Architecture Program Director

Job Summary

Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design invites applications for the position of Program Director for its Architecture Program commencing on September 1, 2023. The Program Director should be at Associate or Full Professor-level and may be accelerated Tenure-Track or Non-Tenure Track/teaching faculty, depending on applicant experience and history. The position is a 9-month faculty appointment with a 12-month administrative stipend. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to improving access to the profession, cultivating an urban-based immersive education, and addressing today’s social and global challenges (including, but not limited to, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), climate change, urban resiliency and health, and housing). We invite our new Program Director to join us in strengthening and developing current and new interdisciplinary initiatives and collaborations within the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism, the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University, the City of Philadelphia, and industry professionals as we shape the future of interdisciplinary creative practices, equitable partnerships, and inclusive engagement to enrich our campus, communities, and world. The Department is at an exciting point of reinvention as it takes a central role in implementing Westphal College’s and Drexel University’s strategic plans.

We seek an individual who will value the strengths of our unique undergraduate programs; generate ameliorative processes that dismantle barriers faced by minoritized communities in architectural education and practice; advance responses to current and future changes in design pedagogy and professional practice; and work collaboratively with the program faculty, the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism—which also includes programs in Interior Design, Urban Strategy and Design Research—and community members at large. The Architecture Program is dedicated to having a faculty that is representative of the population of Philadelphia and its increasingly diverse student body. We strongly encourage individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply.

The Architecture Program Director should be a thoughtful and energetic leader who cultivates and advances future-oriented initiatives—informed by global perspectives and contributions to un-/underrepresented communities—to integrate and advance curricula across fields, within the Department and beyond. They will work to integrate common and strategic values through the curriculum, guide the development of emerging and innovative initiatives, advance applied research opportunities, and participate in broader initiatives within the College and the University.

The Program Director reports to the ADU Department Head. They will execute their duties in coordination with ADU program leadership and in collaboration with the faculty. The Program Director also maintains a teaching load, and is expected to engage in research, scholarship and/or creative work. Given the unique nature of the Drexel Architecture Program, the Director’s continued support and engagement with the professional architecture community and our robust adjunct faculty are essential.

Applicants for this position must be dynamic leaders who have advanced anti-racism, diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion in the field and in their lived experience. They must have administrative experience in professional and/or academic venues and the ability to inspire and lead Westphal faculty and students in our efforts to foster a culture of inclusion, anti-racism, and promote justice and equity through curricula, values, standards, ideals, policies and practices. The ideal candidate provides evidence of their experience with, and interest in, contributing to these goals.

About the Architecture Program

The Drexel Architecture Program combines a rigorous and immersive academic experience with the realities of contemporary architectural practice embedded within the context of Philadelphia’s dynamic environment. We are aligned with the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design’s mission to unlock the creativity of critical thinkers, makers, and creators who connect ideas and solve real-world problems, transforming careers and lives. The Architecture Program does this through team-taught studios, interdisciplinary classes, and applied research that parallels the collaborative and changing nature of the profession. We value respect and integrity in our interactions, encouraging every individual to use their voice toward creative problem solving and positive change. We offer a strong, broadly based curriculum in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and applied sciences, coupled with professional courses taught by faculty who reflect the broad diversity of architectural practice today. The Program is excited to contribute to the implementation of Westphal College’s Strategic Plan; Westphal For All: A Vision For Our Future.

Drexel University currently offers two distinct undergraduate degree options for students interested in pursuing a career in architecture and we have ambition to grow:

• With a current enrollment of approximately 250 students, the NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree combines full- and part-time study and incorporates extensive early exposure to architectural practice with the goal of professional licensure. Drexel Architecture’s work/study model is an experience-based learning model that complements and provides an alternative to traditional programs. It provides a practical, high-quality education to students who seek early exposure to daily architectural practice and an affordable alternative to students who could not otherwise enter the profession.
  • A seven-year Part-Time Evening Option that serves non-traditional students drawn from the greater Philadelphia region.
  • A unique 2+4 Option that caters to recent high-school graduates who follow two years of full-time study with four years of part-time study during the evening.

