Assistant Professor in Apparel Design - Design Justice Cluster-Hire Initiative

About the Design Justice Cluster-Hire Initiative
Design Justice is an initiative within the College of Design, seeking to create space, policy, and practices that support the inclusion and retention of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) as well as other communities who have been historically underinvested. Design Justice is supported by a group of individuals across design disciplines, known as the Collective, who are committed to anti-racism, decolonized pedagogy, and the liberation of communities who have been underinvested historically, in both design academia and the design industry. Areas of scholarship, teaching, and/or service will involve: anti-racism, racial justice, racial disparities, and/or racial discrimination; equity, power/privilege, and/or bias; benefits to the BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee populations; environmental and social justice; and/or other forms of studying and countering systemic oppression. Successful candidates for all positions will have the clear potential, demonstrated ability, and/or related scholarship to support our BIPOC and other marginalized communities.

Position Details
We are seeking tenure-track candidates at the Assistant Professor level with a robust research trajectory who are committed to advancing a scholarly, pedagogic, and/or service agenda focused on an area of design justice, as described above. Successful candidates will conduct and support their own research and will teach various of undergraduate and graduate courses specific to apparel design and apparel studies.

This is a 100%-time academic year (9-month), tenure-track faculty position. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and will be supplemented by a generous start-up package to support the advancement of scholarship and teaching that aligns with the tenure standards of the Apparel Design and Apparel Studies programs. Start-up packages typically include course release/s, graduate student assistant/s, and/or other means determined through dialogue with the department head. Applicants should be prepared to serve as a member of the Design Justice Collective for their first two years. Priority application deadline is November 15; however, applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is August 2025. Regardless of the start date, selected candidates will receive the cluster experience.

About the Apparel Design Program
We seek a highly-qualified individual who can contribute to field-shaping research, teaching, and community-engaged scholarship. This individual will support the Apparel Design undergraduate program and the Apparel Studies track in the Design Graduate Program.

We are part of the College of Design, and design is core to all our programs. Our designers and merchandisers must have a strong foundation in history, culture, and theory to complement their design, technology, and business coursework. Addressing issues of social justice and sustainable consumption with a new lens on how history is told, how culture is communicated, and how we can be better stewards of the earth is the vision for the scholarship to be done in the area of apparel design and history/theory/culture.

Responsibilities

• Conduct teaching, research/scholarship/creative work, and/or service centered around areas of design justice.
• Serve as a member of the Design Justice Collective for the first two years of your appointment to contribute to the cultivation of policies and practices that exemplify the college's commitment to the mission of the Design Justice Collective.
• Contribute to and support the mission of our urban land-grant university through research, teaching, and engagement.
• Collaborate to develop and refine the undergraduate and graduate curriculum with other Apparel Design school faculty.
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Apparel Studies contributing to the Apparel Design curriculum. Develop and deliver studio-based coursework.
• Advise/mentor undergraduate and graduate students and contribute to recruitment and retention strategies of students who have been historically underinvested.
• Create and grow an internationally competitive, financially sustainable scholarship program in Apparel.
• Disseminate research and teaching scholarship in high-quality, peer-reviewed venues
• Secure internal and external funding to support scholarship.
• Commit to supporting interdisciplinary initiatives in teaching and scholarship, collaborating with members of synergistic fields in the College of Design and across the University.
• Work in partnership with faculty across the University to foster innovation, cultivate strategic business collaborations, advance Minnesota's economy, and enhance the University's ability to produce breakthrough research that addresses society's greatest challenges.
• Participate in faculty governance at the program, department, college, and/or university levels

