Professor of Practice: School of Design-Environmental and Interior Design

Job Description

PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE (Non-Tenure-Track) SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, School of Design-Environmental and Interior Design/B.F.A.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY invites applications to fill a full-time, three-year renewable Professor of Practice position in Environmental and Interior Design (EDI) within the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts. Our four-year program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and has consistently been ranked among the best programs nationally. This success is attributed to our community; our faculty are experienced and committed to supporting the success and growth of the students, and our students are engaged, curious, and passionate. Our graduates earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, and are eligible to take the NCIDQ Examination, the industry’s leading credential for interior design licensure. This is a three-year position, beginning Fall .

The successful applicant should have ample industry experience and the ability to teach a broad range of undergraduate courses core to the EDI curriculum, including: lecture-based courses that cover technical, structural, and building, accessibility, and life-safety code content, professional practice, courses that teach design technology and digital tools relevant to industry, and design studios. The candidate must have a deep understanding of interior design and the flexibility to work and teach collaboratively with a diverse set of colleagues within the program and across the School of Design. Ideally, the successful candidate will foster relationships with alumni, industry, and outside stakeholders.

Responsibilities of the appointment include teaching undergraduate courses each semester as assigned, but also supporting relevant programmatic initiatives, participating in program-related meetings, assisting with assessment-related documentation, supporting and advising students, developing projects that enhance the curriculum, engaging with curricular enrichment events (i.e. field trips, firm crawls), and demonstrating continued excellence in relevant professional activities.
The School of Design is an inquisitive and intelligent community of faculty and students who address issues in context. As a professionally-oriented academic unit in a large research university, the School is fully committed to forging bold, imaginative, reciprocal relationships with constituents who are local as well as global. As a top tier research institution, Syracuse University faculty and students are equally encouraged to interact with the academic core of the University.

With a long and distinguished history at Syracuse University, the School of Design currently offers several highly ranked undergraduate programs in addition to the Environmental and Interior Design (BFA) degree, including: Industrial and Interaction Design (BID), Fashion Design (BFA), and Communications Design (BFA), and Design Studies (BS). The School also houses a graduate program in Museum Studies (MA). Enrolling approximately undergraduate and 30 graduate students, the School of Design occupies the Nancy Cantor Warehouse in downtown Syracuse. To learn more about the School of Design, please visit our website atCIDA-accredited program.

• NCIDQ Certified or NCIDQ Certificate Holder is preferred (or highly desired).
• Professional practice experience in interior or architectural design (typically 5-10+ years; depth and relevance of experience will be strongly considered).
• Teaching experience within interior design or other design related programs in a college or university setting preferred

Job Specific Qualifications In addition, we especially welcome candidates who bring:

• Teaching experience or demonstrated mentoring/supervisory experience with emerging designers in professional practice.
• Strong understanding of contemporary design process, studio culture, and professional preparation.
• Engagement with professional organizations (IIDA, ASID, AIA, IDEC, etc.).
• Additional credentials such as WELL AP or LEED AP.
• Experience with design and rendering software commonly used in interior design and architecture, including CAD, BIM, 3D modeling, and other visualization tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion, V-Ray, Twinmotion, but not limited to)
• Knowledge of the following Adobe applications is also preferred: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premier, and XD.
• Demonstrated success in interdisciplinary collaboration and creative activity based on a foundation of relevant professional practice
• Strong understanding of the imperatives of modern design education in terms of pedagogy, assessment, student experience as well as enterprise and employability
• Communication abilities and cross-cultural competencies to maximize their effectiveness with students from all backgrounds, colleagues, and community members.
• Evidence of experience in professional practice and/or academic positions in interior design or related fields is desirable.
• Established understanding of the nature of interior design education, its delivery and its current issues, including competency in supporting students from all backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses each semester as assigned, including design studios, lecture/seminar courses, and experiential learning projects.
• Support relevant programmatic initiatives; attend program/school/college meetings, assessment and accreditation-related activities, assessment, aid in development of projects that enhance the curriculum, and curricular enrichment (i.e. field trips, firm crawls).
• Demonstrate excellence in relevant professional activities.
• Develop new courses and curricular content that are engaging, relevant, and aligned with contemporary interior design practice, including hands-on projects, collaborative studio work, and immersive experiences.
• Mentor and advise students academically and professionally, including guidance on internships, career pathways, and professional development.
• Maintain active engagement in professional practice, demonstrating excellence in the field through projects, collaborations, publications, presentations, or other professional contributions.

Physical Requirements Primarily on-site, in-person instruction for studio and experiential courses, standard delivery in current curriculum. Some hybrid or online instruction may be explored, depending on program needs and strategic goals. Tools/Equipment Not Applicable