Institution: Cornell University
College: College of Human Ecology
Department: Department of Human Centered Design (HCD)
Position: Tenure-Track, Open Rank Professor – Fashion Design Management
Location: Ithaca, New York, USA
Appointment Type: Tenure-Track (Open Rank)
Start Date: To be determined; may be as early as July 2027
Priority Application Deadline: October 15, 2026
Application Review: Majority of screening will occur during November and December 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
Posting Date: 2026-06-25

Department Overview

The Department of Human Centered Design (HCD) at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology invites applications for an open rank, tenure-track faculty position in Fashion Design Management. We seek an exceptional scholar whose work sits at the intersection of management inquiry and empirical analysis of the global fashion industry — work that bridges analytical depth with an understanding of how individuals, organizations, and markets interact within complex, evolving fashion systems.

HCD is housed within the College of Human Ecology. Guided by its Vision 2030 priorities — including sustainability and society, technology and human thriving, and health equity — the College is committed to scholarship that connects rigorous inquiry to consequential human questions. HCD brings that orientation to design, policy, and business, and faculty in this position will find an intellectual home that values both analytical depth and real-world relevance.

HCD is a transdisciplinary community spanning creative studio practice, fiber and materials science, environmental design, and fashion business. Formed through the integration of two longstanding departments — Design + Environmental Analysis and Fiber Science & Apparel Design — HCD brings together scholars and practitioners who share a conviction that design is a powerful lever for human and societal flourishing. Faculty work across a wide spectrum, from computational fabrication and textile engineering to spatial design and environmental psychology to consumer behavior and global supply chains, with a shared commitment to human-centered inquiry. Within this community, the department is now seeking to deepen its expertise in fashion management specifically.

Position Description

We want to hear from scholars who can make a compelling argument for how their work extends and advances the department's existing strengths and priorities in fashion design management — researchers with a distinctive point of view about where the field is heading, and the methodological and theoretical tools to contribute to that trajectory.

Successful candidates will articulate a coherent and focused research agenda.

Scholarship in one or more of the following areas is especially encouraged:

• Global supply chain strategy, sourcing, and trade policy
• Brand strategy, consumer behavior, and the economics of fashion cultural production
• The application of big data, machine learning, and quantitative methods to fashion business problems
• Entrepreneurship and innovation in fashion creative industries

The successful candidate will demonstrate an active research program that is nationally and internationally recognized — or, for junior candidates, clear and convincing evidence of the trajectory and momentum to build one — with a publication record in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals appropriate to the discipline.

Empirical and quantitative competence is expected; the ability to bring analytical methods to bear on fashion management problems is central to what we are seeking. We are particularly interested in candidates whose scholarship is rigorous, theoretically grounded, and generalizable to fashion-related industries.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty responsibilities center on research and teaching in equal measure, with service understood as an integral part of both rather than a separate obligation.

The successful candidate will:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Advise students across:
  • B.S.
  • M.A.
  • M.S.
  • M.P.S.
  • Ph.D. programs.

Qualifications

A doctoral degree is required.

We welcome scholars from:

• Management
• Fashion
• Strategy
• Business
• Economics
• Organizational behavior
• Consumer behavior
• Related disciplines

Candidates should have doctoral training that includes strong empirical and quantitative foundations and whose work engages meaningfully with the fashion industry.

About Cornell University

Cornell University is committed to its founding principle of educating "any person…in any study," and offers a collegial and intellectually vibrant environment in Ithaca, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region.

Cornell actively supports dual-career couples through its Dual Career program and membership in the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium.

Application Materials

Please submit the following materials via:

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32233

Required materials:

• Cover letter, including a statement of how your work engages with the department's mission
• Curriculum vitae
• Three examples of excellent scholarship (published, forthcoming, or working papers)
• Research statement
• Teaching statement
• Names and contact information for three references, who will not be contacted without prior notice

Where any of these materials are available online, please also submit a Word document identifying each posting and providing the corresponding URL.

Important Dates

• Priority Application Deadline: October 15, 2026
• Screening Period: November–December 2026
• Applications Accepted Until: Position is filled
• Expected Start Date: To be determined; may be as early as July 2027

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Sienna Torbitt
Email: slt86@cornell.edu

Pay Range

Refer to Posting Language

Pay Ranges

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline.
• Unique applicable skills.

Employment Assistance

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “… any person … any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.