Job Description

The University of Oklahoma’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is expanding to match the scale of its ambitions. Based in Norman, a lively college town within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area recently ranked the “No. 1 Best Big City to Live In” by U.S. News & World Report, the Division of Architecture (DivA) seeks a faculty member to help shape future conversations about architecture and landscape through education, research, and practice. This position is part of OU’s university-wide commitments as an R-1 public research institution, fueled by growth in faculty excellence, research innovation, and cross-sector partnerships.

We invite applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor, or associate professor with tenure upon hire, beginning in August 2026. Applications are due by February 25, 2026, at 3pm CST.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek an educator and/or practitioner whose teaching and research explore the integration of architecture and landscape in ecological contexts. Applicants should demonstrate strong professional experience and/or a clear research trajectory that contributes to contemporary inter-disciplinary discourse. Candidates will join a faculty known for its American School of Architecture (https://architecture.ou.edu/the-american-school/) legacy and connection to the landscape. They will play an active role in design studios, seminars, and lecture courses across our NAAB-accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, with a particular emphasis on sustainable design, urban ecology, and/or site planning.

Our Community

The Division of Architecture (DivA) at the University of Oklahoma has a legacy of experimentation that began with Bruce Goff’s leadership in the mid-20th century and continues today in a culture of creativity and impact. Faculty and students pursue work that links design education to urgent challenges, from housing and severe weather resilience to neuroscience and the built environment. The division helps shape an exceptional student experience as defined by U.S. News & World Reports: community-engaged work in collaboration with the nationally recognized Institute for Quality Communities, a national and international professional internship program, a leading Design+Build program, an annual semester-long Rome Program, Gibbs Design in Action Awards, and the three-time Douglas Haskell Award-winning student journal Telesis.

How Faculty Contribute

Faculty in the Division of Architecture play an active role in shaping a culture of collaboration, creativity, and impact. This includes:

• Bringing energy and innovation to teaching across studios, seminars, and lectures
• Advancing scholarly and creative work through recognized national venues
• Contributing to the life of the division, college, and university through shared governance
• Engaging with the profession and the public through meaningful service and outreach

What We Offer

The Division of Architecture and Gibbs College provide robust faculty support through:

• Mentorship programs
• Research and travel funds
• Teaching and research assistants, supported by the Gibbs Endowment and other resources

About the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture

The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture brings together more than 1,100 students across seven disciplines: Architecture, Construction Science, Environmental Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Regional and City Planning, and Urban Design. The College serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and public impact, hosting the national Placemaking Conference and supporting community partnerships across Oklahoma. Learn more at architecture.ou.edu/architecture.

About the University of Oklahoma

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie R1 Institution with $416.6 million in annual research expenditures and more than 34,000 students across three campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. OU is advancing an ambitious vision to shape the future through discovery, creativity, and innovation, as outlined in the Lead On, University Strategic Plan (https://ou.edu/leadon/strategic-plan).

Norman offers the atmosphere of a vibrant college town within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The region combines affordability with cultural vitality, strong K–12 schools, and nationally recognized works of architecture and landscape architecture. Home to the 2025 NBA champions and a host site for events during the 2028 Olympics, Oklahoma City reflects a growing international profile. Oklahoma’s 39 Native Nations shape a context where faculty and students engage in collaborative work that links design to place, culture, and community. The State is home to public spaces designed by acclaimed landscape architecture practices such as Hargreaves Jones, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, The Office of James Burnett among others.

Visit https://ou.edu/facultyrecruitment for more information about what OU and the local communities have to offer.

Salary Range

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Search Committee Chairperson

Inquiries shall be directed to Associate Prof. Wanda Liebermann Ph.D., at [email protected] and Leslie Spielman at [email protected]

Required Qualifications

·   A minimum of a master’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in landscape architecture

·   Evidence of ability to successfully teach architecture studios, seminars, and/or lecture courses

·   Evidence of emerging research record of peer-reviewed creative and/or scholarly productivity

·   Demonstrated ability to contribute to a collegial and collaborative working environment, in addition to possessing effective communication and interpersonal skills

·   Minimum of 5 years of professional practice experience

Applicants shall submit the following materials as PDF documents via Interfolio:

1.  Cover letter

2.  Statement of interest outlining in two to three pages the applicant’s experience, research, teaching, and/or practice agenda

3.  Current Curriculum Vitae

4.  Full contact information for minimum three academic/professional references

5.  Digital portfolio that provides evidence of 1) creative and/or scholarly activity and 2) efficacy in teaching with examples of student work if applicable. Digital submission size should not exceed 100MB.