Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Film & Media Arts - Screenwriting

Assistant Professor of Film & Media Arts - Screenwriting (Position #6028)

Position start date: August 1, 2024

The Division of Film & Media Arts in the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University is seeking an Assistant Professor to join creative faculty and students in an intellectually and culturally inclusive undergraduate program in one of the nation’s largest and most diverse metropolitan areas. We are looking for an innovative colleague who will take an active role in contributing to a variety of identities, perspectives, and approaches to audiovisual storytelling through their teaching, creative work, and service in a student-centered program. The ideal candidate is one who shares our commitment to training and inspiring a new generation of creators, and who has the relevant skills to prepare them for a shifting media and cultural landscape.

Teaching will primarily cover introductory, intermediate, and advanced undergraduate courses in screenwriting, and courses in other areas of media production and/or media studies in the candidate’s particular area(s) of expertise and interest. The position also entails continued creative or research work, and service in mentoring young artists and supporting the goals of the program through collaboration with other faculty and staff.

This position is a tenure-track appointment, contingent on outstanding and consistent research or creative activity in the primary area of expertise and focus, and excellent teaching. Performance in these areas is reviewed by the department in the third year. If the appointment is successfully renewed at that point, there is a university tenure and promotion review in the sixth year.

The Division of Film & Media Arts is an undergraduate-only program based in the Meadows School of the Arts with nine full-time faculty, two full-time staff, and 80 majors. It offers two degrees: a 33-credit generalist B.A., and a 51-credit B.F.A. centering on media production or screenwriting. The curriculum is balanced between courses in media production (including screenwriting) and media studies. Our approach to film and media arts emphasizes the importance of understanding key critical, industrial, and aesthetic contexts, as well as the creative and technical skills necessary for production. All majors must take required courses in both areas.

SMU is an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas. We offer the rare confluence of a comprehensive global research institution and a close-knit intellectual enterprise in the liberal arts tradition. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. Explore SMU at www.smu.edu. Our beautifully shaded campus of Georgian-Revival-inspired architecture is situated in the heart of Dallas. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, a culturally rich arts and global business center, is home to many universities, arts organizations and Fortune 500 corporations. Visit https://www.dallaschamber.org.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications: An M.F.A., Ph.D., or equivalent degree in Screenwriting, Film/Media Production, Creative Writing, or a similarly relevant field is required, along with previous experience teaching screenwriting and basic video production to students from diverse backgrounds, and recent work experience and creative or research output in some facet(s) of screenwriting, media production, or media studies.

Application Instructions

Upload a letter of application highlighting your qualifications, creative or research work, and teaching philosophy; a complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae; and the names and contact information of three references to: http://apply.interfolio.com/128745. Review of applications will begin October 16, 2023. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by November 1, 2023, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify runner-up applicants of the employment decision only after the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Southern Methodist University (SMU) will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX1 Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, including the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.