Professor of Practice: School of Design-Environmental and Interior Design

Syracuse University invites applications for a full-time, three-year renewable Professor of Practice position in Environmental and Interior Design (EDI) within the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts. This position begins Fall 2026 and is non-tenure-track.

About the Program

The Environmental and Interior Design program is a four-year, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree. Consistently ranked among the best programs nationally, it prepares graduates to take the NCIDQ Examination, the industry’s leading credential for interior design licensure. The School of Design is an inquisitive and intelligent community addressing issues in context, committed to forging bold, imaginative, and reciprocal relationships with local and global constituents.

The School of Design offers several highly ranked undergraduate programs, including Industrial and Interaction Design (BID), Fashion Design (BFA), Communications Design (BFA), and Design Studies (BS), as well as a graduate program in Museum Studies (MA). Enrolling approximately 420 undergraduate and 30 graduate students, the School occupies the Nancy Cantor Warehouse in downtown Syracuse.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses each semester as assigned, including design studios, lecture/seminar courses, and experiential learning projects.
• Support programmatic initiatives, attend program/school/college meetings, and participate in assessment and accreditation-related activities.
• Develop projects that enhance the curriculum, including hands-on projects, collaborative studio work, and immersive experiences.
• Mentor and advise students academically and professionally, including guidance on internships, career pathways, and professional development.
• Engage in curricular enrichment events such as field trips and firm crawls.
• Demonstrate continued excellence in relevant professional activities, including active engagement in professional practice through projects, collaborations, publications, or presentations.
• Maintain a deep understanding of interior design and teach collaboratively with colleagues across the School of Design.
• Foster relationships with alumni, industry, and outside stakeholders.
• Develop new courses and curricular content aligned with contemporary interior design practice.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in Interior Design or a closely related field, preferably from a CIDA-accredited program.
• NCIDQ Certified or NCIDQ Certificate Holder is preferred (or highly desired).
• Professional practice experience in interior or architectural design (typically 5-10+ years; depth and relevance of experience will be strongly considered).
• Teaching experience within interior design or other design-related programs in a college or university setting is preferred.

Qualifications

• Teaching experience or demonstrated mentoring/supervisory experience with emerging designers in professional practice.
• Strong understanding of contemporary design process, studio culture, and professional preparation.
• Engagement with professional organizations (IIDA, ASID, AIA, IDEC, etc.).
• Additional credentials such as WELL AP or LEED AP.
• Experience with design and rendering software commonly used in interior design and architecture, including CAD, BIM, 3D modeling, and visualization tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion, V-Ray, Twinmotion).
• Knowledge of Adobe applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premier, and XD.
• Demonstrated success in interdisciplinary collaboration and creative activity based on relevant professional practice.
• Strong understanding of modern design education in terms of pedagogy, assessment, student experience, and employability.
• Communication abilities and cross-cultural competencies to maximize effectiveness with students, colleagues, and community members from all backgrounds.
• Evidence of experience in professional practice and/or academic positions in interior design or related fields.
• Established understanding of the nature of interior design education, its delivery, and current issues, including competency in supporting students from all backgrounds.

Schedule

• Three-year renewable position, beginning Fall 2026.
• Primarily on-site, in-person instruction for studio and experiential courses, with potential for some hybrid or online instruction depending on program needs.