Associate Professor or Associate Teaching Professor, Fashion Design

About Drexel

Drexel is one of Philadelphia's top 10 private employers, a comprehensive global research university and a major engine for economic development in the region. With over 24,000 students, Drexel is one of America's 15 largest private universities. Drexel has committed to being the nation’s most civically engaged university, with community partnerships integrated into every aspect of service and academics.

Drexel University's mission is to serve students and society through comprehensive integrated academic offerings enhanced by technology, co-operative education, and clinical practice in an urban setting, with global outreach embracing research, scholarly activities, and community initiatives.

Drexel University offers an attractive benefits package including tuition remission, a generous retirement package with matching funds (up to 11 percent) and an opportunity to join a talented team of professionals directly helping the University achieve its record growth and quality reputation.

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. Westphal College offers 17 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 enhance 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 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.

Job Summary

The Fashion Program at Drexel University seeks applicants for the leadership position of Fashion Program Director commencing in September 2022. We seek a visionary individual who will chart a new direction for the program that aligns with current and future changes in the fashion industry. Our new leader will value and build on our established reputation of design excellence, expand our interdisciplinary strength and collaborative research and advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our Fashion Program at the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is ranked in the top four in the United States and 14th in the world. We are part of the Design Department, which includes programs in Graphic Design, Product Design, Design & Merchandising, Retail & Merchandising, and Photography. Our college' s strategic planning process [https://drexel.edu/westphal/about/overview/strategic-plan/] and the university's [https://drexel.edu/strategicPlan/] new strategic plan is positioning the institution for the 21st century. The Fashion Program Director position requires active alignment with the mission and initiatives of the College and University as outlined in the new strategic plan.

The Fashion Program is housed in our state-of-the-art facilities that provide access to innovative technologies like Shima Seiki knitting machines and SDS-ONE APEX3 workstations, along with our Robert & Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection featuring our outstanding museum-quality collection of over 17,000 fashion items and accessories. Our faculty expertise in circularity, inclusive design, advanced technologies, and more craft rich learning experiences for approximately 140 fashion students. Additional program information can be found here at https://drexel.edu/westphal/academics/undergraduate/FASH/

A Leader for the Future

The Design Department seeks a collaborative, visionary leader to become the Director of the Fashion Program. The fashion industry is changing rapidly. Our Fashion Program is poised to meet the challenges, connecting research to teaching through collaborations with our university and industry partners in ways that prepare the next generation of students to be pioneers in industry. Potential campus partners in our R1 university include Drexel’s diverse colleges and research centers including the Center for Functional Fabrics – a regional hub for the research and development of textile technology, the School of Biomedical Engineering, and other potential partners in Science and Materials, and more.

We seek an imaginative leader who can partner with faculty and staff to build an equitable, forward-thinking program to prepare students for the future of fashion. Applicants must demonstrate their success in leadership and creative collaboration, as well as in academic research and design excellence. Applicants with expertise in all aspects of new textile and design technologies and in the research and development of new materials and applications are encouraged to apply. Key areas include wearable design technology, knitwear design and fabrication, and smart textiles.

Essential Functions

• Establishing and guiding the vision, direction, goals and outcomes of the program in concert with faculty and staff through a strategic plan initiative.
• Coordinating, effecting and managing program functions.
• Developing curriculum and assigning classes.
• Facilitating design and research across the program.
• Monitoring program performance.
• Coordinating with offices of advising, scheduling, institutional advancement, communications and enrollment management.
• Teaching, Service and Research/Creative Activity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or another related field.

Preferred Qualification

• Master’s Degree, Fashion Design or another related field.
• A minimum of 5 years teaching and research experience at university level.
• Evidence of collaborative impactful fashion design leadership.
• Experience in interdisciplinary design and research and familiarity with emerging trends in.
• these fields including well-developed research in new textile and design technologies.
• Experience in managing innovation.
• A terminal degree or equivalent experience in fashion design, textile design, integrated design. Wearables or sustainable design.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong interest in circular/responsible design and materials combined with a strong knowledge of the global fashion industry.
• Proven team player with interest in collaboration across program, college, university and industry.
• Knowledge of Clo-3D design software, Shima Seiki knit design programming, (Apex 3-3 design) CAD weaving technology.

Location

University City – Philadelphia, PA

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter with a link to a digital portfolio in a PDF format containing samples of professional work and student work, and/or whatever material the candidate deems relevant.

Additional Required Documents

• Brief statement of teaching philosophy
• Three references that shall remain confidential unless/until the applicant is considered a finalist for the position.
• Statement on diversity and inclusion

Applicants are encouraged to apply by March 31, 2022. Review will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified.

Advertised:Mar 16 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Apr 16 2022 Eastern Daylight Time