communities, and service learning.

Located in Harrisonburg, a community of 41,000 in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, JMU is 2 _ hours from Washington, D.C. and one hour from Charlottesville.

Applicants should initiate the application process by accessing http://joblink.jmu.edu and searching for posting number 0401880. Also send the following by mail: a cover letter reviewing your qualifications and administrative philosophy; a curriculum vitae; three letters of recommendation; the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of two additional references; and a complete set of official transcripts. Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

JMU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Equal Access employer and especially encourages applications from minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. We seek candidates who will contribute to a climate of diversity.

Applications should be addressed to:
Dr. Eva M. McMahan, Chair
Search Committee for Director of the School of Media Arts and Design
James Madison University
MSC 2106
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
FAX: 540-568-6059
mcmahaem@jmu.edu