Adjunct, Fashion Design

Adjunct, Fashion Design

St. Thomas University's Gus Machado College of Business invites applications for qualified adjunct faculty members to teach courses within the Fashion Merchandising and Design Program. The successful candidate will provide high-quality, student-centered instruction in fashion design and related technical areas while supporting the University's mission of developing ethical leaders for the global community.

The adjunct faculty member will bring current industry knowledge, technical expertise, and professional experience into the classroom. The position requires the ability to teach studio-based and applied courses, provide constructive critiques, assess student learning, and prepare students for professional careers in fashion design and related industries.

Course assignments are made according to enrollment, program needs, faculty credentials, and the candidate's areas of expertise.

Potential Teaching Areas

• Apparel design and garment construction
• Beginning, intermediate, and advanced sewing techniques
• Flat-pattern development and pattern making
• Draping, garment fitting, and alterations
• Fashion illustration and visual presentation
• Technical drawing, technical flats, and specification development
• Textiles and materials for apparel
• Computer-aided fashion design
• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and In Design
• Digital pattern making and three-dimensional garment-design technology
• Technical design, product development, and production processes
• Collection, concept, and portfolio development
• Sustainable and ethical fashion design
• Senior capstone and fashion showcase preparation

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach assigned Fashion Design courses in accordance with approved course descriptions, learning outcomes, syllabi, and program requirements.
• Develop and maintain course materials, lesson plans, demonstrations, assignments, projects, rubrics, and assessments.
• Provide hands-on instruction in garment construction, pattern making, draping, illustration, technical design, digital design, or other assigned areas.
• Demonstrate the safe and appropriate use of sewing machines, cutting equipment, dress forms, industrial equipment, and other studio tools.
• Maintain an organized, safe, professional, and inclusive classroom or studio environment.
• Evaluate student work using established grading criteria and provide timely, constructive, and actionable feedback.
• Conduct individual and group critiques that strengthen students' technical, creative, analytical, and professional skills.
• Maintain accurate attendance, grading, and student-performance records.
• Submit grades, attendance reports, assessment materials, and other required documentation by established deadlines.
• Use the University's learning management system to communicate with students, post course materials, record grades, and support instruction.
• Hold scheduled office hours or provide students with reasonable opportunities for academic assistance.
• Identify students who may require additional academic support and communicate concerns to the Program Director in a timely manner.
• Participate in course and program assessment activities, including the collection and evaluation of student-learning evidence.
• Support curriculum alignment and continuous improvement within the Fashion Merchandising and Design Program.
• Incorporate current fashion-industry practices, technologies, sustainability considerations, and ethical standards into instruction.
• Promote professionalism, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, ethical leadership, and career readiness.
• Assist students in preparing professional portfolios, collections, technical packages, presentations, and other industry-relevant work when applicable.
• Support program activities such as exhibitions, fashion shows, competitions, guest lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews, and employer-engagement events when requested.
• Collaborate professionally with the Program Director, full-time and adjunct faculty, staff, and other University offices.
• Comply with all University policies, academic procedures, credentialing requirements, and faculty expectations.
• Perform other instructional duties related to the assigned course or program as appropriate.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet the University's faculty credentialing requirements and possess one of the following:

• A master's or terminal degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Design, Textile and Apparel Design, Costume Design, Technical Design, Fashion Studies, or a closely related discipline; or
• A bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or a closely related field combined with substantial, current, and documented professional experience directly related to the courses being taught, subject to institutional credentialing approval.

Candidates must also demonstrate:

• Professional experience in fashion design, apparel development, garment construction, pattern making, draping, technical design, product development, or a related area.
• A professional portfolio demonstrating relevant creative,…