Chair, Department of Interior Design

Classification Title:

Chair, Department of Interior Design

Job Description:

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 6th 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.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

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.

Preferred Qualifications:

Practice experience and NCIDQ certification is highly desirable. Candidates should have served in design