POSITIONย PURPOSE
The Instructor / Professor of Fashion Merchandising will teach undergraduate courses in the Fashion Merchandising & Design program, support student advising and career readiness, contribute to curriculum and assessment work, and strengthen the program through industry engagement, professional practice, and student-centered instruction. The position is intended toย supportย growingย enrollmentย andย provideย consistentย courseย coverageย acrossย fashionย merchandising,ย fashionย business,ย trend forecasting, textiles, promotion, sustainability, product development, and related areas.
ESSENTIAL JOBย RESPONSIBILITIES
- Teach assigned undergraduate Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Merchandising & Design courses in alignment with approved course learning outcomes, program learning outcomes, catalog descriptions, and university academicย standards.
- Prepare syllabi, course calendars, lectures, assignments, rubrics, exams/projects, Canvas course shells, and instructionalย materials that reflect current fashion industry practice.
- Deliver high-quality instruction using applied, student-centered teaching methods, including presentations, critiques, case studies, projects, industry examples, and experiential learning activities.
- Assessย studentย learning,ย provideย timelyย feedback,ย submitย gradesย byย establishedย deadlines,ย andย maintainย accurateย academicย records in accordance with university policy.
- Advise and mentor students on academic progression, internships, professional development, portfolio/career preparation, and fashion industry pathways.
- Supportย programย assessment,ย includingย collectionย andย reviewย ofย studentย learningย artifacts,ย SLO/PLOย assessment,ย curriculumย mapping, and continuous improvement activities.
- Participate in curriculum development and course revision to keep the program current with industry trends, sustainability, global sourcing, retail technology, consumer behavior, and fashion business practices.
- Contribute to student recruitment and retention through open houses, admitted student events, advising events, student showcases, and other program visibility efforts.
- Build and maintain professional relationships with fashion industry partners, alumni, advisory board members, employers, guest speakers, and internship sites.
ย
- Participate in departmental, college, and university service, including meetings, committees, assessment activities, accreditation/program review support, and program events.
- Maintain scheduled office hours and communicate regularly with students, faculty, program leadership, and collegeย administration.
- Assist with the daily operations of the Retail Innovation Studio, including supervising students and supporting merchandise organization, inventory, and presentation.
- Modelย professionalism,ย ethicalย leadership,ย inclusiveย teaching,ย andย commitmentย toย theย missionย ofย St.ย Thomasย University.
RECOMMENDED COURSEย COVERAGE
High-Priorityย Courseย Areas
Examples ofย Courses
Rationale
Fashion Business /ย Merchandising
Introduction to the Fashion Industry; Fashion Branding; Fashion Merchandising Mathematics; Retail Management
Core area for merchandising instruction and student career preparation.
Trend, Textiles & Productย Development
Fashion Trend Forecasting; Textiles for Apparel; Product Development
Supports applied knowledge in consumer trends, materials, product planning, and industryย workflow.
Promotion & Visual Merchandising and Apparelย Development
Fashion Promotion & Visual Merchandising; Strategic Brand Management; Fashionย Entrepreneurship
Supports business, marketing, visual presentation, event, and brand-building skills.
Global / Ethicalย Fashion
Sustainability & Human Rights in Fashion; International Fashion & Sourcing; Fashion Law
Supports ethical, cultural, environmental, sourcing, and global industry learning outcomes.
Professionalย Readiness
Professional Development in the Fashionย Industry; Internship; Portfolio/career preparationย activities
Supports advising, workplace readiness, internship supervision, and employerย engagement.
MINIMUMย ANDย PREFERREDย QUALIFICATIONS
Minimumย Qualifications
Preferredย Qualifications
- Masterโs degree in Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Studies, Fashion Marketing, Business, Marketing, Retailing, or closely related field; or graduate credentials and significant industry experience as approved by university credentialing standards.
- Professional experience in fashion merchandising, retailing, product development, branding, fashion business, sourcing, promotion, or related fashion industry area.
- Ability to teach undergraduate students using effective written, verbal, visual, and technology-supported communication.
- Commitment to student success, inclusive teaching, academic integrity, and mission-centered education.
- College-level teaching experience in fashion merchandising, fashion business, retailing, textiles, trend forecasting, product development, sustainability, sourcing, or related courses.
- Experience with Canvas/LMS, digital presentation tools, Excel/retail math, Adobe or other fashion/business technology tools.
- Industry connections that support internships, guest speakers, advisory board work, student showcases, and career opportunities.
- Evidence of curriculum development, assessment, student mentoring, event/showcase support, or professional service in fashion-related organizations.
BUSINESS / ACADEMICย JUSTIFICATION
- Providesย dedicatedย facultyย capacityย forย Fashionย Merchandisingย coursesย andย reducesย relianceย onย last-minuteย adjunctย staffing.
- Supports growth in Fashion Merchandising & Design enrollment and improves continuity for students across requiredย courses.
- Strengthens advising, internship preparation, employer engagement, recruitment, and studentย retention.
- Supports assessment, program review, curriculum mapping, and accreditation-related documentation for theย program.
- Adds professional fashion business expertise in merchandising, branding, promotion, sourcing, sustainability, and industryย engagement.