Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor in Sustainable Design: Textile & Fashion

The School of Human Ecology at University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a full-time (9-month) faculty position at an open rank (assistant, associate or full) with an expertise in sustainability in fashion and design to join the faculty of the Design Studies Department. The department seeks a colleague who is an imaginative design practitioner and scholar who can build a forward-thinking program to prepare students to shape a sustainable future of textiles, fashion, other soft goods, and related design. Textiles and fashion span the trajectory from global concerns about the environment and those who work to sustain it; local initiatives to strengthen community economies, cultures, and well-being; and individual viewpoints about the relationships between bodies, identities, and creative expression. The successful candidate will join conversations around questions of adaptation, resilience, uses of technology, and humanity in support of sustainable environments at all scales. This position is a part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/. Faculty hired under this initiative will engage in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research or creative scholarship.

More specifically, the position is expected to provide experience and expertise in sustainable design, ideally with an emphasis on textiles, fashion, and/or other soft goods. Particular areas of interest to the department include (but are not limited to):

- Circular design
- Material innovation
- Technology integration
- Entrepreneurship
- Craft in design and production
- Textile and fashion systems, in local, national, or global contexts
- Design for social change
- 3D software technology and/or emerging and developing technologies
- Accessible and inclusive design

The programs seek to reimagine how the next generation of designers might reinvent the fashion and textile industry's systems to combat its unsustainable practices. We work to envision alternative models, local materials, closed-loop systems, and prioritize durable goods to foster a new economy. With a focus on entrepreneurship, social innovation, and environmental impact, this research-oriented faculty member will educate future designers to effect positive change.

This position will be responsible for conducting and disseminating impactful scholarship in sustainable design, focusing on textiles and/or fashion, with an emphasis in responsibility and resourcefulness, whether in the use of materials, approaches to design, production processes, technological integration, or entrepreneurship. Limited and shared research space geared toward arts/humanities and/or social science research is available to support faculty research, within the School of Human Ecology's space guidelines.

This position carries research, teaching, and service responsibilities appropriate for the rank sought. The 2-2 teaching load (4 courses per year) will include rigorous lecture, studio, and seminar instruction across a range of levels. Other responsibilities include leading an independent and high-impact research program; seeking external funding as appropriate for the area of study; advising and working with graduate students; and participating in department, school, and university service.

The responsibilities of this position include:
- Develop and lead an independent research program in sustainable design, with an emphasis in textiles, fashion, and/or other softgoods ideally focusing on questions of adaptation, resilience, uses of technology, and/or humanity in support of sustainable environments at all scales;
- Seek external research funding as appropriate for the area of study;
- Publish or exhibit research findings in venues appropriate to areas of investigation;
- Disseminate findings of high-impact research to a wide range of stakeholders appropriate to areas of investigation;
- Teach undergraduate courses across programs in Textile and Fashion Design, and Design, Innovation, and Society;
- Integrate industry standard and emerging technology (Clo 3D, Pointcarre, Adobe Suite, etc) into curriculum;
- Advise graduate students and mentor undergraduate students;
- Contribute to undergraduate program development in Design Studies;
- Join the faculty in shared governance of the Design Studies department and School of Human Ecology;
- Participate in department, school, university, and professional service appropriate to the faculty rank;
- Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- Participate in campus-wide and SoHE-wide RISE Initiative.
- Participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges
- Promote respect and the practice of civility in the workplace.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
Terminal Degree (PhD or MFA) in relevant field, including but not limited to Fashion Studies, Fibers/Textiles, Fashion Design, Textile Science, Materials Science, Sustainability Studies is required by the start date.

Years of experience and professional accomplishments will be commensurate with the rank sought. All candidates must have proven success in conducting research and teaching appropriate for their stage of career. Associate or Full professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials that meet the tenure standards of the School of Human Ecology and the relevant UW-Madison Divisional Committee. We expect this position to undergo a review process established by either Arts and Humanities or Social Science Division. Therefore, a successful candidate should demonstrate scholarly orientations, methods and evidence appropriate in one of the two Divisions at UW-Madison.

