Admission Essay Example: Kutztown University

I am writing to apply for a Part-Time position in Art History in the Department of Art & Design at Kutztown University. I am currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Art History at Rutgers University and Part-Time Lecturer in the Department of Latinx and Caribbean Studies. I believe my research and teaching experience would be advantageous and an excellent fit for your program. My academic training, two semesters of experience as a Part-Time Lecturer, two years of experience as a Teaching Assistant, several semesters of other teaching positions, and an additional semester as Head Teaching Assistant for the Department of Art History have prepared me to be an effective instructor in your department.

My doctoral dissertation, “Locating Las Madres: Maternity and Latinx Art” is conducted in consultation with Dr. Tatiana Flores and analyzes motherhood in the visual arts through Latinx, Latin American, and broader hemispheric American frameworks. I examine visual production through the lenses of intersectional decolonial feminism, critical race theory, and indigenous studies. My goal is to locate an aesthetics of motherhood in a field already lacking widespread visibility. Accordingly, personal experience navigating the silences of my paternal Latinx ancestry leads me to seek out what is hidden from view, both culturally and institutionally. 

Consequently, at Kutztown University, offering courses in such topics as Latin American and/or Latinx Art would be of great benefit due to the large surrounding Latino populations in Reading, Allentown, Lancaster, and Lebanon. I am eager to continue exploring methodologies of unearthing, intersectionality, and equity in the classroom, and moreover, would strive to do so in the Department of Art & Design. My background is well-suited for courses in Latin American Art, Global Modernisms, and the survey, among others, especially from a global perspective.

During my graduate training, I have been fortunate to serve as a part-time lecturer and teaching assistant for various courses in Art History. Prior to my work at Rutgers University, I instructed students at nearly every level of education. From preschool children learning the alphabet to adults continuing artistic exploration, my love for teaching stems from the same passion that fuels my academic interests: an exigency for access, equity, and the dispersal of knowledge. 

I am confident that you will find my qualifications meet the needs of the department, and assure you that I will bring energy, excitement, and passion to the classroom. I look forward to discussing this position with you in the coming weeks. Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you soon.