Assistant Professor – Fashion Design

Assistant Professor – Fashion Design
Richmond, VA, United States

req4855

Assistant Professor – Fashion Design

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts)
Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising

This full-time, 9-month position is at the rank of Assistant Professor, is non-tenure eligible, and begins August 16, 2024.

The Opportunity:

The VCUarts Department of Fashion Design & Merchandising ) invites collaboration-minded applicants with qualifications, experience, and demonstrated strengths in fashion design honed from significant and productive years in the fashion industry, to integrate and apply these skills into contemporary design practice and contribute to strengthening the program's orientation toward the future. The qualified candidate must be forward thinking with strong skills in university level teaching and an established research portfolio. Students are prepared to enter the fashion industry by learning technical and problem solving skills, including, but not limited to, relevant computer skills, line development, retail math, branding, creative entrepreneurship, and textiles for fashion. Market identification, analysis, and interpretation are emphasized in the merchandising track, with a new focus on understanding apparel construction as well, in order to compete in the global economy. Principles of design research, design process and construction, balanced with illustration, the business of fashion, computer presentation skills, and creation of a final thesis collection are emphasized in the design track. The crossover skills of the BA and BFA tracks are a primary focus of the department.

Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising:

The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising is an undergraduate program with 350 students offering a BA track in fashion merchandising and a BFA track in fashion design. The Department encompasses a unique partnership between the visual, technical and business aspects necessary for merchandising, design, and production.

Principles of design research, design process and construction, balanced with illustration, the business of fashion, computer presentation skills, and creation of a final thesis collection are emphasized in the design track. The crossover skills of the BA and BFA tracks are a primary focus of the department.

Design students are prepared to enter the fashion industry by learning technical and problem solving skills, including, but not limited to, relevant computer skills, construction, patternmaking, illustration, portfolio development, and textiles for fashion. Exciting opportunities exist for collaboration and partnership between the design and merchandising tracks.

The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising is a member of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers Of America (CFDA) and the Fashion Scholarship Fund.

Major Responsibilities:
This position is a 9-month non-tenure eligible faculty position in the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising with an academic rank of Assistant Professor. The primary responsibility of this opportunity is teaching, so we seek to hire faculty who stand out with respect to effectiveness in teaching and engagement with students. Term faculty are eligible for promotion in academic rank, and are valued for their academic, professional, and creative practice/scholarly contributions in their specific area of expertise.

Instructional responsibilities comprise development and teaching courses in the fall and spring semesters in the fashion design track. Courses will include 2D and 3D pattern development, concept and garment development, and exploring and implementing technology for fashion communication. Effective and successful instruction is informed by a deep knowledge of design used to teach innovative methodologies and concept development. A particular focus of instruction will be on developing and facilitating curricular connections between the design and merchandising tracks. Additional courses could be taught in the faculty member's area of research specialization. Course assignments will change based on demand and will be at the discretion of the Chair.

The faculty member is expected to be a passionate mentor and creative leader for an enthusiastic and diverse community of students; integrate innovative pedagogical and technological approaches, and multicultural perspectives into instructional methods; bring experience in developing initiatives that contribute to a meaningful arts education accessible to underrepresented or disadvantaged groups; foster collaborative teaching and educational opportunities through diverse and innovative projects and experiences; promote the efforts of the department across 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 inclusive learning environment for all students.

Creative research is not a primary expectation for this non-tenure eligible position. The faculty member is expected to demonstrate excellence through teaching and maintain a scholarly body of knowledge within the discipline. The department will support the faculty member's professional development, as appropriate and within available resources, to ensure ongoing mastery of the discipline as it relates to the program's curriculum. Professional development activities will be consistent with and support the mission and initiatives of the department, school, and university. The department will also support creative research at an appropriate annual level, though teaching will constitute the majority of the faculty member's responsibilities.

As a member of a community-oriented, tight-knit department and School, the faculty member will provide service to support student, department, and school-wide initiatives; supporting recruitment activities; fostering community engagement opportunities; and serving on department/School/University committees. In addition, the faculty member is expected to serve as a peer reviewer, organizer of conferences and/or conference sessions, and to retain membership in professional associations and provide professional service. Other responsibilities may be assigned by the Chair or university administration.

Qualifications:
Required
● MFA, MA, MS or other appropriate degree in the field or professional, high-level fashion industry experience and training that equates to a graduate degree
● Significant professional/industry executive experience exceeding eight years in lieu of advanced degree
● Discernable interest in developing productive connections across fashion merchandising and design disciplines
● Ability to maintain and build upon current connections to the fashion industry and its professionals, and use these connections to create opportunities for students and to elevate the profile of the department
● Evident experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student
environment, or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
● Proficiency with Adobe, Microsoft Office Suite, and Aquario Design. CLO3D skills are appreciated
● Exceptional communication skills, written, oral and interpersonal and adept at speaking to large audiences

Preferred:
● University level teaching experience
● International experiences to bring an understanding of other cultures to the classroom