Foundations/ Lecturer U of M

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region. We strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here (https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan).

About the Department of Architecture

The Department of Architecture is part of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The department is responsible for an undergraduate degree (BS-Architecture), a graduate professional degree (Master of Architecture), and a graduate post-professional degree (Master of Design). Our program offers an accessible, intellectually rigorous design education that grounds students in the art and science of the built environment. Our interdisciplinary, collaborative department embraces spirited, socially progressive, and environmentally responsive design. As New England's first public architecture program, we seek to broaden interest in and access to architecture through a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The department encourages creative approaches to tackle complex interdisciplinary problems of varying scales. Students learn to create a wide range of interventions informed by human and environmental systems. Students learn a design process that envisions approaches, conducting research, and enlisting appropriate stakeholders.

Job Description

The Department of Architecture at UMass Amherst invites applications for a full-time Non-Tenure Track (NTT) Benefited Lecturer position starting September 1, 2026. The position will initiate the launch of our department's first-year foundations sequence (previously taught by the Department of Art).

Teaching responsibilities will include instructing core undergraduate foundations studios, lecture classes, seminars, and other courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The expected teaching load is 3-3.

Service responsibilities to the department, college, and university will include outreach, recruitment, career preparation, and programming. The position will also fulfill academic support roles, including mentorship, thesis advising, honors colloquia, practicums, independent studies, and participation in other departmental committees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree in architecture or an adjacent field
• Record of academic, professional, and/or service accomplishments
• Record of experience in teaching
• Commitment to teaching diverse populations
• Commitment to collegiality and collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional degree in architecture (M.Arch or equivalent international degree) or a B.Arch or an equivalent international degree with an additional graduate degree (such as a M.Arch, M.Des, MFA, MA, MS, or Ph.D.)
• Architecture license
• Experience and knowledge of beginning design education
• Demonstrated interest and experience in one or more of the service areas

Salary Information

The University of Massachusetts Amherst expects to pay within an approximate range between $65,550 and $88,652 for this position. Please note:

• The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP), UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.
• The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.
• The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors, including faculty rank and required or relevant certifications, when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit the following materials:

• Letter of interest including qualifications and teaching philosophy, no more than 1000 words.
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three professional references
• Teaching portfolio, a pdf file up to 10 pages

Finalist will be invited to interview and present their work on campus in a public lecture. Please direct any questions to Kim Graves (kmgraves@umass.edu).

To be given full consideration, please apply by December 1, 2025. Application reviews will begin on this date and will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Additional Information

This position will start on September 1, 2026. The initial appointment period will be two years. Reappointments in the first four years are at the Dean's discretion and will be contingent upon both funding availability and satisfactory performance.

This position is a 9-month academic year appointment at 100%FTE with full benefits.

For more information on living, working, and learning in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts please visit:

https://www.umass.edu/faculty-development/prospective-faculty

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.