San Diego State University Research Foundation
PAC Teaching Artist

US--

Job ID: 2026-19862
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research/Project
Prison Arts Collective

Overview

This position has been budgeted for $30.00 - $35.00 per hour dependent on experience and is non-negotiable.

SDSU RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

Prison Arts Collective (PAC) works to expand access to the transformative power of the arts through collaboration and mutual learning that supports the development of self-expression, reflection, communication, and empathy through providing multidisciplinary arts programming in correctional institutions. PAC is based at San Diego State University and facilitates weekly multidisciplinary arts programming and art facilitator training (AFT) programs in 14 prisons throughout California.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The PAC Teaching Artist and Mentor, Southern Region, is responsible for the implementation of the Arts Facilitator Training program inside Ironwood State Prison. They lead classes and mentor peer facilitators, cultivating creative communities within the correctional institutions. Teaching Artists report to the Regional Lead, PAC Leadership team and work closely with teaching and administrative staff. Teaching artists will receive specialized training to facilitate classes in prisons and have a unique opportunity to be part of a collaborative team. Teaching artists are compensated for teaching time as well as class preparation and meetings.

Responsibilities

Teaching & Mentoring 50%

• Regular mentor visits
• Mentor and support teaching assistants and peer facilitators
• Submit post-class reports after every site visit

Communication & Collaboration 45%

• Communicate at least monthly with PAC Leadership
• Participate in monthly teacher meetings with PAC team
• Participate in monthly FT mentor meetings with PAC team
• Participate in monthly Inland Regional meetings with the PAC Regional Lead
• Support events and exhibitions planned with PAC Leadership
• Collaborate with the teaching team, including peer facilitators, to ensure that classes have the appropriate supplies, delivered in a timely manner, and organized on site.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities:

• Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and consistently with PAC Leadership
• Ability to share updates, concerns, and recommendations during meetings and through written communication
• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including educators, peer facilitators, and leadership
• Ability to contribute meaningfully in meetings and collaborative planning sessions
• Ability to manage multiple meetings, deadlines, and coordination tasks
• Ability to anticipate supply needs and ensure timely delivery and on-site organization
• Ability to identify and resolve logistical or communication challenges
• Ability to adapt plans to meet changing program or site needs
• Ability to support the planning and execution of events and exhibitions in collaboration with PAC Leadership and teaching teams

Education & Experience

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with courses focused in adult education and curriculum planning.
• One year of experience in planning classes or programs in a specialized field or area, preferably in higher, extended or adult education OR previous teaching experience in higher or extended education may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Additional Requirements

• Candidates must reside in the designated region at the time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon clearance of SDSU background check (including criminal record check).
• Must successfully complete annual CDCR clearance at the primary institution candidate will be supporting for SDSURF authorization to work.
• Must successfully complete CITI certification and implement IRB-approved research practices at the designated site.

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Studio Art, Art Education, or Art History or similar experience in art and arts education. MFA preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication and ability to collaborate with a team.
• Desired qualities: creative problem solver, empathetic, detail oriented, responsive, dedicated to PAC mission.
• Practicing and/or experienced artists preferred.
• At least four years of teaching experience total. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching in correctional settings.
• Experience with PAC or other Arts in Corrections organizations is preferred, but not required.
• We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience of the justice system to apply for consideration.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.