Adjunct Practice Instructor in Urban and Regional Planning - Real Estate

Apply Now

How to Apply

Applicants should submit one (1) PDF (500kb size limit) containing the following:

• Cover Letter (2 pages maximum) describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, and how you will be an effective teacher to students of diverse backgrounds
• Curriculum vitae that may include links to examples or websites that demonstrate your research/practice/real estate experiences
• Names and contact information for three references

Job Summary

The Urban and Regional Planning Program at the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is hiring a practice track faculty member at the rank of adjunct practice instructor. We are looking for someone with significant professional experience in real estate development work to advance the mission of the Real Estate Initiative and teach a real estate course in the Winter 2027 semester (January 13 - May).

The instructor would teach an existing undergraduate and graduate elective course, Shaping Development: Markets, Power, and Equity (URP 492 and 592). Who has the power to shape real estate development and what does it mean for a development to be equitable? This course examines development as a complex interplay of social, economic, and political forces and how they interact to determine equitable or inequitable outcomes. It considers how actors such as residents, developers, governments, and other stakeholders deploy their power to influence what gets built, where, and for whom.

By the end of the course, students will have a stronger understanding of how development works, a more nuanced conception of equitable development, and knowledge of various equity-minded policy mechanisms. Overall, the course seeks to foster dynamic and reflective professionals equipped to navigate complex political landscapes and influence development outcomes for the better.

This course contributes to Taubman College's graduate Real Estate Development Certificate and undergraduate Real Estate Development minor, both of which focus on the making of well-designed, livable, and sustainable places that offer a high quality of life in mixed-use, compact, walkable, and transit-oriented built environments. The certificate gives students in any master's degree program at the university the opportunity to take a range of courses that deepen their knowledge and qualifications in real estate development and related fields. The minor allows any undergraduate to develop similar expertise in the real estate field. Both include foundational courses that most students in this elective would already have taken.

Responsibilities*

• Teach one course per year (currently fall semester, in-person in Ann Arbor)
• Engage in ongoing, paid professional real estate work outside of the University of Michigan and incorporate real-world experience into the delivery of the course
• Provide service to the program (consulting, committees, etc.) commensurate with teaching effort percentage, and participate in the ongoing intellectual development of the real estate curriculum

Required Qualifications*

• Degree in real estate, urban and regional planning, or an equivalent degree from a related discipline
• Eight+ years of demonstrated and recognized professional work experience

Additional Information

The University of Michigan is committed to building a campus environment in which all members of our community can learn and grow. Taubman College is similarly dedicated to providing all our members with opportunities to contribute to our mission. To achieve this, we aim to create a community of mutual respect and trust where everyone's backgrounds, identities, and views are represented without any threat of bias, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination. Learn more about the shared values we have for our community.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.