Minimum Required Qualifications:
- The ability to lead a research program that produces high-impact scholarship, attracts external funding individually and/or through active collaboration, and engages graduate students across a range of academic programs.
- The ability to teach studio, seminar, and lecture courses at a range of levels to support academic programs in Textiles and Fashion Design, and Design, Innovation, and Society.
- Demonstrated experience in sustainable design solutions in textiles, fashion, soft goods, or related forms of design, and ability to communicate these solutions in teaching, scholarship, and outreach.
- The ability to work effectively within a diverse community, and a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Evidence of industry experience and/or application of scholarship
- 1-3 years teaching experience

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

AUGUST 18, 2025

Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)

WISCONSIN RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND SCHOLARLY EXCELLCENT (RISE) INTIATIVE
This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Over the next three academic years, UW-Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.

DESIGN STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The Design Studies Department is a vibrant community that approaches design from a broad range of disciplinary and practice-based approaches, and supports a range of undergraduate (Textile and Fashion Design; Interior Architecture; Design, Innovation, and Society) and graduate programs (MFA, PhD, and Masters of Design + Innovation). The Textile and Fashion Design Program, rooted in studio practice and cultural context, is currently undergoing a program revision to focus on producing graduates who are responsible, resourceful, and research-driven about the place of textiles and fashion in global societies, cultural, economies, and environments. The new undergraduate degree program in Design, Innovation, and Society encourages students to interrogate the place of design in the history, present day, and future of everyday life; with pathways in Technology, Culture, and Social Change, this program supports the current trajectory in the design field, emphasizing robust transdisciplinary collaboration as a response to addressing the intricate challenges of the 21rst century. The Interior Architecture program is an internationally recognized program known for its innovative interdisciplinary research and broad-based professional education. Its mission is to combine research and design practice to improve people's lives through human-centered design within the built environment.

CENTER FOR DESIGN AND MATERIAL CULTURE: The Center for Design and Material Culture is the primary destination for the multi-disciplinary study of material culture and design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with particular focus on the study of design, material culture, and textile. This vision is supported by the rich resources of the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, two galleries, the Ruth Davis Gallery and the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery, and the SoHE Innovation Studio.

SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY: The mission of the School of Human Ecology is to understand the complex relationships and interdependence among individuals, groups and families, and to focus on quality-of-life issues through research, creative innovation, education, and outreach. The School has four academic departments (Civil Society and Community Studies, Consumer Science, Design Studies, and Human Development and Family Studies) with a collective undergraduate enrollment of over 2,200 students, and 100+ graduate students. Faculty members in the School of Human Ecology often affiliate with centers and programs including the Center for Design and Material Culture, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, the LaFollette School of Public Affairs, and the Center for Research on Women and Gender. See http://sohe.wisc.edu

To start the application process, please select the "Apply Now" botton. Please upload the following materials:
1. A cover letter detailing: (a) your interest in and relevant experience for this particular position as well as (b) a statement how your expertise contributes specifically to the mission of the School of Human Ecology;
2. A current CV;
3. A statement on research, including past achievements and future aims, and discussion of approach to scholarship (eg, practice-based, collection-based, exhibition, publication, etc) (max. 500 words);
4. Example of scholarship most relevant for your field (eg, design portfolio, writing sample, patent application, etc)

In addition, you will be asked to provide the names and contact information of three references willing to be contacted for reference check and letters of recommendation at a later date within the application system. At a future date you may be asked to upload other application materials.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is January 20, 2025; however, the position will remain open and applications may be considered until the position is filled.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed 'Authorization to Release Information' form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of 'misconduct' can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/

Michelle Hamilton
mehamilton4@wisc.edu
608-890-0011
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Professor(FA020) or Associate Professor(FA030) or Assistant Professor(FA040)

A27-SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY/DESIGN STUDIES

Faculty

309694-FA