Assistant or Associate Professor of Interior Design

Critical Playground LLC; Normal, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition waiver

Paid holidays

Paid benefit time

Job summary

Illinois State University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position in Interior Design, beginning August 16, 2027. The successful candidate will engage in teaching, research, and service at an R2 institution.

The role includes graduate and undergraduate instruction, curriculum development, student mentoring, and a commitment to inclusive pedagogy. A strong research agenda and external funding pursuits are encouraged.

Qualifications

• PhD in Interior Design or closely related field; ABD considered; degree must be completed before start.
• Evidence of rigorous scholarship and creative activity; publications and conferences.
• 1+ academic years of college-level teaching experience.
• Demonstrated oral proficiency in English as required by state law.

Responsibilities

• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses, contribute to curriculum development and student mentoring with inclusive pedagogy.
• Deliver studio-based interior design courses and participate in program-wide curriculum planning.
• Maintain an active program of scholarship, disseminate work at conferences, seek external funding.

Skills

Teaching

Research

Curriculum development

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Interior Design or related field

ABD considered

Job description

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Interior Design to begin August 16, 2027.

The successful candidate will be expected to engage in high-quality teaching and impactful research consistent with the expectations of an R2 institution. The candidate will also provide meaningful service to the Department, College, University, and the broader profession.

The candidate will teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels and is expected to contribute to course delivery, curriculum development, student mentoring, and the use of inclusive and effective pedagogical practices. The selected candidate will teach a range of courses within the program, including studio-based instruction, depending on expertise and interest. We seek a candidate prepared to teach across the Interior Design curriculum as needed. Expertise in lighting and/or technical drawing is desirable. The typical teaching load is 9 credit hours per semester.

The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active and sustained program of scholarship and creative productivity, with a clearly defined research agenda that advances knowledge and contributes meaningfully to their field. We seek candidates who conduct rigorous research and disseminate their work in respected, peer-reviewed journals and other well-regarded professional outlets. Candidates are expected to present their work at national and/or international conferences and to pursue opportunities for recognition of scholarly excellence, such as competitive awards and other distinctions. A demonstrated interest in pursuing external funding to support research and scholarly activities is desirable. We welcome candidates whose scholarship intersects with healthcare, as well as those whose work addresses other areas of meaningful societal impact.

University Benefit Highlights

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

For more University Benefit information: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Information regarding eligibility for participation in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program can be reviewed here https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/insurance/

Additional Information

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is a collaborative, interdisciplinary unit comprising five programs: Interior Design; Fashion Design and Merchandising; Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics; Human Development and Family Sciences; and Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education. The growing Interior Design program currently serves approximately 200 students and offers BS, BA, MS, and MA degrees in Interior Design. Students may also pursue an accelerated MS or MA degree, allowing them to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees in as few as five years. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, advanced study, and membership in professional interior design organizations. The BS or BA in Interior Design at Illinois State University meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Exam. Students have access to a state-of-the-art studio environment, including a lighting lab, materials library, and advanced technology resources, as well as opportunities to visit professional interior design firms and participate in study abroad experiences. This new tenure track position will join the Interior Design program, which includes four full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members and four full-time non-tenure-track faculty members.

Illinois State University, IllinoisState.edu, was founded in 1857 as Illinois’ first public university. We enroll approximately 21,000 students in six colleges. Our new strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, lists our seven core values: Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our university being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Learn more about Illinois State’s Metrics of Excellence at IllinoisState.edu/PointsofPride.

Bloomington-Normal: Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems, and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. Bloomington made Livability’s top 100 Best Places to Live (2024) and ranked No. 3 on College Values Online’s list of Best Small College Towns in America (2024). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis; two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis; and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield. Many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via Amtrak, which is located one block from Illinois State’s campus. For more information on our community, visit visitbn.org.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

Assistant: $75,000-$80,000 Associate: $87,000-$93,000

Required Qualifications

1. PhD in Interior Design or closely related field. ABD will be considered; final candidate needs to have the degree completed prior to the start date of the appointment.
2. Demonstrated or potential for rigorous scholarship and creative activity, such as peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and external funding.
3. 1 or more academic years of prior teaching experience at the college level.
4. Demonstrable oral proficiency in the English language, as required by state law.

Work Hours

Varies

Proposed Starting Date

August 16, 2027

Required Applicant Documents

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Reference List with three references that speak to your academic and professional abilities (name, position, institution, email, and a brief description of your professional or academic relationship)
4. Brief statement (~1 page) describing your philosophy of teaching and how you have or would incorporate diversity into these practices
5. Brief statement (~1 page) describing your program of scholarly and creative productivity, including a clearly defined and sustained research agenda that contributes to the advancement of knowledge in their field
6. Portfolio of relevant design work (professional and/or teaching/student related work)

Contact Information for Applicants

Jasmine Buckner, [e-mail]