Job Description

Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar

Position: Director of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Open
Promotion: Eligible for promotion in academic rank
Salary: Commensurate with experience and training. Generous international benefits available.
Program: Liberal Arts and Sciences
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: July 1, 2025

Review of Applications: Review of applications continues until position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due January 17, 2025.

This full-time, 12-month position is Open Rank, is non-tenure-eligible (term), and begins July 1, 2025.

The Opportunity:
VCUarts Qatar is thrilled to announce an opportunity for a dynamic and collaborative academic leader to join as the Director of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program. The Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Program at VCUarts Qatar is crucial in providing a well-rounded education that complements the specialized disciplines of the arts and design majors, which include Graphic Design, Interior Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting and Printmaking, and Art History programs. It aims to broaden students' intellectual horizons, enhance critical thinking, and foster an understanding of diverse cultural and social contexts. As a highly multidisciplinary program, LAS requires a director who can learn the expectations and nature of different disciplines and work effectively across them to support faculty and students' teaching and research needs. The program includes courses in various fields such as history, literature, philosophy, psychology, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences, ensuring that students gain a comprehensive foundation in the liberal arts.

In this role, the director ensures that the Liberal Arts and Sciences Program remains a vital part of the educational experience at VCUarts Qatar, supporting students in becoming well-rounded, critically engaged, and globally aware creative professionals.

The curriculum for this program is adapted from the VCU ConnectED general education curriculum at the main campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. VCUarts Qatar, a branch campus located in Doha, extends this program to its students. The ConnectED curriculum at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a core education program designed to provide students with a broad, interdisciplinary foundation that enhances their major-specific studies. It focuses on equipping students with essential skills and knowledge that are applicable across various disciplines and careers. Key features include:
1. Integrated Learning: ConnectED promotes interdisciplinary connections by encouraging students to explore different fields of study and apply what they learn to real-world problems.
2. General Education Core: The curriculum includes a wide range of courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics, helping students develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.
3. Focus on Global and Cultural Awareness: ConnectED emphasizes global perspectives, diversity, and cultural understanding, preparing students to navigate and contribute to an increasingly interconnected world.
4. Experiential Learning: Students are encouraged to engage in hands-on experiences such as internships, service learning, and research projects, which allow them to apply their academic knowledge in practical settings.
5. Lifelong Skills: The program aims to develop skills like critical analysis, creativity, ethical reasoning, and collaboration, which are valuable for personal and professional growth.

Overall, the ConnectED curriculum enhances VCU students' ability to think broadly, communicate effectively, and act thoughtfully in a diverse, global society.

There are generous benefits associated with the Director appointment:

• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities

Major Responsibilities:

• Implement the ConnectED (General Education) components of the curriculum for the undergraduate degree granting programs;
• Assume responsibility for faculty and staff recruitment, mentorship, empowerment, and evaluation;
• Serve as a program advocate for students, faculty, and staff;
• Oversee all areas of program administration, including course scheduling, personnel, budget, facilities and equipment management;
• Promote excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement;
• Collaborate with the VCUarts Qatar’s communications team to promote the program, and increase program’s visibility.
• Contribute to student recruitment efforts, collaborating with the VCUarts Qatar’s recruitment and admissions team;
• Foster collaborative relationships across VCUarts Qatar departments, Qatar Foundation partner universities in Education City, and offices and departments on home campus;
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of multiple disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences to support,
• Demonstrate skill in understanding of cultural differences.
• Guide faculty and students effectively in interdisciplinary endeavors.
• Ensure that the program complies with all relevant university policies and relevant regulations;
• Teach courses within the LAS program, corresponding to the needs of the program and the Director’s area(s) expertise;
• Contribute to new knowledge in the field through research and/or creative work, with impact at the national and/or international level;
• Participate actively in institutional service, including governance committees or task forces, as well as service to the creative/academic discipline;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• MFA, PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines, or equivalent professional training and experience;
• Expertise in one or more disciplinary domains represented in the liberal arts and sciences and a demonstrated ability to work across diverse disciplines to create a cohesive and supportive learning environment for both students and faculty.
• A minimum of five years of university-level teaching experience beyond the TA and/or

adjunct level;

• Experience in academic administration or demonstrated leadership in institutional service or service to the field;
• A well-established research agenda and a clear potential for dissemination, external funding, and contributing to scholarship that enhances and extends current school/department expertise;
• Experience developing and leading in a highly ambitious and collegial team environment;
• Academic professional experience in Middle Eastern regional contexts preferred.
• Effective collaborative and communication skills are essential, along with a proven track record of working in a culturally diverse work environment;
• Demonstrated competence working in and creating a trusting, diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, and student culture, or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCUarts Qatar;
• Experience recruiting, hiring, and retaining under-represented faculty and staff, and leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion among all students, faculty and staff is strongly preferred.

VCUarts Qatar:
VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts (VCUarts). Located in Richmond, Virginia, VCUarts (www.arts.vcu.edu) is a top-ranked public art school in the U.S. VCUarts Qatar was established in 1998 through a partnership with the Qatar Foundation and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, interior design, kinetic imaging, and painting & printmaking; a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUarts Qatar is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The current student body represents a diverse range of nationalities with students coming from 34 countries.

VCUarts Qatar is dedicated to global outreach and education and provides students with an environment for cross-cultural exchange that fosters inquiry, discovery and innovation. Examples of this mission are the two significant international conferences hosted by VCUarts Qatar—the biennial design conference, Tasmeem and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art. VCUarts Qatar attracts globally recognized designers, artists and scholars while fostering partnerships within the region, and beyond, that enhance the educational, economic and cultural vitality of Qatar. Having established itself as a center of excellence for education and research, VCUarts Qatar has substantial involvement with the influential art and design world of the Middle East and is a catalyst for the growth and development of these fields in the region. VCUarts Qatar has over 120 full-time faculty and staff and a student body of over 300 students. VCUarts Qatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2500-acre multiversity campus. VCUarts Qatar was joined by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Carnegie-Mellon University, Texas A&M University, Weill Cornell Medical College, Northwestern University, and HEC Paris.

Qatar, with English as the standard second language, is a progressive country in the Arabian Gulf and remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region. Doha offers all the conveniences found in a contemporary and cosmopolitan city, while honoring a rich tradition that is evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. Al-Wakrah Stadium, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, designed by the defunct deconstructivist architect Zaha Hadid was inaugurated in 2021. The National Museum of Qatar, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in March 2019 while the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008 and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf) opened in 2010. The U.S. Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.

VCUarts:
Ranked by US News & World Report as a top five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The school includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Consideration Process and Instructions:
Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence.

VCU strongly encourages applications from all racial, ethnic, gender, and social identities. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience.

Additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can. Be found here.

To apply, please submit application materials via VCU Jobs Website. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

The following documents should be submitted:

• Cover Letter that includes an overview of professional experience and creative research interests
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (see above for details)
• Teaching statement that addresses philosophy of teaching and approach to student mentorship
• List of five professional references including names with titles and contact information (references will not be contacted prior to a candidate’s approval)

Only electronic materials submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, please submit materials by January 17, 2025. Materials will be considered as they are received and until a Director is identified.

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.