Position: Assistant Professor of Game Design and Emerging Media
Status: Tenure Track
Employment: 9-months
November 11, 2026
Samford University’s School of the Arts invites applications from individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment for a position in the Department of Art and Design, at the rank of Assistant Professor. This tenure-track, nine-month faculty appointment will begin in August 2027.
The candidate should have a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or appropriate terminal degree in Game Design, 3D Animation, Interactive Media, or a related field from an institutionally accredited university (or equivalent). Candidates should demonstrate a record of professional, creative, or scholarly work in the field through production experience, shipped projects, exhibitions, publications, research, or comparable professional accomplishments.
Candidates should demonstrate expertise in Unreal Engine and real-time game development, with a primary specialization in one or more complementary areas such as technical art, game programming, or game animation. Relevant expertise may include gameplay systems and Blueprints/C++, character or gameplay animation, rigging, real-time VFX, shaders and materials, procedural workflows, or related technical pipelines. Experience with the program’s core production tools including Maya, Photoshop, Substance 3D Painter/Designer, and ZBrush is desirable. Experience with Houdini, virtual production, extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence, or other emerging interactive technologies is also welcomed.
The successful candidate will teach courses supporting the Game Design program in their area of expertise, as well as digital foundations and other art/design coursework as needed. Candidates should demonstrate sufficient breadth to teach and mentor students within a multidisciplinary game-development curriculum.
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford (samford.edu) is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls more than 6,500 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools with 450 full-time faculty. Samford is ranked #3 in the nation for career preparation. #5 for most recommended colleges, and #7 in the nation for student learning opportunities as listed in The Wall Street Journal (2026). The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.
Applications will be accepted immediately and continue through December 15, 2026. Application materials should include a cover letter detailing teaching, professional interests, areas of expertise and a short bio; a curriculum vitae; portfolio website or pdf; a completed faculty application; a faculty applicant Christian Mission Statement; and a list of three references with contact information. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate must pass a background check and must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford University will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. Samford University and the School of the Arts are committed to fostering a vibrant learning environment among faculty, students, and staff, and strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to the academic richness of the Samford Community
Links to:
“Application for Faculty Position” (https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/jobs.ac.kr/jobs/prd/1983899/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf)
“Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at: https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-MissionStatement.docx
Please submit all materials in PDF format to:
Subject: Game Design Faculty
For questions about the position please contact:
Lauren Evans, Associate Professor of Art and Search Committee Chair
In accordance with applicable federal and state laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments, the University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, religion, or any other protected status under federal, state or local law applicable to the University, in its education policies, programs, and activities, in its admissions policies, in employment policies and practices, and all other areas of the University. As a faith-based institution, the University is exempted from certain laws and regulations concerning discrimination.
