Assistant Professor of Fashion Design & Development

Job Duties:

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 2026. The position is a tenure-track, 9-month academic year position and will bring fresh perspectives and skills to this established and growing program. Exciting opportunities exist and are encouraged for new curriculum and collaborations – centered on new technologies that will impact the future direction of the fashion industry.

 

A core focus of this position will be instructing students in market-oriented fashion product development and production. The ideal candidate will bring industry-oriented advanced technical expertise to a range of studio courses, including cut and sewn knitwear, machine knitting, and digital advances in fashion technology (e.g., digital patterning, grading & maker, 3D simulation). 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.

 

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 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); conduct original research in areas of design. 
• Perform university, community, and professional services. 
• Demonstrate organizational skills and collegiality.
• Collaborate with other faculty to maintain / develop course curricula.
• Collaborate with other faculty to maintain historical collection, lab maintenaince and supervision student workers.
• Foster a rigorous and inclusive learning environment.
• Schedule, maintain office hours and/or online availability for students, in alignment with departmental expectations; including assessment of student learning.
• Provide grades following the process/timeline established by the registrar.
• Participate in the university online learning environment, which includes the learning management system.
• Participate in early alert and other student success initiatives as requested.
• Work with the Disability Services office (http://www.uwstout.edu/disability) to foster an inclusive learning environment when students disclose the need for learning accommodations.
• Perform other duties as designated by the Department Chair.

 

 

Key Job Responsibilities:

 

 

Department:

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 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 20% of the on-campus undergraduate population at UW-Stout. Our school serves the MFA in Design, ten undergraduate degrees, and seven minors. For more information, please visit: http://www.uwstout.edu/artdes/ 

 

Compensation:

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. A six-month probationary period is required.

 

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. ·

 

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

 

Required Qualifications:

• Completed terminal degree (M.F.A., Ph.D., or equivalent) in an area relevant to fashion design by date of appointment.

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to teach university-level courses in fashion design, fashion development, or related field.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of three years of industry experience in fashion design, fashion development, textiles, or a related area (e.g., apparel design, apparel development/management, 2D and 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 to 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.

 

How to Apply:

Complete applications received by the end of day, January 5, 2026, are ensured full consideration. Applications submitted after January 5, 2026, 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

 

Required application materials:

Cover letter (* See below)

Current curriculum vitae or resumé

Unofficial copies of transcripts of all degrees.

Professional portfolio, a PDF or a link to an online portfolio of up to 20 samples of professional/creative work.

Teaching portfolio of student outcomes (if applicable), link or no more than 20 pages.

Teaching philosophy (1-2 pages)

 

*Please 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.

 

All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process.?

 

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.

 

Contact Information:

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

 

 

Guidelines to ensure consideration:    

• Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required application materials.     

• Within your cover letter address each of the Minimum/Required Qualifications specified for this position. For each required qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement.  

 

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.   

 

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. 

• Employee Benefits:  https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/

• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu)

 

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 candidates’ professional references questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. Reference checks must be conducted at a minimum with three professional references, at least one of which must be a prior supervisor.

 

Final candidates with previous employment within the Universities of Wisconsin and State of WI agencies will be subject to additional reference checks. 

 

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

 

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.