Visiting Assistant Professor in Acting and Performance (68793)

Position: Full-time, 9-month, non-tenure accruing faculty position
Date of Expected Hire: August 16, 2021
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The School of Theatre and Dance seeks a Visiting Assistant Professor in Acting and Performance. The successful candidate will work with undergraduate and graduate actors on a variety of content areas that could include one or more of the following: foundational skills, scene study, period styles, directing, and/or devised performance. The School is especially interested in applicants with a progressive perspective on acting training in the 21st Century. Preferred qualifications include demonstrated capacity to offer perspectives within existing curriculum and/or specialized coursework in Black, Latinx, Asian/Asian American, or Indigenous American theatre/performance and an understanding of culturally informed pedagogy. The position entails active participation in our learning community while finding innovative ways to engage in critical discourse across the arts and other disciplines.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. As artists and scholars, we embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our students and faculty to shape that experience fearlessly through critical study, creative practice, and provocation. We seek a colleague who identifies as a change-maker. We seek a colleague who will prepare students to access and unsettle centers of power in a radically changing world. We seek a colleague who will position emerging artists and researchers as catalysts for equity on local and global levels.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty, seeking faculty of all races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Responsibilities: Teach undergraduate and graduate curricula in acting and performance. Other responsibilities may include the following:

• Advise BA and BFA senior projects and MFA thesis projects
• Contribute to curricular efforts in performance related areas
• Participate in shared governance through service to School, College, and University committees
• Participate in the organizational and administrative activities of the Performance Area

SCHOOL OF THEATRE + DANCE: The light-filled, state-of-the-art Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion is home to the School of Theatre + Dance (SoTD). The School’s international full-time faculty of 27 recognized artists and researchers, complemented by adjunct and guest faculty and staff, including full- and part-time professionals. The School offers MFA curricula in acting and in design/technology, which includes scene design, lighting design and costume technology; BFA programs in acting, musical theatre, scene design, lighting design and costume design; and a BA in general theatre. The School features two degree programs in dance designed to develop the individual voice of the dance artist, a BFA and a BA. Approximately 200 students major in the artistically diverse curricula of the School of Theatre + Dance. Through its production program, outreach and innovative programming, the School of Theatre + Dance provides multiple cultural opportunities annually to thousands of members of the University and the greater community. The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance and the National Association of Schools of Theatre. For more information, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance .

THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS: The mission of the College of the Arts is to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. We achieve the university’s mission by training professionals and educating students as artists and scholars, while developing their capacities for critical study, creative practice, and provocation. The College offers baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Approximately 1,700 students are pursuing majors in degrees offered by the College of the Arts under the direction of 130 faculty members in its three accredited schools— the School of Art + Art History, the School of Music and the School of Theatre + Dance, and in the Center for Arts in Medicine, the Digital Worlds Institute and the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship. In addition, the college comprises the University Galleries, and the University level of the New World School of the Arts in Miami.

The University of Florida: The University of Florida is a comprehensive learning institution built on a land grant foundation, ranked one of the top six best public universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Report. We are The Gator Nation, a diverse community dedicated to excellence in education and research and shaping a better future for Florida, the nation and the world. Our mission is to enable our students to lead and influence the next generation and beyond for economic, cultural and societal benefit. UF is a graduate research institution with more than 50,000 students and membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. Gainesville, which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most livable cities, is located midway between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Together, the University and the community comprise the educational, medical and cultural center of North Central Florida, with outstanding resources such as the University of Florida Performing Arts (Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Squitieri Studio Theatre, the Baughman Center, University Auditorium), the Harn Museum of Art, the Florida Museum of Natural History and in the community, the Hippodrome State Theatre and Dance Alive National Ballet.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MA or an undergraduate degree with equivalent professional experience in theatre and/or a related field and a record of creative and/or scholarly activities
• Evidence of success in promoting an environment that advances acess, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications : The successful candidate will bring to the position:

• MFA, PhD, DED, DA or an undergraduate degree with equivalent professional experience in theatre and/or a related field and a record of creative and/or scholarly activities
• Two years teaching experience in higher education or professional theatre setting with evidence of commitment to collaboration, diversity, and excellence in the arts and higher education.
• Engagement in the field consistent with the expectations of a research-focused institution.
• Demonstrated capacity to offer perspectives and/or specialized coursework in Black, Latinx, Asian/Asian American, or Indigenous American theatre/performance and an understanding of culturally informed pedagogy.
• Demonstrated aptitude for working toward structural and strategic change in relationship to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong organizational, management, and communication skills.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately. To ensure full consideration, all application documents must be submitted by February 3, 2021at 11:59 EST. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system. Online applications must include the following: (1) a detailed letter of application that explains how you match the particular qualifications of this position and how your work and perspective will contribute to and enhance our transformative community; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) names and contact information of three professional references; (4) one page artist statement (5) OPTIONAL: Sample of scholarly writing. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time, including letters of reference.

Nominations and Inquiries may be sent to:
Tiza Garland, Associate Professor
Chair, Visiting Acting Search
Email: tgarland@arts.ufl.edu

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/ .

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352/392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800/955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

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The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.