Associate Professor of Sports Product Design and Director of the Masters Program in Sports Product Design

Apply now Job no:532700
Work type:Faculty - Tenure Track
Location:Portland, OR
Categories:Architecture/Art/Design, Instruction

Department: DSGN School of Art & Design
Rank: Associate Professor
Annual Basis: 9 Month

January 15, 2024; position open until filled.

To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by January 15, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

Applications should include the following materials:
1) A cover letter outlining specific interests, qualifications, and *contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2) A statement of research and/or creative practice; teaching philosophy, objectives, qualification, and experience.
3) Curriculum vitae.
4) Portfolio of representative research, practice, and student work completed under the candidate’s direction.
5) List of three references with addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.

*Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion might address:
• Understanding of inequities in academia and the field of Product Design faced by historically underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
• Evidence of initiatives, mentoring, or teaching that aim to reduce barriers for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
• Evidence of creative projects or research interests that address or incorporate issues that involve or affect diverse groups.
• Examples of how you envision new activities and pedagogical projects that will support and expand an accessible, diverse, and inclusive education in Product Design.

The University of Oregon is committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse institution and seeks candidates with demonstrated potential to contribute to the achievement of this goal. The Department of Product Design seeks to further this commitment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

The Department of Product Design at the University of Oregon is accepting applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Associate Professor Rank with a start date of September 30, 2024. The position is a 1.0 FTE, 9-month, full-time faculty position.

This position is in the Department of Product Design with primary teaching responsibilities in the Sports Product Design Master’s program. There are additional interdisciplinary responsibilities, including graduate MS thesis advising and mentorship, advanced studios, and experimental courses. The Sports Product Design Program is currently located at the University of Oregon Portland campus. This position is one of three tenure-related Product Design faculty and numerous contingent faculty teaching the Portland programs. There are up to 40 masters students and 45 BFA students in Portland each year.

The position will serve as the Director of the Sports Product Design Master’s program, a three-year, renewable leadership appointment with an associated one-course release for a course load of 4 on the quarter system. The SPD Director leads program efforts on curriculum, recruitment, student advising, admission, facility management, and strategic planning. Working with the Product Design Department Head, the director will advise on the hiring of instructors based on the program’s needs, funding, and performance.

The University of Oregon operates on a system of three 10-week quarters with a typical load of five courses per year. Service responsibilities include committee contributions, advising, and participation in shared governance. In addition to teaching and service responsibilities, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to a sustained and developing research and/or creative practice, with an active and ongoing professional record.

We are interested in candidates with a proven track record of research in apparel and/or footwear and/or equipment design for athletic performance, with a focus on sustainability, environmental resilience, enhancing performance and health, reducing the risk of injury, promoting inclusivity and sports as a driver for political and social change with strong skills in prototyping and manufacturing. Interdisciplinary research in human physiology, biomechanics, and/or psychology is also desirable. Candidates are expected to build a strong record of research and creative practice. The University of Oregon is committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse institution and seeks candidates with demonstrated potential to contribute positively to its diverse community. Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications.

The University of Oregon’s strong liberal arts tradition offers a rich and flexible curriculum that allows undergraduate students to select from many course offerings in business, anthropology, human physiology/biomechanics, chemistry, and environmental studies along with the major requirements. The interdisciplinary nature of Product Design studies and practice is reflected in the courses required for the Product Design majors.

The Department of Product Design is within the School of Art + Design in the College of Design. The Department of Product Design has been one of the fastest-growing departments in the UO College of Design. The department has a total of nine tenure-related faculty based in both Eugene and Portland. Since its inception in 2008, the Department has developed two successful programs - the BFA in Product Design and the MS in Sports Product Design. The first three years of the Product Design’s BFA program are in Eugene, Oregon, and the senior year of BFA is in Portland, Oregon. The MS in Sports Product Design is fully based in Portland, Oregon. The SPD program is the only master’s degree of its kind nationally and internationally. Founded in 2016, the mission of the SPD program is to develop graduates proficient in applying science and creative problem-solving methods to innovate sports products that push boundaries in society and human performance.

• A Masters or Ph.D. degree in a design-related discipline.
• Three years of practicing professional design in the Sports Product Design and Product Design industry.
• Two years of college teaching experience in the Product Design field.

• Tenured faculty.
• More than five years of practicing professional design in Sports Product Design and Product Design.
• Established research and creative practice in the Sports Product Design field.
• Record of innovative and effective pedagogy in the Sports Product Design field.
• Leadership experience.

The University of Oregon is the flagship institution of higher learning in Oregon and enrolls more than 20,000 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students. It is an Association of American Universities member and Tier-One research institution that is ranked “highest research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO programs in art and design are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits .

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at [email protected] or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination .

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report .