Photo courtesy Ringling College of Art & Design.

There is an undeniable correlation between the success of an educational institution and the excellence of its faculty. We are proud that the professors and lecturers at Ringling College of Art and Design are among the finest professionals in both the educational and artistic worlds. And that is not by happenstance.

To achieve the highest quality of education on behalf of our students, we recruit and actively partner with skilled, passionate, inspiring educators, most of whom also have had highly accomplished (and, in many cases, ongoing) careers as professional artists. We look for candidates who contribute to our ethos, with a strong, creative intellect, a passion for teaching and a unique and engaging way of seeing the world. Our primary recruitment goal is to demonstrate Ringling College’s commitment to its students, its faculty and staff, its community, the world as a whole.

We rely on a number of factors both to attract these faculty members and to prove the value of establishing long-term careers here.

Any prospective art college faculty will no doubt know of our institution on the strength of our reputation alone. After 94 years in existence, Ringling College annually receives numerous accolades and awards, and we appear at or near the top of notable lists of the best art colleges in the country as well as the world. Likewise, our programs, including Computer Animation, Motion Design, Game Art, and Film, shine in national rankings. We are known for positioning our graduates to excel in their chosen fields, a reputation that’s strengthened by the many Ringling grads who go on to work for prestigious and highly visible companies like Sony, Apple, Pixar, Marvel, Nintendo, Mattel and many, many more.

We also offer a small-school teaching environment. On average our student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. Thus, our faculty has ample time to teach smaller classes and engage students individually, while still immersing themselves in a diverse campus that fuels a phenomenal creative community.

I believe teachers with high standards are drawn to institutions with high standards, and that quality element at Ringling College speaks to those educators who strive to be the best and teach the best. 

From our consistently exceptional students to our state-of-the-art facilities to the policies and projects we’ve implemented to ensure we keep our campus as a welcoming, friendly, and professional environment. After all, Ringling College is all-in on fostering a superlative educational environment that translates to the larger community and emphasizes creative thought, worthwhile experience and proactive community leadership.

On top of all of our strengths as an educational institution, Sarasota sells itself as an appealing place to build a career. Consider our wonderful town the ultimate tiebreaker for prospective faculty who are torn between two or more universities. The sunshine-rich, snow-free climate, beautiful beaches, and other natural attributes outshine conditions elsewhere. More importantly, Sarasota’s well-established cultural richness and its love for the arts culture help seal the deal. We’re able to offer our art college faculty an artist-friendly lifestyle that few other programs can match.

And when those talented educators come here to join our faculty and our community, they in turn elevate our college, increase our appeal to other prospective faculty and students alike and contribute to Sarasota’s overall excellence. Everyone wins—especially our students.

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design.

Photo courtesy Ringling College of Art & Design.