Assistant/Associate Professor – Interior Design Studio

This full-time, 9-month position is at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor, is tenure-eligible, and begins August, 2023.

Application Deadline: For best consideration, applications are due by Friday, January 13, 2023.

The Opportunity:

The VCUarts Department of Interior Design (https://arts.vcu.edu/interiordesign/) invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor to teach interior design studios and complimentary support classes across all undergraduate and graduate levels.

The ideal candidate will be an engaged colleague, designer, dynamic teacher, and broad thinker who thoughtfully contributes to the progressive spirit of an established interior design program that collaborates to advance curriculum, articulate a department vision, foster community, support current and prospective students, and advocates for interior design.

Preferred candidates will be engaged with the current interior design practice and discourse and will offer students a framework through which they can address these ideas.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to pedagogy and curriculum that supports an inclusive, diverse, and accessible experience for all students. Additional interdisciplinary opportunities including advanced studios, design foundations, general education, and graduate seminars are available for an engaged colleague.

Department of Interior Design:

The Department of Interior Design is one of 16 departments within the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Established in 1934, the department was part of the first class of accredited interior design programs; its BFA and MFA First Professional programs are both CIDA accredited and ranked among the nation’s best. The department pursues a rigorous investigation of the design process and scholarship at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both of which are ranked among the nation’s top twenty interior design programs.

Additionally, the department has a relationship with its campus and department at Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar, with which it seeks ways to build stronger and compelling interaction. The department values conceptually-focused exploration; critical investigations of context; collaboration; civic engagement; cross-, trans- and interdisciplinary work; socially engaged design; invention; and thoughtful, respectful discourse.

We endeavor to develop in our students an enduring passion and curiosity for their work, a determination to continually seek quality in their endeavors, an ability to reflect critically upon their actions as individuals and a responsibility for their lifelong education and to their greater communities.

Major Responsibilities:

Teaching: Instructional responsibilities comprise developing and teaching interior design studios at multiple levels, including in the Art Foundation Program (https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/art-foundation-program/), and complement this work with support classes. Additionally, the faculty member will be expected to participate in the development and evolution of the department’s BFA and MFA curricula. An annual teaching load will be determined in consultation with the Chair of the Department. In order to support progress towards promotion and tenure, it is expected that the teaching load for research active, tenure-track faculty will be two courses in the fall semester (totaling 6-8 credits) and two courses in the spring semester (totaling 6-8 credits), while holding a tenure-eligible faculty appointment.

The faculty member will demonstrate an expertise or focus in one or more of the following areas that could be explored through support classes and seminars:
● diversity, inclusion, equity and justice
● environmental sustainability, equity and justice
● beginning design or design foundations
● building systems and construction
● community-engaged design
● lighting and color
● wellness
● building-information modeling, augmented/virtual reality and/or other progressive visualization practices
● emerging fabrication and making methods
● collaboration with STEM fields

The faculty member is expected to mentor undergraduate and graduate students; integrate innovative pedagogical, technological, and multicultural perspectives into instructional methods; foster collaborative teaching and educational opportunities through diverse and innovative projects, assignments, and experiences; and promote the efforts of the department in the university and throughout the community. In support of the department’s strong commitment to diversity, the faculty member is expected to foster a welcoming, equitable, and accessible learning environment for all students.

Scholarship: The faculty member will have a well-defined, active scholarly and/or creative practice agenda that makes or demonstrates a commitment to sustained inquiry into emerging issues and a potential for significant, high quality contributions relevant to interior design nationally and/or internationally. The faculty member will be expected to seek external funding, as appropriate, to advance their creative scholarship agenda. The faculty member’s scholarly activities must be related to the program’s curriculum and consistent with and support the broader mission and initiatives of the department, School, and University. Candidates with evidence of collaborative and interdisciplinary scholarship and/or experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates should demonstrate a teaching methodology and/or practice in the context of contemporary issues in interior design, and be able to balance the conceptual, poetic, pragmatic, humanistic, and tectonic aspects of studio work. These efforts may include initiating and implementing cross-disciplinary coursework with other VCUarts departments; exploring online course development; leading established or new study abroad programs; exploring service-learning opportunities; and expanding design studies to include other schools at VCU.

Service: As a member of a faculty committed to building community within the department, allied professions and greater Richmond, the successful applicant will provide service to each, including: coordination of student activities; participation in department, school, university, professional and related civic committees; contributions to recruitment efforts for the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs; studio critiques; graduate committee service; and participation and leadership in design events central to and independent of the institution. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to or potential for involvement in national or international professional organizations and bodies. The faculty member will be an enthusiastic advocate for the power of interior design theory and praxis within the university, school, professional and local communities.

Qualifications:
Required
● MFA or equivalent professional experience and/or training that equates to an MFA
● Evidence of or progress towards an active national/international scholarly and/or practice record
● Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
● Minimum of two years of teaching experience beyond graduate school, or equivalent professional experience
● Evidence as an undergraduate, graduate and/or professional mentor
● Demonstrated effectiveness in studio critique
● Successful applicants will demonstrate interest and ability in teaching interior design studio classes across the undergraduate and graduate curricula, including studios in the Art Foundation (https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/art-foundation-program/) program

Preferred
Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate expertise and experience in:
● An area complementary to interior design studio as articulated under Teaching, above
● Leading study abroad experiences
● Collaboration across disciplines
● Understanding and engagement of issues related to diversity, inclusion, and equity through academic pursuits and/or lived experience

Additionally, preference will be given to candidates who have:
● An undergraduate or graduate interior design degree
● NCIDQ certification, or the qualifications to sit for the exam

Application Instructions:

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. VCUarts strongly encourages applications from all racial, ethnic, gender, and social identities.

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.
Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience. For additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/prospective/.

In addition, the following documents should be submitted online via the VCU Jobs Website:
● A Letter of Interest that conveys relevant academic and professional experience
● Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
● Three References: at least three professional references familiar with the applicant’s record as an instructor, and/or creative scholar, including names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers (no letters at this time; references will not be contacted prior to candidates’ approval)
● Teaching Philosophy
● Projected three-year scholarship agenda
● Portfolio of Work. If file size is problematic, include an accessible link to a website or cloud storage (with access instructions) storing the work.
● Portfolio of Student Work. If file size is problematic, include an accessible link to a website or cloud storage (with access instructions) storing the work.

Only electronic applications submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, completed applications are requested by Friday, January 13, 2023. Questions about the VCU Jobs Website application process should be directed to Tasia Robinson, Assistant Director of VCUarts Human Resources, at thompsontl5@vcu.edu.

VCUarts:

Ranked by US News & World Report as a top-five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 50 staff members that assist in daily processes. The School includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business. 

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.