Employment Opportunities

Earned terminal degree (MFA or PhD) from an accredited institution in apparel design, merchandising, retail technologies, or a related field preferred.

Terminal degree/ABD candidates will be considered if all requirements are completed by August 2025.

The Apparel Design and Merchandising program is looking for candidates with knowledge of and experience with apparel design and product development (from initial concept to consumer acquisition), merchandising, and marketing of apparel and textile products.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in merchandising with complementary skills in apparel design. We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate an aptitude for the following:

1. Ability to teach three or more of the following:

2. Evidence of potential for effective curriculum development and commitment to teaching of upper and lower-level studios and classes in a college/university environment.
3. Professional industry experience and/or teaching experience at the college level.
4. Evidence of or potential for productive research/creative scholarship.
5. Evidence of or potential for program, department, university, and
professional service.

N/A

The Department of Applied Design offers three NASAD accredited undergraduate majors with nearly 500 students: Apparel Design and Merchandising (majors and minors), Industrial Design with concentrations in Furniture and Product Design, and Interior Design. The department includes design studios, 15,000 square feet of prototyping space, computer labs, and designated classrooms.

The Apparel Design and Merchandising program focuses on design, merchandising and marketing of apparel and textile products providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the global apparel and textile complex. Students acquire the skills necessary for the process of apparel product development from concept to consumer including design, production, distribution, marketing, and merchandising. Students meet challenging classroom and studio experiences, engage with industry professionals and collaborative opportunities, and participate in field trips and study trips to New York and Europe. Students are required to complete an internship, and ADM program graduates have obtained industry positions in all aspects of the apparel and textile complex.

Primary responsibilities will include developing and teaching courses in upper and lower-level studios, CAD classes, materials and processes courses, as well as other support courses in the apparel design and merchandising program area.

Additional responsibilities will include advising students, recruiting, maintaining labs/materials, program development, providing instruction that fosters students’ success in their chosen area of study, as well as participating actively in departmental governance and performing academic service to the university and college. Maintaining a high level of related scholarly/creative work is required.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.

No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.

The initial application review will begin on November 6, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Complete applications will include:

Only applications submitted through the Appalachian State University website will be accepted and considered. Please contact Dr. Nicole Villarreal with any questions.

Dr. Nicole Villarreal
Assistant Professor
Interim Program Director – Apparel Design and Merchandising
Search Committee Chair
villarrealn@appstate.edu

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.