Assistant Professor position in the Fashion Design and Development Program

The School of Art & Design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in the Fashion Design and Development Program, commencing the fall semester of 2025. The position is a tenure-track, 9-month academic year position and will bring fresh perspectives and skills to this established and growing program. The appointment will be at the assistant or associate professor level to be determined at time of hire, commensurate with the successful candidate's academic preparation and experience. Exciting opportunities exist and are encouraged for new curriculum and collaborations centered around the hired position's expertise and interests. Position expectations primarily include teaching at the undergraduate level, graduate level, outreach to industry, creative research, and service to the department, college, and university. UW-Stout's School of Art & Design is NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) accredited.

APPOINTMENT START DATE: August 18, 2025

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum / Required: 

• Terminal Degree: 
  • Earned Ph.D. or MFA in fashion design, or related field, by date of appointment. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to teach university-level courses in fashion design, fashion development, or related field.

Highly Desired: 

• 3 years of fashion design, fashion development, textiles, or related industry work experience (e.g., apparel design, apparel development/management, 3D software).
• Evidence of a cohesive program of research as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, multi-disciplinary industry collaborations and projects, and/or public exhibitions. 
• Proficiency in design and/or development/software programs in fashion areas, including but not limited CLO3D, Optitex, Gravity Sketch, and other areas of emerging technology. 
• Interest in the disciplines of art & design, with a focus on visual creativity and expression.
• Interest in maintaining a historical fashion collection. 
• Interest in future leadership opportunities within the fashion area. 
• Commitment to teaching excellence and mentorship of undergraduates. 
• Demonstrated potential and interest in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach lecture and lab courses each semester, that may include introductory, intermediate, and advanced fashion design and development, quality analysis, digital design, and studio classes.  
• Advance student learning in Fashion Design and Development and in alignment with UW-Stout's polytechnic tenets of applied learning and research, business and industry partnerships, career focused education. 
• Provide student academic advisement and conduct assessment of student learning. This includes contributing to academic program assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement processes, in collaboration with faculty and staff. 
• Develop a productive research program with the potential for refereed scholarship (peer-reviewed publications, peer-reviewed creative scholarship, visual exhibitions); conduct original research in areas of fashion.
• Assist in maintaining lab equipment and facilities for the fashion design and development area. 
• Develop strong partnerships with the fashion and textile industries for advanced students' learning experiences.
• Participate in program events and departmental meetings; demonstrate a commitment to teamwork.
• Perform university, community, and professional services.
• Perform other duties as designated by Department Chair.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Fashion Design & Development program (formerly Apparel Design and Development) emphasizes current industry practices, internship opportunities, and career placement. Students explore real-world aspects of the fashion and apparel industries, including market research, planning, designing, developing, buying, and marketing. Dedicated facilities include a newly renovated textile lab, maker labs, hands-on classrooms, studios, including a photography lab, and digital process lab. Studies include merchandise planning, product sourcing, social media marketing, and market research, as well as coursework on visual merchandising, apparel construction, textile pattern structures, and 21st-century garment engineering and manufacturing. Graduates are hired nationally.

The Design Department is committed to creating an inclusive campus community. Candidates who have experience working collaboratively with diverse individuals and/or groups and who can contribute to fostering an inclusive environment are encouraged to identify their experience in these areas. For more information, please visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bs-fashion-retail 

The School of Art & Design (SOAD) has over 85 faculty/staff and over 1,300 students, making it the largest public higher education art and design entity in the upper Midwest. The School of Art & Design student population accounts for roughly 20% of the on-campus undergraduate population at UW-Stout. Our school serves the MFA in Design, MPS in Design, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability, ten undergraduate degrees, and six minors. For more information, please visit: http://www.uwstout.edu/artdes/ 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Complete applications received by the end of day, Sunday, January 5th, 2025, are ensured full consideration. Applications submitted after January 5th, 2025, may be reviewed at the discretion of the search committee or until position is filled.

