Chair of Comics & Narrative Practice

Job Description

The Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is seeking a dynamic and visionary faculty member to lead our Comics & Narrative Practice program, guiding its academic direction and expanding its connection to professional practice and creative industry networks. We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in comics, graphic storytelling, illustration, and/or sequential art, with additional experience in publishing, narrative design, or related visual communication fields. We encourage applications from individuals with a proven record of teaching and academic leadership, a professional practice in comics or related media, and a commitment to inclusive and innovative pedagogy. Candidates with industry connections-both locally in Columbus and nationally-are especially encouraged to apply. The ability to build, test, and continuously improve curriculum within an evolving academic environment is essential to the role.

This chairship includes a teaching requirement. In this position, the faculty member will develop and teach courses in comics creation, narrative structure, visual storytelling, character development, world-building, and the business of comics and comics publishing.

Faculty rank will be determined based on prior full-time teaching experience. While CCAD does not offer tenure-track positions, the college offers multi-year full-time teaching employment agreements.

This position will begin January 2026 and will report to the Associate Dean of Entertainment Design.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Pedagogical Effectiveness

• Lead the Comics Department by establishing learning outcomes for the major, ensuring a forward-thinking, industry-relevant, and student-centered curriculum.
• Conduct departmental operations including curriculum design and learning support for students.
• Cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and challenging learning environment that prepares students for professional careers in comics and adjacent fields.
• Assess departmental learning outcomes and course learning outcomes and conduct Student Progress Assessment and Academic Program Review.

Faculty Recruitment, Mentoring, Management, & Support

• Provide departmental leadership through faculty hiring, orientation, and mentoring.
• Facilitate faculty evaluation for full-time and adjunct faculty, including conducting or delegating reviews and observations.
• Manage and supervise faculty employees in a unionized environment.
• Compile area-specific resources as needed, including ordering materials for labs or classrooms specific to the discipline.
• Coordinate with the Faculty Director of Academic Operations regarding course-specific classroom needs and course scheduling.

Student Recruitment, Engagement, & Retention

• Collaborate with Enrollment Management and Student Affairs to attract and retain a diverse student body, including meeting with prospective students and parents at on-campus and off-campus recruiting events.
• Facilitate collection and exhibition of student work for end of year exhibitions, marketing purposes, and assessment of student learning.

External Engagement

• Represent the major and college in collaborations with external partners, including work with CCAD's Creative Careers and Collaborations program.
• Maintain connections with alumni in the major through events and outreach.
• Develop partnerships with local, national, and international comics professionals, publishers, and creative organizations to support student learning and professional development.

Teaching, Professional Practice, & College Service

• Teach between 4 and 6 undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year in areas related to comics, sequential art, and visual storytelling.
• Maintain an active professional practice and contribute to service within the college community.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master's degree in comics, illustration, visual storytelling, creative writing, or a related field.
• Demonstrated professional experience in comics or sequential art, with a strong publication or exhibition record.
• Experience teaching comics, illustration, or visual storytelling at the college level.
• A strong understanding of the comics industry and current trends in publishing, independent comics, webcomics, or visual narrative media.
• Proven leadership and curriculum development experience.
• Strong industry connections and community engagement in the comics or publishing industries.

Preferred Qualifications

• A terminal degree in comics or related field
• Experience leading an academic program

Faculty Resources & Professional Development:

CCAD faculty have access to internal funding opportunities to support professional practice, research, travel, and creative projects. Faculty also benefit from opportunities to collaborate with publishers, independent creators, and arts organizations to ensure the department remains aligned with evolving industry needs.

Application Requirements:

A completed application will include:

• A cover letter that outlines your qualifications for the role, highlights your teaching philosophy, and discusses your experience teaching through a lens of cultural competency.
• A CV including contact information for three references.
• A portfolio link showcasing professional comics work and/or student outcomes from courses you've taught.

Additional materials may be requested later in the interview process.

Review of applications will begin on October 9, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

For questions regarding the position, applicants are encouraged to contact the search committee chair, Robin Zomchek ([email protected])

About Columbus College of Art & Design

Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers nine BFA programs and a Master of Professional Studies in User Experience Design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. Additionally, CCAD offers year-round community art classes for children and adults of all ages, led by local creators and designers skilled in their craft. For more information, visit ccad.edu.

About Columbus:

As the 14th largest city in the country and the largest and fastest-growing city in Ohio, Columbus is collaborative, open, and dynamic. Between incredible arts and entertainment, exciting collegiate and professional sports, and a spectacular downtown riverfront of sprawling greenspace, Columbus has something for everyone. Here, you'll find all the culture and amenities you'd expect in a major city, with the friendly and approachable attitude of the Midwest. Franklin County, where Columbus is located, is

the epicenter of the state's political, economic, and social presence and is home to 1.3 million residents with a median age of 34. Columbus is a top city for equality and was the recipient of a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign in 2020. And central Ohio is serious about higher education: the Columbus region is home to 52 college and university campuses, with 22,000 annual college graduates. Because CCAD is closely tied to the city's numerous art and design spaces and ever-expanding districts, you'll have plenty of places to experience creativity and showcase your own.

EEO Statement:

Columbus College of Art & Design ("CCAD") is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual's race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. CCAD is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment.