Design director h1.location_city

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

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Abilene Christian University is the sixth largest private university in Texas, with an enrollment of approximately 7,300 students. ACU’s mission is to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Located in Abilene, Texas, a city of 115,000, ACU's home town offers a very active cultural life, which includes an outstanding regional symphony, an opera company, a civic chorus, the Center of Contemporary Arts, the Grace Museum of Art, and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature.

The Interior Architecture and Design Program enrolls approximately 90 majors with two full-time and one part-time faculty members serving the program. The program is accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation ( CIDA ). Graduates are qualified for careers helping others improve interior environments while expressing their creative abilities. ACU’s interior design students gain skills and knowledge in ideation and concept development, sketching, drafting, space planning, stylistic history, design theory, materials, building systems, life safety codes, and business practices. Graduates are academically prepared to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications ( NCIDQ ) examination that must be passed to register as an interior designer in Texas and many other states.

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses, supervising design projects and portfolio development, developing and revising curricula to meet accreditation standards, tracking and reporting on program learning outcomes, conducting and publishing high-quality peer-reviewed scholarly research/creative activities, and engaging in appropriate levels of service to the department, college, university and to the profession.

Required Qualifications for Assistant Professor:

• Earned graduate degree in interior design or closely related field

• Ability to teach interior design studios and lecture classes across the program curricula.

• Demonstrated ability to engage in scholarly activity and/or creative works.

• Ability to teach using design-oriented software, such as Revit, AutoCAD, Lumion, Sketch-up, and Adobe Creative Suite.

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification ( NCIDQ ) certification or working towards certification

Required Qualifications for Associate Professor:

• Earned graduate degree in interior design or closely related field

• Established research agenda and recent record of publication of original research in peer-reviewed journals or well-established creative scholarship with record of published work.

• Extensive experience (as the instructor of record) teaching undergraduate and/or graduate students at the collegiate level.

• Experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate student research. To be eligible for hire at the associate professor rank, the candidate must meet the requirements for that rank as established by the school. The successful applicant will receive the appropriate rank and title based on university and school established standards.

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification ( NCIDQ ) certification or working towards certification.

Preferred Qualifications for Assistant Professor:

• Ph.D. or M.F.A. in interior design or closely related field.

• At least one degree in interior design/architecture.

• Previous college level teaching experience.

• Professional experience in residential, healthcare, and/or commercial interior design practice

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification ( NCIDQ ) certification.

• LEED AP or WELL AP certification, and/or professional licensure.

• Active participation in professional organizations.

• Demonstrated ability to engage in scholarly activity and/or creative works.

• Demonstrated ability or potential to attract external funding.

• Ability to teach using design-oriented software, such as Revit, AutoCAD, Sketch-up, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Preferred Qualifications for Associate Professor:

• Ph.D. or M.F.A. in interior design or closely related field.

• Demonstrated ability to attract external funding.

• Previous or current internal and/or external funding as PI or Co-PI.

• Teaching, and/or research, and/or service awards.

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification ( NCIDQ ) certification.

• LEED AP or WELL AP certification, and/or professional licensure.

• Professional experience in residential, healthcare, and/or commercial interior design practice.

• Ability to teach using design-oriented software, such as Revit, AutoCAD, Sketch-up, and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Previous college level administration experience (e.g., program coordinator, CIDA coordinator, etc.)

• Professional organization leadership Application Procedures

To ensure full consideration, please submit:

• Provide a statement of philosophy of teaching and learning and the role of scholarship in teaching and learning

• Read Identity, Mission, and the Future or Abilene Christian University and provide a statement about how the IMF document aligns with your view of the relationship of Christian faith and worldview of teaching and learning

• Provide a statement concerning your personal spiritual journey

• Cover Letter

• Curriculum Vitae

• Recent Student Evaluations, if available

• Transcripts for all academic work

• Copies of papers or publications

• An academic letter or recommendation

• A letter of recommendation from a church leader

• In lieu of a document, a URL with a digital portfolio showcasing professional, research, and/or teaching output (Limit 10 pages).

Questions regarding this position should be addressed to the Department of Art and Design Chair, Robert Green at greenr@acu.edu. The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts from all degree-granting universities.

Proposed Start Date: Fall 2026

Evaluation of Applications Begins Full Consideration Date: 03/29/2026

Close Date: Open Until Filled

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.