Job Summary
The Department of Art and Design invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Practice beginning Fall 2027. This position will teach all levels of undergraduate Interior Design courses, participate in departmental meetings, advise students, and engage with greater academic and professional communities. This position has a 12-credits-per-semester teaching load. This position reports directly to the chair of the Department of Art and Design.
Qualifications/Requirements:
A Master’s or PhD. degree in Interior Design or related field with a minimum of 3 years teaching experience in a college or university setting is required. Your application should address your industry experience in interior design or architectural practice and NCIDQ certification as well as any professional practice experience, university/college teaching experience, and versatility in studio instruction from foundational to advanced-level courses. Please also address communication skills, both written and oral, knowledge and experience with interior design accreditation, memberships in interior design professional organizations, and the ability to work effectively with, and expand, outside constituencies including, but not limited to, alumni, the Interior Design Advisory Board, and industry professionals, if applicable.
Professional knowledge must include design theories, programming, residential and commercial design, building code, and building systems. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in several industry design software including but not limited to AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suite, such as Photoshop, and the ability to teach courses using the industry design software. This position will teach in one or more of the following areas: design studio course, interior materials, lighting and color, professional practice, drawing techniques, interior history, and industry design software. This position will be required to engage with undergraduate students in lecture and studio settings, providing support and critical feedback in their instruction and evaluation of student work. It is essential that the candidate be willing to learn and adopt the University Learning Management System (Brightspace), and to integrate appropriate digital technologies into the teaching and learning process. Position is contingent upon available funding and satisfactory background check.
The Department
The Department of Art and Design is a vibrant department of active art professionals and scholars and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Housed in the well-equipped Visual Arts Buildings, students benefit from studying with faculty who exhibit and present regionally, nationally, and internationally. The department is staffed by seven tenured, one tenure-track, one assistant professor of practice, three senior lecturers, one lecturer, and eight limited-term lecturers. The Department of Art and Design enrolls more than 200 majors in curricula leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with concentrations in Interior Design, Drawing, Ceramics, Imaging and Photography, Painting, Printmaking, Metalsmithing, Sculpture, Graphic Design, Web Design, and Art Education.
The University
Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) is the largest university in northeast Indiana, offering 25 graduate and over 100 prestigious Purdue University undergraduate degrees and certificates. More than 7,000 students of diverse ages, races, and nationalities belong to the PFW family. The 594‐acre campus in Fort Wayne is home to over 8,000 degree‐seeking undergraduate and graduate students. Through PFW’s partnerships with area high schools, almost 2,000 high school students take dual‐credit courses, simultaneously earning both high school and college credits. PFW is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Learn more about us at PFW.edu.
Application Process
Review of application materials will start on November 15, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.
Please submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, a 1-2 page teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching effectiveness, portfolio demonstrating scholarly and creative activities, and professional practice (save as a single PDF file with 20 images maximum), if applicable, a website or pdf with a portfolio of your work (20 images) and pdf portfolio of student work (20 images), and contact information for three references to https://careers.purdue.edu/FW/job/Assistant-Professor-of-Practice-in-Interior-Design/43994-en_US. All candidates invited for a campus interview will be expected to do a 45-60 minute instructional student presentation.
Purdue Fort Wayne is an EEO/AA employer. Purdue Fort Wayne will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.