Working/Functional Title
Specialist in Apparel and Textile Design
Position Summary
The Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University seeks a dynamic and creative colleague with a strong commitment to teaching in our vibrant Apparel and Textile Design Program. Candidates with technical skills for equipment maintenance are especially encouraged to apply. The position is a one-year, full-time position for a Specialist – Teacher with possibility of renewal, commencing August 2025. The successful candidate should be team-oriented and committed to advancing the Apparel and Textile Design discipline through the innovative use of traditional and modern technologies. Applicants should be passionate about creating a new generation of practitioners, demonstrate knowledge of historical and contemporary trends in the Apparel and Textile Design discipline, and innovatively and critically engage students across the practice of Apparel and Textile Design.
The successful candidate will teach five courses in the 2025-2026 academic year, with additional duties in technical support of the ATD area. Available courses include introductory and potential to teach advanced level classes in Apparel and Textile Design. Technical support may include:
- maintaining inventory of machine parts and supplies
- service and repair, including:
- Sergers
- Rolled Hem Machines
- Juki Industrial Sewing and Serging Machines
- Cover Stitch Machines
- Janome Sewing Machines
- Bernina Sewing Machines
- Silver Reed Knitting Machines
- Weaving looms
- Gravity irons
- Dress Forms
- Mannequins
- preparation of backdrops and lighting in the photography studio
- overseeing the ATD Resource Library, fabric bolt inventory, archive, and collections (student work, vintage periodicals, and textile science materials)
- maintenance of general office supplies
- working with student studio supervisors and faculty for studio needs and technological support
- coordinating serger workshops for intro-level courses
- holding industrial machine workshops and safety workshops for students
- serve as safety officer and supervisor of ATD area facilities
The Apparel and Textile Design program emphasizes creativity and experimentation that mingles design with art. Students combine fine art, couture, and technical design to create original avant garde garments, which reflect an understanding of global issues such as sustainability and cultural dress. We seek a faculty member who has a strong commitment to teaching in a vibrant Apparel and Textile Design Program, which emphasizes a diversity of conceptual and technical practices leading to the BA and BFA degrees. In addition to Apparel and Textile Design, the department offers undergraduate major degree programs in Art History and Visual Culture, Art Education, Graphic Design, and Studio Arts. Serving over 500 majors, the department is home to more than 60 faculty and staff, including 27 tenure system faculty members who are committed to active research agendas and creative practice across a range of art and design fields.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Masters
Desired Degree
Doctorate -MFA or Ph.D.
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree in Apparel and/or Textile Design or a related discipline
- College-level teaching experience
- Strong skills in the areas of design, as well as concept development, and innovation
- Experience in apparel construction, sewing techniques, and textile materials and manipulation
- Ability to facilitate a positive and engaging learning environment that fosters creative and critical thinking
- Technical knowledge and ability in service and maintenance of equipment, including sewing machines
Desired Qualifications
- MFA or PhD degree in Apparel and/or Textile Design or a related discipline
- Design and CAD software experience
- Minimum of two years of related experience in the fashion and/or textile industry
- Experience in pattern drafting for fashion design
- Experience in textile science
- Experience in sustainability and sustainable fashion design
- Record of creative achievement including exhibitions, commissions, and/or publications
- Technical knowledge and ability in repair of sewing equipment, including industrial and knitting machines
Required Application Materials
Qualified applicants should submit:
- a cover letter
- current curriculum vitae
- a statement of teaching philosophy
- portfolio of teaching documentation with sample syllabi of courses taught and/or up to 20 student artwork examples with descriptive information
- portfolio of research samples, including descriptive information for creative/design work in PDF format OR webpage links
- a 1-page summary of your philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to intellectual leadership in the areas of teaching/curriculum development, research/creative activities, service, outreach, advising, and/or administration. The statement should also include an explanation of related past or planned activities/endeavors as well as how the candidate will advance our goals of inclusive excellence. For more about MSU’s DEI efforts, see https://inclusion.msu.edu/. For more information about writing diversity statements, see https://cal.msu.edu/documents/cal-guidelines-for-the-writing-of-diversity- statements/
- the names and email addresses of 3 potential referees (please fill out the initial application with these names and emails)
Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin April 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number 1022526.
For more information, contact Rebecca Schuiling, Chair of the Search Committee at res@msu.edu.
Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.
Review of Applications Begins On
04/01/2025
Website
aahd.msu.edu
Department Statement
The College of Arts & Letters recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture, which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The College of Arts & Letters is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion. We particularly welcome applications from women, people of color, LGBTQI individuals, and others who are traditionally underrepresented in the academy.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
