Continuing Education Illustration Instructor, Pre-College Online

CE Overview

RISD Continuing Education functions within the larger context of RISD, an institution with an unparalleled reputation for producing highly-skilled, successful, and internationally renowned creative practitioners. With more than 100 years of expertise nurturing critical making, thinking, and innovation in art and design we facilitate personal and professional development by engaging students in sustained exploration and learning in the creative disciplines. With a commitment to centering inclusivity, diversity and equity in executing key responsibilities, RISD Continuing Education instructors plan, organize, teach, and provide feedback to promote and direct student learning in keeping with the institutional learning-centered values and in a manner that meets essential competencies of artists and designers.

Pre-College Online Program Overview

RISD Pre-College Online is a 5-week summer immersive art and design program which offers intensive, collegiate-level courses for students in grades 10–12 (or the equivalent). You’ll join students from around the world in online studio classes and critiques led by accomplished professional artists. With a commitment of two days of classes each week and flexibility to complete your assignments, you can have time to work or pursue other interests while developing your skills, building a portfolio, and preparing to study art or design in college.

One of the hallmarks of a RISD undergraduate education is first year Experimental + Foundation Studies which is designed to push students' creative observation, experimentation and interpretation abilities. Following suit, RISD's Pre-College curriculum places a strong emphasis on foundation work that builds critical thinking and making skills, but for younger students. RISD Pre-College Online accepts students regardless of their previous training, and as a result each class has students with a range of abilities. While Pre-College is not exclusively a portfolio development program, students leave with several artworks that they may include in their college applications. Pre-College Online students receive support with their college plans by consulting with their instructors and teaching assistants on college and career options, and they are able to attend portfolio reviews hosted by RISD Admissions. 

Job Description

RISD CE seeks an Illustration Instructor for summer of 2027. We welcome teaching artists of all backgrounds with ongoing studio practices and demonstrated achievements of high caliber results in their students’ work. 

Pre-College Online instructors are passionate about art and design and can nurture the interest of their students. They are approachable but maintain high expectations and are invested in their students’ success. They vary their approach using lectures, demonstrations, and more. Our instructors are plugged into the needs and interests of today’s youth, and connect the course content to the students’ lived experience and current events. They are culturally responsive and lead an inclusive learning environment. We are particularly interested in candidates whose pedagogical approach and personal studio practice can resonate with our diverse student body.

RISD Pre-College Online courses meet once per week for three-hour live sessions, for a total of six hours. Online sessions will include demonstrations, presentations, and group discussions. Students can expect to spend about seven hours outside of class to complete weekly assignments for each course, for a total of 14 hours of homework per week. In all, students will be expected to set aside about 20 hours per week for the program. The successful candidate should be prepared to teach asynchronous online to a diverse group of students from a range of disciplines, through online content development, including recorded video demonstrations and/or lectures.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree 
• Teaching experience in a collegiate and/or high school setting
• Ability to meet RISD’s technology requirements
• Experience developing courses that challenge students creatively and intellectually while maintaining age-appropriate pedagogy
• Demonstrated ability to generate high caliber student work
• Ability to keep students engaged throughout full-day studio courses
• Experience leading classes and critiques that model constructive, inclusive discussions in an environment of diverse learners
• Ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs students with a wide range of pre-existing skills
• Demonstrated expertise in Illustration 

Ongoing professional creative practice

• Proficiency with online collaborative tools such as Google Suite
• Proficiency with learning management systems such as Canvas

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Ability to contribute to RISD’s strategic priorities of just societies, sustainability, and creating new knowledge
• Ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs students with a wide range of pre-existing skills
• Experience developing inclusive curriculum that centers artists of historically underrepresented backgrounds
• Interest in collaborative curriculum planning
• Ability to keep students engaged in 3-hour online class meetings and online learning portal
• Master of Fine Arts or equivalent in established professional practice in area of stud

Documents Needed to Apply

• Please attach a link to your professional portfolio and student work samples 
• Include a sample assignment and/or your teaching philosophy. 
• Include a statement of interest or cover letter indicating the course(s) you are interested in teaching. 

Work Schedule:

Summer 2027 term dates: 6/21/2027 - 7/28/2027

Union

No

Work Modality

Remote, Asynchronous

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.