Required Qualifications

• Commitment in teaching, scholarship, and/or service with a demonstrated ability, interest and/or potential to intersect with design justice and/or antiracism.
• PhD or Terminal degree (i.e. MFA, EdD) in Apparel, Design, History, or related area
• Evidence of a clear vision for an active research or creative scholarship program and a viable strategy to procure external funding.
• Strong record of scholarship or creative production in peer-reviewed venues.
• Demonstrated potential to develop and teach Apparel Studies core and elective courses at undergraduate and graduate levels
• A strategy for developing connections with business, related professions, and communities beyond the University.
• Experience and/or commitment to teaching and/or mentoring students who have been historically underinvested.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in Theory, History, Culture, Sociology, Psychology of Dress, or Museum Studies.
• Record of thought leadership in the area of scholarship focus.
• Record of successful grant procurement.
• Record of innovative teaching, ability to deliver studio coursework including proficiency in 3D apparel software
• Evidence of diversity and inclusion in teaching and/or scholarship or creative production.
• Experience in program and curricular development in undergraduate and graduate education.
• Evidence of collaboration with colleagues in multiple academic disciplines.
• Industry experience in apparel design, retail merchandising, and/or museums.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Evidence of a global perspective.
• Evidence of strong collaborative and interpersonal skills.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Dakota People, ceded in the Treaties of 1837 and 1851. We are committed to recognizing the complex history of this land by honoring the truth of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together now. We acknowledge the need to end the violence against missing and murdered Indigenous women- a local and national epidemic which can be traced back to the arrival of European colonizers across Turtle Island. We acknowledge and fight against the legacy of white supremacy and culture of anti-Black racism in our own community, which has led to the murders of Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Winston Smith, and countless other Black Americans across this nation. Black lives matter. We stand with our Hmong, Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities against the rise of xenophobic violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that words are not enough and we remain committed to the work of eradicating the injustices against all Black, Indigenous, and people of color caused by systemic racism.

Formed in 2006, the University of Minnesota's College of Design encompasses a full range of design disciplines, including eight undergraduate degrees, 24 graduate and professional degree options, and nine centers for research, creative scholarship, and engagement. Through rigorous commitments to creativity, equity, and advancing technologies, College of Design educational programs and innovations address emerging issues, identify problems, frame creative approaches, and generate solutions across all scales of human experience. We offer rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research and public engagement, through highly-regarded research and engagement centers, including the Center for Retail Design and Innovation (CRDI), Wearable Product Design, Digital Design Center (DDC), Minnesota Design Center (MDC), Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR), and the Goldstein Museum of Design. For more information about the college, please visit our website at design.umn.edu.

We are located in the Twin Cities, known as a major design hub and home to design-oriented Fortune 500 companies such as Target, 3M, General Mills, Best Buy, and Medtronic, several international and national award-winning architecture practices, thriving local businesses, and a strong non-profit sector. Our students have a wide range of internship opportunities, our graduates enjoy high employment rates, and our alumni are highly engaged with current students and faculty. We take pride in Minnesota's designations as a Research 1 and Community-Engaged University, which provide foundations for many of our award-winning projects.

Pay Range: $70,000 - $90,000; commensurate with qualifications and experience, and will be supplemented by a generous start-up package to support the advancement of scholarship and teaching that aligns with the tenure standards of the Apparel Design and Apparel Studies programs.

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

To Apply to the Apparel Design Position, Submit the Following:

• Cover letter identifying your interest in and qualifications for the position. In this letter, please address your comments explicitly to the required and desired qualifications for the Design Justice Apparel Design position.
• Curriculum vitae

If you advance to the next level of the search, we will reach out to you to submit additional materials including:

• Portfolio of scholarship consisting of no more than 15 examples of work that includes original designs, creative practice, and research papers, if available
• Portfolio of teaching consisting of no more than 15 examples of work
• 1-2 page statement of vision for scholarly work
• 1-2 page statement of vision for teaching
• Transcripts of your graduate work (may be unofficial transcripts at time of application)
• Summary of recent teaching evaluations or a peer review of teaching
• Contact information for three references

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

For questions, please reach out to Dr. Elizabeth Bye (ebye@umn.edu), search committee chair, or College of Design Human Resources (designHR@umn.edu).

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).