Assistant/Associate Professor, Experience Design

Cal Poly • San Luis, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Experience Industry Management Department in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, is seeking a full-time, academic year, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor of Experience Design, starting approximately August 12, 2027. The position offers an exciting opportunity to shape how students learn to design, deliver, and evaluate meaningful experiences across tourism, events, hospitality, sport, recreation, and emerging experience-based sectors. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in the Experience Industry Management Department, including courses such as Experience Design: Theories and Applications, Introduction to the Experience Industry, Sustainability in the Experience Industry, Evaluation and Assessment Methods in the Experience Industries, Interpreting Experience Industry Data Analytics, Strategic Event Planning, and Strategic Event Implementation, and Senior Project. Duties may also include supervision of undergraduate senior projects and internships, student advising, and teaching online, or teaching in certificate programs. The successful candidate is expected to participate in scholarly activities (i.e., research, grant writing, publications, and presentations) in an area of expertise directly related to experience design, design thinking, customer/guest experience, data analytics and/or artificial intelligence, or a related field, as part of their professional development and as an integral contributor to the Experience Innovations Lab, where the candidate will play a central role in leading projects, pursuing external funding, and advancing the lab's mission. The successful candidate is also expected to provide service on committees for the department, college, and university and participate in related instructional activities. Expectations also include service to local, state, national, international, and related professional organizations.

Requirements

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in experience design, tourism, event management, hospitality, sport management, recreation, marketing, psychology, or a closely related field. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to the start of the appointment.
• Demonstrated, or potential for, excellence in teaching.
• Effective communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language.
• Demonstrated, or potential for, an ability to secure external funding and publish research.
• Ability to interact well with peers, students, industry partners, and the general public.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environments.

Nice To Haves

• Applied and innovative research backgrounds in experience design and the broader experience industry, including areas such as design thinking, customer/guest experience, and data analytics and/or artificial intelligence in the experience industry.
• Industry experience in experience design or related experience-industry sectors.
• University-level teaching experience.
• A record of successful academic research.
• Demonstrated ability to generate external funding.
• Experience with course development.
• Ability to collaborate on research with faculty across the College, University, and industry.
• International experience or the desire to cultivate international links.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in the Experience Industry Management Department, including courses such as Experience Design: Theories and Applications, Introduction to the Experience Industry, Sustainability in the Experience Industry, Evaluation and Assessment Methods in the Experience Industries, Interpreting Experience Industry Data Analytics, Strategic Event Planning, and Strategic Event Implementation, and Senior Project.
• Supervise undergraduate senior projects and internships.
• Advise students.
• Teach online or in certificate programs.
• Participate in scholarly activities (i.e., research, grant writing, publications, and presentations) in an area of expertise directly related to experience design, design thinking, customer/guest experience, data analytics and/or artificial intelligence, or a related field.
• Play a central role in leading projects, pursuing external funding, and advancing the Experience Innovations Lab's mission.
• Provide service on committees for the department, college, and university.
• Participate in related instructional activities.
• Provide service to local, state, national, international, and related professional organizations.

Benefits

• Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
• Faculty may be eligible to teach in the third semester for additional compensation, subject to departmental needs and University policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree