Director, University Professor, Education ​/ Teaching

The College of Design at the University of Kentucky invites applications and nominations for the position of Director of the School of Interiors.

The Director will lead the next phase of the school’s development, working closely with faculty to articulate and advance a clear and compelling vision for the future of interior design education –one that builds on the school’s strengths in material exploration, interdisciplinary design, and human-centered inquiry while expanding its research impact, global reach, and national visibility. We are seeking an outward-facing, service-oriented leader who listens, advocates, and positions the school within evolving conversations across design, higher education, and the profession.

The Director will enter at a moment when the school is well-positioned for new opportunities. We are in a new building, have made significant faculty hires in recent years, will have completed reaccreditation in spring 2027, and have a curriculum transformation underway. The school is in an energetic and malleable phase with significant opportunity to shape its trajectory.

The Director of the School of Interiors is a full-time faculty position with administrative responsibilities. Administration is anticipated to be 45% of the Director’s distribution of effort, with the remaining 55% allocated to teaching and research. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Design, the Director is responsible for the overall academic, administrative, and fiscal leadership of the School. They will provide leadership in defining the program's strategic priorities and vision and in enhancing its visibility, brand, and reputation.

In this role, the Director will be responsible for continuing to advance and strengthen curricular offerings; fostering excellence in teaching, research, and engagement; strategically managing the program's enrollment; overseeing the hiring of new full-time and part-time faculty; supporting the career advancement of faculty members; advancing innovation and multidisciplinary activities; and working collaboratively with College leadership and departmental faculty to effectively manage program resources.

The Director should promote a work and learning environment that fosters entrepreneurship, growth, collaboration, and shared governance.

The position will commence on July 1, 2027. This is a 12-month appointment at the rank of associate or full professor with tenure. The term of the administrative appointment is four years and is renewable for an additional four years. Salary is competitive and based on qualifications and experience.

The School of Interiors is a nationally respected program known for its strong and diverse faculty-led research program, collaborative culture, and commitment to design as a human-centered and materially grounded practice.

The school emphasizes areas of inquiry such as material experimentation, soft making, and interdisciplinary methodologies, supported by fabrication facilities and an expanding research environment. Faculty are engaged in creative practice, scholarship, and community-based work that contributes to both local impact and broader disciplinary conversations.

The program is distinguished by its graduate offerings, which position it among a limited number of interior design programs with advanced research pathways. This creates opportunities to further define areas of distinction and deepen research contributions.

The school is actively evolving. It is expanding its global footprint through study abroad and international research, strengthening connections to industry and professional practice, and building new partnerships that extend its reach. A key priority for the Director will be to expand and…