Chair, Department of Interior Design

The University of Florida is seeking a visionary leader to Chair the Department of Interior Design. The Chair will be responsible for leading an outstanding group of faculty and students in its undergraduate, master, and doctoral programs within the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP).  In addition to Interior Design, the College contains the allied disciplines of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation, Construction Management, Urban and Regional Planning, and Sustainability and the Built Environment. Currently, the College is in a growth mode. Enrollment is strong and interaction between the College’s allied fields is on the rise.

The University of Florida (UF) is a top public, comprehensive, land-grant, research institution, recently ranked 6^th among all U.S. public universities by U.S. News and World Report. UF is one of the three members of the Association of American Universities in Florida and is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity,” and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). UF is dedicated to achieving and maintaining a culture of educational and research preeminence.

To that end, The Bruno E. and Maritz F. Ramos Collaboratory, opening in 2025, will unite the disciplines under one roof. This new facility includes a research hub to house all DCP research centers, a large multipurpose hall and seminar rooms for lecture series and symposiums, creative collision common spaces, and a digital modeling and fabrication space.  In addition, the newly-named Jonathan and Melanie Antevy Hall accommodates DCP student studios as well as provides classroom space and faculty offices.

Established in 1948, the Department of Interior Design has a longstanding record of design leadership and recently received its Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) re-accreditation in 2024. The Department is looking for a Chair who will continue this strong tradition into the future by expanding the reach of the program’s research, teaching, and service in the context of an interdisciplinary college. Indeed, an important aspect of the Chair’s role is connecting the right people with the right projects and partners. Toward this end, the Chair will help initiate and develop strategic relationships locally, nationally, and internationally. Being aware of and ready to act upon the plethora of opportunities within and outside the academe is critical to the future vitality of the Department.

The 11 full-time faculty of the Department of Interior Design produce research, creative works, and design scholarship through independent initiatives, centers, and institutes. The interdisciplinary Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) connects faculty and students from the Department of Interior Design with diverse research opportunities from across the College of Design, Construction, and Planning and the University.  Currently, the Department of Interior Design is interested in future facing opportunities including incorporating AI across the curriculum and developing alternative modes of degree delivery.  The Department has a long history of evidence-based design education and recognizes the importance of trends in human wellbeing and sustainability as key elements of education.

Advancing the Department’s vision, the Chair will engage with its Advocacy Board and alumni base on shared initiatives. The Chair maintains fiscal responsibility for the department, reports to the Dean of the College, and works closely with staff, faculty, and students in a climate of shared governance. The position also calls for involvement in fundraising efforts, coordinating efforts with the College Advancement Team to secure critical program support. The Chair must help ensure that interior design students and faculty remain significant partners in college-wide endeavors and in the larger university community. By understanding the Department’s current priorities and future possibilities, the Chair will be instrumental in continuing the department’s pursuit of excellence and record of contribution.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applicants must hold a graduate-level degree in interior design or a related field, be tenure-eligible, and demonstrate a strong record of excellence and leadership including significant contributions in funded research and/or creative scholarship, teaching, and professional practice in the field of interior design.

Practice experience and NCIDQ certification is highly desirable. Candidates should have served in design leadership roles, have effective communication and management skills, be adept in creative thinking, strategic planning and implementation, and be experienced in cultivating a range of academic and industry collaborations.  In addition to their own scholarly and sponsored research background, candidates should have the ability to mentor faculty in developing their own research agenda.

The Department Chair position is a 12-month appointment and will be available from January 1, 2026 on renewable 3-year appointments. The position will be filled at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor (preferred) in the Department of Interior Design and tenure upon hire is possible dependent upon background and experience. Applicants must demonstrate academic credentials and experience appropriate to the academic rank and ability to assume leadership in research, teaching and service. Applications will be received until the position is filled.

Applicants should provide a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, selected work demonstrating the applicant’s research/scholarship, creative activity, teaching and/or outreach, and the names and contact information of three professional references (the references will not be contacted prior to permission from applicants).

For additional information, contact Daniel Manley, Search Committee Chair (Phone 352-294-1407 or dpmanley@ufl.edu).

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call (352)392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. Further information is available at http://www.dcp.ufl.edu