Assistant/Associate Professor Interior Design

Job Summary

The Interior Design program of the Antoinette Westphal College at Drexel University invites applications for a 9-month tenure track position teaching in the core curriculum of the Interiors Program beginning September 1, 2024. We seek an energetic individual with a demonstrated record of innovative, diverse and inclusive teaching, critical design inquiry, and transdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate should be capable of teaching, innovating, organizing, and coordinating a range of undergraduate and graduate courses across the curriculum and at various levels. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to diverse and inclusive teaching and an emerging research agenda.  The successful candidate will enhance the program's existing academic strengths, be future-oriented, and have strong content knowledge of what is required for emerging designers in professional practice. 

We seek a talented teacher and/or practicing professional to contribute and participate in the advancement of initiatives that align with our College and University strategic plan including, but not limited to, anti-racism/racial justice, decolonizing and diversifying design and academia, sustainability and climate resilience, future technology, health & wellness, and human-centered design.

Drexel's Interiors Programs offer an undergraduate and two graduate degrees that are nationally ranked. Both our undergraduate and first professional graduate degrees are CIDA-accredited. The program maintains a prominent position within the academic and professional worlds, and is characterized by a focus on human experience, community and civic engagement, novel exploration of material and form, commitment to a sustainable future, and rigorous professional training.

The program benefits from its prime location in Philadelphia, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and a culturally sophisticated and highly diverse metro area that is among the largest in the nation. Located in the strikingly renovated URBN Center, the program has dedicated studio spaces, making labs, a materials resource library, and shares facilities and faculty with allied Antoinette Westphal College programs including art history, visual arts, graphic design, product design, fashion design, digital media, game design and virtual production, and many others.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrated inclusive and diverse teaching of a combination of Interior Design studios, seminars, and lecture courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Collaborating with faculty in the department to develop and implement effective, innovative, diverse, anti-racist and inclusive teaching practices and curriculum development.
• Service to the Department, the College, the University, and to the profession as assigned by the Department Head.
• Collaborations with other design disciplines; maintain familiarity with industry standards and professional community.
• Engagement and support of students beyond classroom activities.
• Demonstrated research, scholarship, creative work (RSC) toward achieving tenure.
• Demonstrated teaching ability and a collaborative, creative approach to design pedagogy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design/Interior Architecture or related field
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience
• NCIDQ certification or eligibility within the next five years
• Professional certifications such as LEED, WELL, Fitwell, or other design standards
• Membership in professional organizations such as ASID, IIDA, IDEC, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional degree in Interior Design.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table
• Typically standing, walking

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This is a full-time Faculty position classified as Exempt. The offered salary is dependent upon internal equity and the successful candidate's competencies, education, and experience.

For information on our benefits offerings please review the Full-Time Faculty Benefit Fact Sheet. 

Special Instructions to the Applicant

In addition to your CV/resume and cover letter, candidates must submit the following:

• Statement articulating the specific expertise they anticipate contributing to the program. We are particularly interested in areas below, but open to others:
  • Digital technologies (in areas such as AI, Metaverse, virtual reality, augmented reality, etc.)
  • Expertise/engagement with indigenous design and/or non-European design
  • Design equity and social justice
  • Design philosophy
  • Teaching philosophy
• Brief statement articulating your commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism (IDEA) and decolonizing design to include 1) the candidate's values and commitment to IDEA and decolonizing and diversifying design and its curriculum, 2) candidate's experiences working with diverse populations (students, colleagues, communities, etc.), and/or 3) the contributions they anticipate making to advance IDEA and decolonize academia at Drexel University
• Portfolio demonstrating the candidate's expertise for the position, including professional and student work, submitted in PDF format (not to exceed 20 pages)  
• Three professional or academic references, with position and contact information who can attest to your qualifications. (References will be contacted for short listed candidates/candidates invited for on campus interview).

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.