Tenure-Track Position in Interior Design

Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design

Georgia State University
 

Georgia State University, an enterprising R1 public research university located in the heart of downtown

Atlanta, the cultural and economic center of the Southeast, is nationally recognized for programs and

initiatives that help students from all backgrounds earn degrees. As a national leader in using innovation

to drive student success and research growth, the university provides its world-class faculty and more

than 54,000 students with unsurpassed access to opportunities in one of the nation’s great global cities.

In 2023 U.S. News & World Report ranked Georgia State as the #1 Best Public University for

Undergraduate Teaching, the #1 Non-Profit University to confer Undergraduate Degrees to African

Americans in the US, and the #3 Most Innovative University in the US.

The College of the Arts was established in 2016 and includes the Welch School of Art & Design,

the School of Film, Media & Theatre, the School of Music, the Center for Collaborative & International

Arts (CENCIA), and the Center for Educational Partnerships in Music. In addition to offering some of the

university’s most popular majors, the college connects faculty and students with Atlanta’s thriving arts

scene, its expansive film and music industries, and its active design community.

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Interior Design

Our next Assistant Professor in Interior Design will play a central role in the Welch School of Art &

Design’s contributions to Georgia State’s strategic goals of highlighting the arts and media as vital to the

quality of all major cities and demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic

and career success at high rates. Atlanta is the premier design center in the Southeast and offers our

students a broad range of employment opportunities with many of the nation’s largest firms and local

design powerhouses. Our faculty members frequently collaborate with and utilize professionals from the

metro area in their coursework and review sessions. Faculty also utilize campus resources for their

research and student mentoring such as: the ExLab (makers space), the Creative Media Center (CMC),

and the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII). Opportunities for support include intramural research

grants, Welch Faculty Fellowships, summer research fellowships, teaching release time, graduate

research assistants, travel funds, and assistance in pursuing external funding.

This position will take an active leadership role in shaping the future of Interior Design within the Welch

School of Art & Design. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated investment in teaching diverse

student populations and a willingness to integrate their design specialization(s) into the Interior Design

curriculum, from fundamental courses through graduate thesis completion. A successful candidate will

think of design broadly and wish to cultivate cross-disciplinary opportunities throughout the University to

expand the model for design education within a research institution. They should also be an active

scholar and/or practitioner who is engaged in the critical dialogue, examination, research, and

advancement of their design field(s) with an aim and dedication to achieve tenure within six years.

The upper division BFA in Studio/Interior Design concentration has approximately 60 majors and

graduates an average of 20 BFAs each year. The 3-year MFA program in Interior Design typically has 3-6

fully-funded students and graduates 1-2 MFAs each year.

This is a full-time tenure-track appointment with an anticipated start date of August 2024.

Responsibilities

This full-time tenure-track Interior Design Assistant Professor will be expected to maintain an active

research and/or scholarship practice. They will teach both undergraduate and graduate courses in Interior

Design, including graduate design seminars, practices studios, and MFA thesis courses. They should

expect to ultimately provide leadership as Interior Design Area Coordinator and contribute to the growth

of the design area within the Welch School of Art & Design. They will assist with curriculum and program

development for Interior Design, advise students, and lead BFA reviews. They will assist with graduate

recruiting, lead MFA reviews, and chair MFA thesis committees. They will participate in the professional

and academic work of the university, including committee and other service to the department, college,

and university.

Essential Qualifications

1. Terminal degree (e.g. MFA or PhD or equivalent) in Interior Design, Architecture, or related

design discipline

2. 2+ years of successful teaching experience to diverse student populations within university

undergraduate and graduate design programs.

3. A solid record of prior and continuing accomplishment in design research and practice

4. Ability to teach a broad range of digital design platforms including AutoCAD, Revit, AdobeCS,

Sketchup, and other applicable software titles.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge and application of contemporary design theories and pedagogy.

2. Technical proficiency in CAD/BIM software and hardware systems endemic to design practice

3. Preference will be given to candidates with strong skills in one or more of the following areas:

CAD/BIM, commercial design, 3D product or furniture design.

4. A distinguished record of prior accomplishment in design. An active record of distinguished client

projects, publications, or exhibitions, with an understanding of how design can address

contemporary social issues.

5. A record of active participation and/or leadership roles in professional design organizations or

academic organizations.

To Apply

Submit three separate PDFs for this job application to wsadrecruiting@gsu.edu either through email or

through direct download (such as WeTransfer). Complete applications will include:

PDF #1: All TEXT documents in this order:

• A letter of application addressing the essential and preferred qualifications, and your past and/or

potential contributions in research/creative activity, teaching, and service

• Curriculum Vitae

• Three syllabus examples (intro level, upper level, and graduate level if available) with clear

project descriptions and course calendar

• Names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and titles of at least three professional references

PDF #2: 20 images of personal work that are clearly labeled and described

PDF #3: 20 images of student work that are clearly labeled and described with relevant assignment and

course information (Title_Medium_Dimensions_Year Completed)

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To ensure

consideration, submit all materials by January 31, 2024. Should you be recommended for a position, an

offer of employment will be conditional on background verification and the submission of three hard copy

letters of recommendation.

Georgia State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants

due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state, or

local protected class. As a campus with a diverse student body, we encourage applications from women,

minorities, and individuals with a history of mentoring under-represented minorities