Students in both options gain professional working experience in architectural firms while attending classes in the evening and can participate in NCARB’s IPAL program.

• The BS in Architectural Studies degree s, launched in 2021, offers flexible options for combining architectural studies with related fields. It pro vides the opportunity for full-time student to take advantage of Drexel’s renowned co-op program and can be a precursor to a dual BS/MS degree at Drexel University or a professional NAAB-accredited M.Arch. degree at another institution.

Additional information on the Drexel Architecture program and degree paths can be found here .

Essential Functions

The Architecture Program Director will lead administrative initiatives in the Program, centered on Westphal’s dedicated commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, by fostering a culture of appreciation and respect through values, ideals and practices that inform curriculum and policies.

• Collaborating on Department, College, and University initiatives, including the implementation of the College’s Strategic Plan, “Westphal For All.”
• Representing and advocating for the Architecture Program internally and externally.
• Leading the administration of the Architecture Program.
• Developing and implementing curriculum and program revisions.
• Recruiting and admissions.
• Student advising and retention.
• Faculty Workload management and support of research.
• Course scheduling and staffing.
• Oversight of program budget and expenditures.

Required Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch, M.Arch or Equivalent).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in professional design practice, administration, teaching, research, and/or scholarship.
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in architecture at college level.
• Experience in contemporary professional practice and academia; highly qualified to lead successful undergraduate programs and expand our academic profile.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD, DDes, EdD, or a terminal degree in Architectural History or respective field.
• Demonstrated successful leadership in academia or practice.
• Experience with NAAB Accreditation.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, interest and involvement in JEDI initiatives, teaching experience, research interests, creative work, and/or professional practice.
• Specialized expertise in areas such as sustainability, design justice, healthcare, urban design, applied research, material and building technology, international practice, or education, etc.

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Special Instructions to the Applicant

• 1-page Statement articulating the candidate’s qualifications and expertise, including design and pedagogical approaches
• Up to 3 classes Sample syllabi, assignments, exams and/or other materials that support the candidate’s pedagogy and teaching
• Portfolio not exceeding 20 pages demonstrating the candidate’s expertise for the position, including professional and student work, submitted in PDF format
• *1-page Diversity Statement sharing insights on integration of JEDI into the culture and curriculum of architecture and design.
• Three references, with position and contact information, who can attest to your qualifications. References will be contacted for short-listed candidates/candidates invited to on-campus interview.

Review of applications will start immediately and continue until a suitable candidate pool has been identified. Please review the Benefits Brochure for some information on our benefits offerings.

*Westphal College is dedicated to building a community where everyone is welcome, and a multiplicity of voices are celebrated. To learn more about how diversity impacts each candidate’s teaching and research agendas, the search committee is asking everyone who is being interviewed to submit a statement that speaks to this topic.

About the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is dedicated to unlocking the creativity of critical thinkers, makers, and doers who connect ideas and solve real-world problems, transforming careers and lives. The Antoinette Westphal College offers 18 undergraduate and 8 graduate majors, housed in award-winning, technologically enhanced facilities, and taught by distinguished faculty who have worked at the top of their fields. Westphal educates students to find their place as leaders in today's rapidly changing world by teaching the diverse skills needed to conceptualize and implement creative thinking. The synergy of Westphal’s creative programs, strong foundation curriculum, diverse minors, and stewardship of University assets and enterprises enhances the strength of the College in this interdisciplinary age. The College actively participates in community-based learning programs that allow students and faculty to study the issues affecting our world in collaboration with neighboring communities. As the center for creativity at Drexel, the Antoinette Westphal College’s collaborative community of scholars, creatives, thinkers, and doers are uniquely positioned to face the world’s challenges and define the creative careers of the 21st century. Westphal is dedicated to building a community where everyone is welcome, and a multiplicity of voices are celebrated.

Advertised:Dec 20 2022 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:Mar 20 2023 Eastern Daylight Time