Clemson University is looking for a director of historic preservation to join its team in Charleston, USA.

Director of historic preservation – Charleston, South Carolina

Clemson University: College of Architecture, Art and Construction: School of Architecture

Location: Clemson University Design Center – Cigar Factory

Open Date: 23 September 2026

Description

Clemson University College of Architecture, Art and Construction seeks a tenured associate or full professor, or professor of practice, in historic preservation to serve as the program director of the Charleston-based graduate program in historic preservation. The director will be jointly appointed between the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture and the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development. Applicants may include a tenured faculty member, professor of practice, or seasoned professional from related disciplines such as architecture, construction, landscape architecture, or cultural heritage fields. The associate or full professor/professor of practice and program director appointment is assigned to the Clemson Design Center in Charleston, South Carolina, with an anticipated start date of 15 August 2027. Candidates who are already tenured at another R1 university will be considered for tenure and a rank commensurate with their current rank. About the program, school, college and university Clemson’s graduate program in historic preservation is based at the Clemson Design Center, housed in Charleston’s historic Cigar Factory, and is jointly administered by the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture and the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development. The Design Center places students and faculty inside one of the nation’s most significant historic cities, with direct access to its buildings, sites and preservation community. The school itself, part of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction, offers degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation and city and regional planning to more than 500 students, supported by more than 70 faculty and staff, and participates in the college’s interdisciplinary PhD program in design and the built environment. In 2025, the school was renamed in recognition of a transformative gift from the late Richard “Dick” McMahan ’54, HD ’06, and his wife, the late Mary “Dinky” McMahan. The newly formed College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) brings together the Richard A. McMahan School of Architecture, the Department of Art and the Nieri Department of Construction, Development and Planning in an interdisciplinary approach to creative practice, design and construction. The CAAC offers five undergraduate majors, ten graduate programs and nine centres and institutes, empowering more than 900 undergraduate and 300 graduate students to transform, enhance and sustain the built environment through a blend of practical knowledge and hands-on experiential learning. From the outdoor Experiential Learning Yard to the Fluid Campus locations in Genoa, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; and Charleston, South Carolina, the CAAC connects classroom learning with real-world opportunities, preparing students to excel in their fields and turn their education into lifelong success. Clemson University is a Carnegie R1 research university, a classification reaffirmed in 2025, enrolling more than 29,500 students with an endowment exceeding $1.2 billion and $334 million in research and development expenditures in the most recent fiscal year. The US News and World Report ranks Clemson 36th among public universities nationally (2026); Forbes ranks it 33rd nationally among public colleges and first in South Carolina. Founded in 1889 as South Carolina’s land-grant institution, Clemson is executing Clemson Elevate, a strategic plan built on three goals: delivering the nation’s number one student experience, doubling research expenditures by 2035, and transforming lives across South Carolina and beyond.

Key dates for this search cycle:

applications received by 1 December 2026 will receive full consideration
anticipated start date of 15 August 2027

Qualifications

The successful candidate will hold at least a Master’s degree in historic preservation, architecture, architectural engineering or a closely related discipline, with a PhD preferred. Candidates should demonstrate a distinguished record of national or international leadership and expertise in historic preservation, supported by a robust portfolio of professional projects and scholarly publications equivalent to the expectations of a tenured associate professor at Clemson University. The position requires a proven record of recognised professional achievement and teaching excellence, the ability to recruit top students, along with a demonstrated commitment to collaboration, mentorship and clear, effective communication.

Preference will be given to candidates with a professional license and evidence of success in community engagement and service-learning initiatives that integrate academic and professional practice. The ideal candidate will have experience in program and team leadership, personnel management, budget management, and the ability to secure external funding or grants to support research and academic initiatives. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: material science, conservation, restoration, construction management, architecture, archaeology, or landscape architecture. Additional value will be placed on experience with innovative technologies for the documentation, evaluation, and rehabilitation of historic structures and sites, including digital modelling, condition assessment, and building science applications. Candidates should also bring a forward-thinking approach to preservation as a driver of sustainability, community revitalisation and social well-being.

Application instructions

Applications should be submitted via Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/176784

Please include the following in your application materials:

a cover letter summarising the preferred qualifications described above
curriculum vitae
names and contact information of three references (letters are not required at this time)
three samples (combined into one PDF file) of relevant academic or professional work, such as evidence of teaching electives, sample publications, conference proceedings, or other evidence of peer-reviewed scholarship, research, or projects; and/or nationally or internationally recognised professional work. The three examples should be representative of the candidate’s area of expertise. Do not include more than three. Additional materials will be requested and reviewed only for the short-list candidates later in the search process.

For full consideration, applications must be received by December 1, 2026. Review will continue until a suitably qualified candidate is identified. Selected candidates may be required to submit additional materials needed for promotion, tenure and reappointment committee review.

For nominations or inquiries regarding this position, please contact search administrator Mimi Rose at miriamr@clemson.edu.

For more information and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9888396

Clemson University is an EEO/AA employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law, including disability and protected veteran status.

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Director of historic preservation