Assistant/Associate Teaching Professor in Architectural Design (Non-Tenure Track)

Job Summary

Drexel University’s Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism invites applications for a renewable full-time contract faculty position teaching in the core curriculum of the Architecture Program beginning September 1, 2023. We seek an energetic individual with a demonstrated record of innovative teaching, critical design inquiry, and transdisciplinary collaboration. The ideal candidate should be capable of teaching, innovating, organizing, and coordinating a range of undergraduate courses and studios across the curriculum at various levels. Expertise or experience in the development of coursework in participatory and community design processes are desirable, with an eye to design equity and social justice, sustainability, analog and/or digital representation, and/or materials and methods of construction.

We seek an excellent designer and talented teacher who will value the strengths of our unique undergraduate programs; advance initiatives that address 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 colleague to work with us on advancing ameliorative initiatives that dismantle barriers faced by minoritized communities in architectural education and practice. 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.

As faculty, we work collaboratively within the Program and the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism—which also includes programs in Interior Design, Urban Strategy and Design Research. We invite qualified candidates 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, our communities, and our world. Our Department is at an exciting point of reinvention as we take a central role in implementing Westphal College’s and Drexel University’s strategic plans.

The Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism strives to expand its expertise in practice-based, applied research and develop curriculum components that address social concerns and environmental issues rigorously within studio projects and coursework while collaborating with other disciplines and community partners. At the same time, we are working to increase the agility and flexibility of our curriculum and course formats to match the interests and lives of our diverse student body. The ideal candidate has a record and commitment to innovative pedagogical thinking and collaboration, expertise in curriculum development and experiences working with diverse populations (students, colleagues, communities, etc.).

We are dedicated to building a culturally diverse faculty committed to teaching and fostering an inclusive, equitable and multicultural environment for students, faculty, and staff. Candidates who can contribute through their research, teaching and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community in Drexel's Architecture Program are encouraged to apply.

The position is a 9/12 renewable contract appointment. Rank at appointment is commensurate with experience.

Essential Functions

• Teaching and course development of assigned classes.
• Coordinating professional classes and design studios at various levels.
• Participation in curriculum development and program revisions.
• Service to the Department, the College, and the professionals assigned by the Department Head.
• Inter- and intra- departmental collaborations with other design disciplines.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a professional degree in architecture (B.Arch, M.Arch or Equivalent).
• Minimum of 5 years of professional design and practice experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience teaching architecture at the collegiate level.
• Experience in contemporary professional practice; highly qualified to offer college-level instruction in the broad spectrum of design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional licensure and a demonstrated interest in experiential learning.
• Expertise in online teaching and learning is a plus as we calibrate remote and/or hybrid instructional formats and explore the potential of future program opportunities.
• Ability to integrate their research interests, creative work, or professional practice into their teaching.
• Demonstrated experience, interest and involvement in JEDI initiatives, teaching experience, research interests, creative work, and/or professional practice.
• Experience or expertise in one or several of the following areas:
  • Sustainable building design and construction strategies
  • Design equity and social justice
  • Participatory and community-based design
  • Analog and/or digital representation and fabrication
  • Interior design and/or landscape architecture
  • Historic preservation and adaptive reuse

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Additional Information

Please review the Benefits Brochure for some information on our benefits offerings.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

In addition to your CV/resume and cover letter, please also include the following when submitting your application:

• 1-page Statement articulating your qualifications and expertise, including design and pedagogical approaches.
• Sample syllabi, assignments, exams and/or other materials of up to 3 courses 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.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.

*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 Architecture Program

The Drexel Architecture Program combines a rigorous and immersive academic environment 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:

• The NAAB-accredited Bachelor of Architecture degree with a current enrollment of approximately 250 students that 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 serves non-traditional students drawn from the greater Philadelphia region.
  • The unique 2+4 Option caters to recent high-school graduates who follow two years of full-time study with four years of part-time study in 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, launched in 2021, offers flexible options for combining architectural studies with related fields. It provides the opportunity for full-time students 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: https://drexel.edu/westphal/academics/undergraduate/ARCH/

About the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and 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 31 2023 Eastern Daylight Time