Assistant Professor, Design and Disability, School of Design

Job No: 552780

Work Type:
Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location:

San Francisco

Categories:
Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Fine/Performing Arts, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

San Francisco State University, School of Design offers an exciting opportunity for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Design and Disability, beginning August 2026. We seek a colleague whose teaching and research interests include a distinctive interdisciplinary focus at the intersection of Disability Studies and Design, and a practitioner‑scholar who can teach design practice and theory in ways that support inclusive and equitable design outcomes.

We are especially interested in qualified candidates with a demonstrated commitment – through their research, teaching, and service – to the diversity and excellence of our academic program.

• MFA, Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in industrial/product design, interactive design, service design, architecture, or a relevant discipline from an accredited program. Terminal degree must be completed by the first day of employment.
• Evidence of research, scholarship, or creative activity that engages underrepresented communities and/or students, in the advancement of accessibility, equity, and inclusion.

• Record of teaching contributions in areas such as interactive design; industrial/product design; universal design; assistive technologies; accessibility in the built and digital environments; service design; and other domains related to the broad interdisciplinary area of design and disability.
• Active record of scholarship and/or creative activities which might include juried works, awards, funded projects, exhibitions, peer reviewed publications, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate inclusion, diversity, and educational equity in teaching, and/or scholarship/creative works.
• Experience teaching and working closely with students from historically under–represented communities.
• Record of contributing to supportive and collaborative work environments.

SF State is a major public urban university, situated in one of the world’s great cities. Building on a century‑long history of commitment to quality teaching and broad access to undergraduate and graduate education, the University offers comprehensive, rigorous, and integrated academic programs that require students to engage in open‑minded inquiry and reflection. SF State prepares its students to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective.

Mission Statement

San Francisco State University educates and equips students to thrive in a global society. We deliver academic excellence by pursuing knowledge, inspiring creativity, supporting our diverse community and advancing social justice and positive change in the world. Visit the Strategic Planning website to learn more.

The School of Design serves a diverse body of students in the areas of Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our curriculum emphasizes design process as a means of problem‑solving, and our classes help students to build the technical, conceptual, critical, and collaborative skills required in design professions.

The position requires undergraduate and possibly graduate teaching in design and disability, mentoring and advising undergraduate and/or graduate students, developing an active ongoing scholarship program or program of creative work in one’s area of specialty, and ongoing committee and service assignments.

The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is: $97,500 to $101,000 annually (12 monthly payments per academic year). Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (). Professional development funds, moving expenses, start‑up…