Out of a pool of approximately 150 applicants, Jason Cytacki (MFA 2011) has accepted a tenure-track teaching position in painting at the University of Oklahoma where he will begin his new job in the fall of this year. Being one of two full-time painting faculty, he will play a strong role in building the painting program of the art department.
One factor that contributed to his selection is his youth, as the school seeks to revitalize their program with fresh faces and ideas. The American West is an area of common interest between Cytacki and the University, which also houses the Charles Russell Center for the Study of the American West.
"I think my research on the West and critical evaluation of our perceptions of the frontier contributed to my selection," explains Cytacki. "I think it will be a great place for my work to develop, working from within a community whose identity is strongly shaped by the forces I critique will allow me a fresh perspective and to make a new contribution to the area of study."
To see more of Cytacki's work, visit his blog.