Assistant Professor - Interior Design - 000614

Assistant Professor - Interior Design - 000614

Western Carolina University

Department: School of Art & Design

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

Due to the tremendous growth of the program, the School of Art and Design at Western Carolina University is seeking to fill the newly established position of Assistant Professor for a full time, nine-month, tenure track position in the Interior Design Program. Anticipated begin date of January 1, 2027 (with the possibility of August 2027).

Western Carolina University is nestled in the picturesque Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, and only 45 minutes from Asheville, one of the premier creative and cultural centers in the southeast. Currently, the Interior Design Program at WCU has 115+ majors, a private program office and dedicated studio classrooms, with four existing faculty members and two adjunct faculty. Responsibilities will include scholarly activities, and teaching undergraduate level studio/ lecture courses, with a teaching load of 3 classes in the fall semester and 3 classes during the spring semester (3/3). Additionally, participation in service and faculty activities within the Interior Design Program, the school, college and university level are required. Activities may include, but are not limited to, curriculum development, recruitment and retention of students, adherence with CIDA and NASAD guidelines, and student advising.

The Interior Design Program in the School of Art & Design is dynamic, cohesive, interactive and continually evolving. Both the College and the Interior Design Program pursue an innovative curriculum that aims to simultaneously develop disciplinary knowledge, establish scholarship, as well as integrate skills and core topics essential for the professional practice of interior design. The Interior Design Program is CIDA and NASAD accredited.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Applicants should have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Design fundamentals
• CADD/ REVIT technical expertise
• Construction documents
• Building systems
• Human factors
• Commercial design

Minimum Qualifications:

• MFA, Master of Arts or Master of Science in Interior Design, Master of Arts or Master of Science in Sustainable Architecture, Master of Architecture, or related terminal design degree earned by the start date
• NCIDQ certification or eligibility to take the NCIDQ examination
• Proficiency in Revit
• Evidence of successful scholarship, teaching and/or professional practice

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in AutoCAD Architecture and Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience in professional practice and teaching
• Versed in the discipline of Interior Design
• LEED, NCARB, and/or CKD/CBD certification
• Familiarity with CIDA accreditation guidelines and processes
• Current and active professional Interior Design practice and/or other creative activities

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

1. Letter of application
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A statement outlining professional experience, proficiency in design technologies, and teaching philosophy
4. Contact information for three professional references
5. E-Portfolio (of professional projects and student work from courses taught) or a link to portfolio webpage
6. Unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*

For questions or additional information please contact Shelby Hicks at sshicks@email.wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.