Description

Detailed Job Description

The School of Design in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology invites applicants to apply for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position to teach in the Interior Design program. RIT Interior Design, an expanding program, is a student-centered academic environment where burgeoning designers cultivate their unique points of view under professional faculty tutelage. Our mission is to mentor students, so they enter the field prepared to contribute to the profession with a deep-rooted understanding of the needs of society, culture and the environment. Our interior design program is highly sought-after and known for engaging students in real world projects both locally and internationally. By maximizing an array of academic and professional opportunities, our graduates are reshaping how we live in the world.

RIT's CIDA-accredited interior design program challenges students to be creative thinkers capable of responding thoughtfully to the challenges facing humanity, the environment, and emerging global conditions. Our B.F.A. degree is a multi-faceted program of study offering a comprehensive exploration of the commercial architectural interior. The curriculum synthesizes theoretical constructs with technical requirements and design processes to create inspiring, purposeful interior environments for a range of users and project typologies. Students build upon knowledge and experience from their formal instruction, internships and program mentoring experiences to cultivate professional skills. The high retention and employment rates for B.F.A. graduates are reflective of the overall quality of our program.

We invite applications from accomplished interior design or interior architecture faculty and ancillary design professionals with higher education teaching experience and significant professional expertise. The program is seeking a dynamic, creative team member who is actively engaged in the industry and committed to serving as an advocate for the program, and its students, within the professional community.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the capacity to teach comprehensively across the Interior Design curriculum and exhibit leadership and strategic vision in advancing the program. Ideal attributes for application include a robust professional and student portfolio illustrating diverse skills and a range of expertise for the discipline. Areas of consideration include but are not limited to history and theory; design process and methods; space planning for a variety of commercial design typologies (healthcare, multipurpose, event and exhibition, office, retail, hospitality); accessibility and human factors; sustainable design thinking; universal design; building systems and materiality; color and light; FF&E specifications, code compliance, and construction documentation. The body of work submitted for consideration must demonstrate knowledge and use of current and emerging software relevant to the field. We are seeking a professional with strong experience integrating technologies such as BIM, generative design, animation, and AI into curricula.

In addition to teaching responsibilities, the candidate will engage in research and creative scholarship, contribute to curriculum development, advise students, and provide service to the university, college, department, and profession.

We are seeking an individual who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student-centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT's core values and honor code.

To attract and retain an excellent and innovative faculty, RIT offers a number of programs and professional development opportunities to help faculty succeed from our onboarding and orientation on through to the tenure and promotion process.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• A terminal degree in Interior Design (MFA), Interior Architecture (MS, MIA), Environmental Design (MS), Master of Architecture (M.Arch), or related advanced degree with relevant professional experience will be considered.
• NCIDQ Certificate Holder and/or passed the Architect Registration Examination.
• Other professional certifications relevant to the design profession (e.g., WELL, EDAC, LEED, etc.) are considered strengths but are not required.
• Minimum three years of full-time professional experience in interior design, architecture, facilities and construction management or a related field of study.
• Minimum two years or equivalent teaching experience in interior design or a related field at the associate and/or baccalaureate level beyond a teaching assistantship.
• Professional experience designing spaces with interior architectural systems, applicable codes, furniture, finishes and fixtures.
• Architectural drawing, visualization and computer proficiency in applied design process and practice with demonstrated experience integrating technologies such as BIM, generative design, animation, and AI into curricula.
• Demonstrated knowledge in three or more of the following areas: design history, critical theory, design production and methodology, systems thinking, building code and regulations, contract documentation, FF&E packaging and specification writing, business practices, visual representation, commercial interior design, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, retail establishments, exhibition and theater, and office design.
• Established or burgeoning research scholarship agenda.
• Model professionalism and demonstrate effective communication skills.

Department/College Description

The internationally renowned School of Design (SOD) offers five undergraduate programs in 3D Digital Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and New Media Design, as well as two graduate programs in Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design. SOD also includes the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, with its vast archive of relevant design artifacts and their process. SOD is a creative community where students discover their unique talents and expressive potential, all while developing the skills needed to fulfill any creative or technical role in the expansive fields of design. The School of Design has the largest number of students, representing nearly half of the College's total enrollment. SOD alumni and faculty are nationally and internationally recognized, and include National Design Award recipients, design leaders at global companies and organizations, and thought leaders who shape the field of design and the future of society and the planet. To learn more, go to rit.edu/artdesign/school-design.

RIT's College of Art and Design is a professional art and design school at the forefront of technology, art, and design. Spanning more than 230,000 square feet, our facilities feature state-of-the-art studios and labs that foster a collaborative, hands-on learning environment.
We are a dynamic community of artists, designers, and creative technologists. The College includes nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 140 full-time faculty, 60 creative staff, and numerous part-time faculty-all contributing to our collaborative ecosystem.

Our five schools-Art, American Crafts, Design, Film and Animation, and Photographic Arts and Sciences-offer a diverse range of BFA, BS, and MFA programs.

As part of a top national technical university, our students benefit from unique opportunities to collaborate across disciplines in science, engineering, liberal arts, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, as well as through RIT's global campuses.
Learn more at rit.edu/artdesign.

How To Apply

Apply online at http://careers.rit.edu/faculty; search openings, then Keyword Search by entering 9931BR number. Please submit your application, curriculum vitae, cover letter addressing the listed qualifications, and upload the following attachments:

• A brief teaching philosophy.
• Reference list - provide the names, addresses and phone numbers for three references.
• Course syllabi with at least three assignments.
• Provide a 15 to 20 page PDF or a link to a website presenting examples of professional work. (max 3MB)
• Provide a 15 to 20 page PDF or a link to a website presenting examples of students work. (3MB Max)

Questions on the position can be directed to the search committee chair:
Mary Golden, Undergraduate Program Director of Interior Design
School of Design, College of Art and Design
megfaa@rit.edu

To receive full consideration, all application materials should be received by January 5, 2026. The position will be open until an acceptable candidate is found.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.