To apply, click on the APPLY button or go to: https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/careers-jobs

Note: This posting is for the faculty, tenure track position. Applicants who wish to be considered for the instructional academic staff position need to apply to: Lecturer, Fashion Design and Development (Job #xxxxxx)

Required application materials: 

1. Cover letter: Use your cover letter to speak to each of the Minimum/Required Qualifications for this position as listed above. For each required qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Names and contact information for a minimum of three professional references who can speak to your skills and abilities for the position.
4. Unofficial copies of transcripts of all degrees. 
5. Professional/Teaching portfolio: A PDF or a link to an online portfolio of up to 20 samples of professional/creative work and up to 20 images of student work (or if student work is not available, examples of teaching potential).

Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application.

Note: Once you have attached your materials and submitted your application, you will not be able to go into the system and change them.

Before starting the online application process, we recommend you preview the frequently asked questions (FAQs) available at: https://kb.uwss.wisconsin.edu/21900 

It is the policy of UW-Stout to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance, or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact us using the information below. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodation for a qualified individual's disability.

For questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact:
Search Chair: Dave Beck
Email: beckdav@uwstout.edu 

If you need assistance with the online application process or if you submitted your application prior to uploading all the required application materials, please contact:
Search Coordinator: Becca Rother
Email: rotherr@uwstout.edu 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan, demonstrating our commitment to the diverse needs of our employees. UW-Stout is certified as a Family Friendly Workplace recognized for market-leading employee benefits and committed to supporting children and families.

• Benefit Details: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/quickguidefasl.pdf  
• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu) 

UW-Stout is committed to nondiscrimination in its employment practices and to equal employment opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate against, harass or retaliate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (as defined in state and federal law), sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, genetic information, arrest record, conviction record, military service, veteran status, use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer's premises during non-working hours, political affiliation, declining to attend a meeting or participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters, honesty testing, or any other category protected by law.  

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, UW-Stout welcomes applications from individuals from diverse groups; veterans, individuals with disabilities and from historically excluded populations. At UW-Stout we value our differences and welcome diverse perspectives as we continually commit to developing an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees and students.

Employment is contingent upon the final candidate's completing a criminal background check and being cleared to work by the Human Resources Office. Employment is also contingent upon the final candidate passing reference checks and an essential job function test, as applicable. The reference check process includes asking the final candidate and most recent supervisor(s) questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. Final candidates with previous employment within the Universities of Wisconsin and State of WI agencies will be subject to additional reference checks.

Official transcripts required at time of hire.

In response to a public records request, the Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in their online application, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7)

UW-Stout is committed to providing safety and security of all members of our community in accordance with the Clery Act. For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/life-stout/police-and-parking/clery-information 

INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW  

University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, offers an unmatched career-focused education that combines applied learning, theory and research with real-world experience that prepares tomorrow's leaders to drive the future of business and industry. At UW-Stout, our students do more than earn a degree--they do more on day one. And we are #StoutProud to produce lifelong learners, ethical leaders and responsible citizens who succeed in a global society. 
 
UW-Stout is recognized nationwide for its operational excellence. We were the first and remain the only full four-year public higher education institution in the nation to receive the Malcolm Baldrige Award, and we are dedicated to a process-improvement model that leverages the power of data and the value of our people. We believe in critical thinking and fact-informed decision making. We pursue sustainability in form and function and collaborate across campus and with our partners to solve problems in industry and society. And providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for our faculty, staff, and students to live, learn and work is a top priority.

We offer 50+ undergraduate degrees, 20+ graduate degrees and 30+ professional certificates in Art, Design & Graphics; Business & Management; Education; Human & Social Sciences; Information Technology & Communications; and Science, Engineering & Math. Our first-class digital infrastructure and learning environments provide our nearly 7,000 students with every avenue to explore and personalize their success. As the only laptop+ campus among the 13 Universities of Wisconsin, UW-Stout provides laptops and industry-standard software, open education resources and other technology-driven advantages--all included in on-campus undergraduate tuition and fees.  And we invest in people who share our vision to advance our position as Wisconsin's only Polytechnic University and as a regional, national, and international leader in higher education.

Be a part of the future at UW-Stout. Learn more at https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us 

University of Wisconsin-Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, a community an hour east of Minneapolis-St. Paul. A pillar of Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley and recognized as one of the best small towns in America, Menomonie provides an idyllic combination of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, boutiques and arts and culture with access to a metropolitan area. For more information about the UW-Stout community and region visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/our-community