Director

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 135,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky’s College of Design invites applications for the Director of the School of Interiors. The Director leads in teaching, research, and administrative stewardship, with 45% administration and 55% teaching/research.

The role requires advancing curricular offerings, expanding global reach, and strengthening industry and philanthropic partnerships. Reporting to the Dean, the Director will shape strategic priorities, foster shared governance, and guide curricular

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Interior Design or a closely related field.
• Record of excellence in teaching, research, or creative practice sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to collaboration, shared governance, and student success.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the public face of the School and advance its visibility in national and international design conversations.
• Expand partnerships with industry, alumni, peer institutions, and community organizations.
• Grow the School’s global footprint through study abroad and international research initiatives.
• Build and activate an Advisory Board and contribute to philanthropic efforts.
• Elevate the visibility of faculty research and creative work through strategic communication and outreach.
• Champion a rigorous, engaging, and supportive student experience.
• Encourage intellectual risk-taking and critical engagement in student work.
• Strengthen connections to professional practice, graduate education, and interdisciplinary opportunities.
• Support pathways that connect undergraduate and graduate research and learning.
• Oversee budgets, staffing, and day-to-day operations.
• Develop course schedules and faculty teaching assignments.
• Align resources with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with College leadership on hiring, planning, and resource allocation.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Education

Terminal degree in Interior Design or closely related field

Job description

The College of Design at the University of Kentucky invites applications and nominations for the position of Director of the School of Interiors.

The Director will lead the next phase of the school’s development, working closely with faculty to articulate and advance a clear and compelling vision for the future of interior design education –one that builds on the school’s strengths in material exploration, interdisciplinary design, and human-centered inquiry while expanding its research impact, global reach, and national visibility. We are seeking an outward-facing, service-oriented leader who listens, advocates, and positions the school within evolving conversations across design, higher education, and the profession.

The Director will enter at a moment when the school is well-positioned for new opportunities. We are in a new building, have made significant faculty hires in recent years, will have completed reaccreditation in spring 2027, and have a curriculum transformation underway. The school is in an energetic and malleable phase with significant opportunity to shape its trajectory.

The Director of the School of Interiors is a full-time faculty position with administrative responsibilities. Administration is anticipated to be 45% of the Director’s distribution of effort, with the remaining 55% allocated to teaching and research. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Design, the Director is responsible for the overall academic, administrative, and fiscal leadership of the School. They will provide leadership in defining the program's strategic priorities and vision and in enhancing its visibility, brand, and reputation. In this role, the Director will be responsible for continuing to advance and strengthen curricular offerings; fostering excellence in teaching, research, and engagement; strategically managing the program's enrollment; overseeing the hiring of new full-time and part-time faculty; supporting the career advancement of faculty members; advancing innovation and multidisciplinary activities; and working collaboratively with College leadership and departmental faculty to effectively manage program resources. The Director should promote a work and learning environment that fosters entrepreneurship, growth, collaboration, and shared governance.

The position will commence on July 1, 2027. This is a 12-month appointment at the rank of associate or full professor with tenure. The term of the administrative appointment is four years and is renewable for an additional four years. Salary is competitive and based on qualifications and experience.

About the School of Interiors

The School of Interiors is a nationally respected program known for its strong and diverse faculty-led research program, collaborative culture, and commitment to design as a human-centered and materially grounded practice.

The school emphasizes areas of inquiry such as material experimentation, soft making, and interdisciplinary methodologies, supported by fabrication facilities and an expanding research environment. Faculty are engaged in creative practice, scholarship, and community-based work that contributes to both local impact and broader disciplinary conversations.

The program is distinguished by its graduate offerings, which position it among a limited number of interior design programs with advanced research pathways. This creates opportunities to further define areas of distinction and deepen research contributions.

The school is actively evolving. It is expanding its global footprint through study abroad and international research, strengthening connections to industry and professional practice, and building new partnerships that extend its reach. A key priority for the Director will be to expand and engage an Advisory Board and support philanthropic development.

This is a moment of transition and opportunity. With new faculty, new facilities, and a curriculum revision underway, the school is entering a new era that invites strategic leadership, alignment, and growth.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate will be an outward-facing, strategic leader who works closely with faculty to articulate and advance a shared vision for the school. They will be a strong listener, a clear communicator, and an advocate for the program.

They will be able to build consensus, set direction, and make decisions that move the school forward. This includes strengthening its intellectual contributions, expanding its reach, and positioning it within evolving conversations in design, culture, and the built environment.

An effective Director will support people while also challenging the program to grow. They will recognize the School’s current momentum and guide it through this next phase with clarity, focus, and purpose.

Key Responsibilities and Leadership Priorities

External Engagement and Visibility

• Serve as the public face of the School and position it within national and international design conversations


• Expand partnerships with industry, alumni, peer institutions, and community organizations


• Grow the School’s global footprint through study abroad and international research initiatives


• Build upon and activate an Advisory Board and contribute to philanthropic efforts


• Elevate the visibility of faculty research and creative work through strategic communication and outreach

Student Experience and Outcomes

• Champion a rigorous, engaging, and supportive student experience


• Encourage intellectual risk-taking and critical engagement in student work


• Strengthen connections to professional practice, graduate education, and interdisciplinary opportunities


• Support pathways that connect undergraduate and graduate research and learning

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Build alignment across School faculty while supporting individual trajectories


• Oversee review, promotion, and mentoring processes


• Support and elevate faculty research, creative activity, and external recognition


• Build upon a culture of shared governance, collaboration, and mutual accountability

Academic and Intellectual Leadership

• Lead the intellectual and pedagogical direction of the school


• Support a cohesive curricular vision aligned with the school’s mission and future trajectory


• Advance a culture of critical inquiry, experimentation, and design rigor


• Guide curriculum development, assessment, and accreditation


• Strengthen the integration of research across studios, seminars, and graduate work

Operations and Program Management

• Oversee budgets, staffing, and day-to-day operations


• Develop course schedules and faculty teaching assignments


• Align resources with strategic priorities


• Collaborate with College leadership on hiring, planning, and resource allocation

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Interior Design or a closely related field


• Record of excellence in teaching, research, or creative practice sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor


• Demonstrated academic leadership experience


• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills


• Commitment to collaboration, shared governance, and student success

Preferred Qualifications

• National or international recognition in design research or practice


• Experience leading program development or curricular transformation


• Record of externally funded research or sustained professional engagement


• Experience building strategic partnerships across academic, industry, or community contexts


• Ability to elevate program visibility and reputation

A complete application must include and will be evaluated based on the following materials:

• a cover letter addressing experience and vision related to leadership, research and creative scholarship, service, teaching, as well as the future of design education and the industry


• a current curriculum vitae or resume highlighting relevant academic and/or professional experience


• names and contact information for at least three references (who will not be contacted unless/until a candidate is invited to an on-campus interview)


• sample of scholarly or creative work (10 pages max.)

Review of applications will begin September 30, 2026; the position will be open until filled.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with diverse rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, social or economic status or whether the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.