Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

November 30, 2025

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor

Business Title:

Assistant Professor

Employee Type:

Faculty

9 Month

The Opportunity:

The Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles (AMDT) at Washington State University (WSU) has a passion for textiles, apparel, and fashion. We are seeking a skilled and experienced individual who shares that passion and wants to be part of an energized and growing program at one of the leading universities in the U.S. We have an opening for a full-time, tenure track, assistant professor in Merchandising to join our team on a 9-month appointment, located in Pullman, WA. This position will enhance the department’s position in the area of textile and apparel merchandising with an emphasis on Retail Strategy and Merchandising, Data Analytics and Technology in Fashion, and Supply Chain Management.

Washington State lays claim to one of the largest apparel industries in the U.S. and has positioned itself as a leader in fashion and design with an $8.3 billion industry, more than 2,500 apparel manufacturers and retailers (http://www.census.gov/). WSU has a rich history in textiles and apparel, including a unique strength and competitiveness in the outdoor gear and sportswear market, as well as a robust industry partnership in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The department works closely with the AMDT Advisory Board to develop industry-relevant educational opportunities and research programs. Members include representatives from Amazon, LoveSac, Columbia Sportswear, Cotton Inc., Swirl Vintage, Konjo Fashion Brands, Warren Lane Holdings, Kurt Geiger, UGG/Deckers Brands, Nike and Nordstrom.

Responsibilities:

The assistant professor will establish independent research, write proposals for internal and external funding, and develop a productive research program leading to refereed (i.e., peer-reviewed) scholarship in apparel merchandising related areas. The assistant professor will also teach undergraduate and graduate courses in AMDT and collaborate with colleagues to create a course curriculum that brings together an understanding of retail strategy, technology adoption, and merchandising/management in the textile and apparel industry. Other responsibilities include advising undergraduate and graduate student research, mentoring student activities and organizations, and serving the university, college, department, and professional organizations. As part of a closely-knit faculty team in AMDT, the successful candidate will provide quality research, teaching, mentoring, and support to produce “job-ready on day one” students in the textile and apparel industry.

Annual Salary: $75,000-$85,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For a more detailed summary of benefits offered by WSU for Faculty please review the summary of benefits for WSU Faculty and Total Compensation

Required Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. degree in the area of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles or related field by the date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to teach in one or more of the following areas: consumer behavior, merchandising mathematics, retail operations/management, global sourcing, visual merchandising, digital retailing, and supply chain management.

• Evidence of scholarly activities and research output demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, successful research grant applications, and other recognized research outputs.

• Demonstrated understanding of industry or professional practice.

• Demonstrated ability to use current technologies in textile and apparel merchandising, such as data analysis tools, product lifecycle management (PLM) systems, Excel, and emerging AI applications.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in oral and written formats.

• Record of active participation in academic, professional, and/or industry organizations.

• Interpersonal communication skills that would facilitate effective interaction with students and a variety of audiences and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, ideologies, and disciplines in a global environment

About Department/College/Area/ Campus:

The Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles (AMDT) at Washington State University (WSU) is the premier 4-year apparel and textiles program in the State offering a full spectrum curriculum in merchandising and apparel design.  AMDT is part of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) and supports approximately 150 undergraduate students and 10 graduate students. Students select either Apparel Design or Merchandising as degree options. The program offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. degrees through the university interdisciplinary doctoral program.  Renovated facilities at the heart of campus have created exciting opportunities for our department.  The new facilities will allow faculty and students to access a state- of-the-art textile and apparel research lab equipped with textile testing equipment, a new 25-station computer lab, a CAD lab, pattern digitizer, plotter, 3-D printers, digital textile printer, laser cutter, two apparel design studios, and classrooms prepared for distance-education opportunities.

For more information, visit http://amdt.wsu.edu/.

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences

Department Name: Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles

Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) A letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications
2) Curriculum vitae

3) Teaching philosophy (include the information on courses taught and their evaluation rating scores if available); and Research statement- writing sample (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles)

4) A scanned photocopy of official transcripts to facilitate screening.  

Finalists will be asked to submit three letters of reference.

Please contact Dr. Hang Liu, Search Committee Chair, at hangliu@wsu.edu, 509-335-4726 for questions about this position. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information is collected as part of the online application process.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/