Tenure-Track Position in Fashion Design

Toronto Metropolitan University

Tenure-Track Position in Fashion Design
TheCreativeSchool - Fashion
Posted: December 17, 2024
Deadline to Apply: Monday, February 3, 2025

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples, the School of Fashion in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, effective July 1st, 2025, subject to final budgetary approval.

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, scholarly research and/or creative activities (SRC) and service duties while implementing inclusive, equitable, and collegial practices across all activities. Teaching duties will entail designing and delivering courses at undergraduate (BDes) and graduate (MA) levels, including large lectures, studios and seminars. Additional duties include the supervision of graduate students, along with curriculum development. The successful candidate will develop a strong and innovative research and/or creative activity agenda, pursue external funding and aim to achieve meaningful and impactful outcomes. In addition, they should demonstrate a capacity for academic leadership, collegial governance and commitment to service to the department, faculty and university.

Applicants who self-identify as women, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ / LGBTQ2IA are particularly encouraged to apply. Those candidates are also encouraged to self-identify through our Applicant Diversity Self-ID questionnaire in the recruitment portal.

The successful candidate will teach and conduct scholarly research, creative activities and/or community-based activities in the area of fashion design as it relates to the intersections of inclusion, decolonization, sustainability and accessibility. Candidates should have leadership experience in the fashion industry and demonstrate how their professional and academic experiences have contributed to practical, positive change in the fashion industry, with a particular focus on ethical and responsible practices. The successful candidate will teach in the area of fashion design, including skills-based courses in garment construction, patternmaking, and design processes, while also teaching core large lecture courses such as fashion systems and elective courses that deal with ethical and sustainable design and entrepreneurship.

Candidates must hold a Masters degree in fashion or another subject area closely related to the field. A PhD in a relevant field is preferred. A track record of professional practice and/or experience in the fashion industry in a leadership capacity is required.

Candidates shall present evidence of:

Scholarly research and/or creative (SRC) activities and agenda that is current, innovative and impactful as evidenced by, but not limited to, peer-reviewed publications, working papers, presentations at academic or professional conferences, grants, awards, juried exhibitions and other forms of discipline-relevant scholarly or professional dissemination. Candidates may alternatively indicate a history of industry experience that fosters positive change aligned with the School's guiding principles of inclusion, decolonization, sustainability and accessibility, as well as a potential research agenda.
Teaching experience such as a proven track record mentoring, advising, teaching or supporting diverse learners; a demonstrated initiative in creating an environment of access and understanding for diverse students; and/or demonstrated ability to provide expertise, support and advice on inclusive curriculum design and pedagogy. Teaching experience outside of the traditional academic environment will be considered, along with mentorship. This experience can be evidenced by a teaching dossier that may include a teaching philosophy statement, documentation of experience with course and curriculum review and/or development, examples of implementing best practices in pedagogy including effective use of classroom technology and any demonstration of experience with experiential learning, sample syllabi, peer teaching evaluations, teaching awards, and other relevant achievements or skills related to teaching and pedagogy.
A commitment to the School’s principles of inclusion, decolonization, sustainability, and accessibility as it pertains to service, teaching, and scholarly research or creative activities, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population. We envision the School's principles bringing positive change to the fashion industry through the students that we prepare for professional life.
Ability and willingness to contribute to the life of the School of Fashion and the university through collegial service.
Our committee recognizes that scholars may follow varying career paths and that career interruption can be part of an academic record. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their non-traditional career path, experiences and/or career interruptions.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) [www.tfanet.ca]. Visit us at www.torontomu.ca/faculty-affairs to view the TFA collective agreement and a summary of TFA benefits.

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
In August 2021, the former Ryerson University announced a renaming process to reconcile the legacy of Egerton Ryerson for a more inclusive future. It was recently announced that the University is renamed to Toronto Metropolitan University with immediate effect. To learn more, please visit: https://www.ryerson.ca/next-chapter/.

Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, with 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning and distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city-building through its award-winning architecture.

The Creative School
The Creative School is a dynamic Faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University that is a national leader in educational programs in media, communication, design and cultural industries. Nearly 6,000 students are enrolled in The Creative School across nine professional schools including Journalism, Image Arts, RTA School of Media, Performance, Fashion, Interior Design, Professional Communication, Graphic Communications Management, and Creative Industries. The Creative School offers graduate programs in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management, Digital Media, Documentary Media, Fashion, Journalism, Media Production, Professional Communication, Script Writing and Story Design as well as a PhD in Media and Design Innovation.

The School of Fashion
The School of Fashion at The Creative School offers undergraduate (BDes) and graduate (MA) programs to students of diverse backgrounds. Our faculty prides itself on the excellence of its scholarly, research, and creative activities, as well as the quality of its teaching and community engagement. We are interested in candidates who will contribute to our existing strengths in research/creative activity and teaching through academic, professional and diverse lived experiences and perspectives.


Working at TMU
At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. At TMU, we believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to this path; our current Academic Plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Dedicated to a people first culture, TMU is proud to rank number one on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity.

We invite you to explore the range of benefits and supports available to faculty, including access to our diverse faculty and staff networks.

Visit us on X (previously known as Twitter): @torontomet, @VPFAtorontomet and @TorontoMetHR, and our LinkedIn page.

TMU is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. To find out more about legal and policy obligations please visit the Accessibility and Human Rights websites.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

How to Apply
Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking on “Start Application Process” to begin. Applications, consisting of the following, must be received by February 3, 2025:

a letter of application including a statement of the candidate’s approach to equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and accessibility, demonstrating how these principles have been incorporated in their teaching, SRC and service;
a curriculum vitae;
a statement of research interests;
a teaching dossier; and
names and contact information of three individuals who may be contacted for references.
Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority, in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations.

Contacts
Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to the Departmental Hiring Committee Chair, Joseph Medaglia at jmedaglia@torontomu.ca.

Candidates who belong to one or more of the equity-deserving groups recognized at TMU are welcome to connect with Debbie Thompson [debbie.thompson@torontomu.ca], Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion [www.torontomu.ca/equity].

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at Toronto Metropolitan University are welcome to contact James McKay, Indigenous Human Resources Lead at indigenous@torontomu.ca.

For any confidential accommodation needs in order to participate in the recruitment and selection process and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Recruitment Portal, please contact vpfa@torontomu.ca.