Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting, Tenure Track, Fall 2025

Description

General Information

The Department of Theatre in the College of Performing Arts at Chapman University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting, effective August 2025.

Chapman University is a nationally-ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including Schmid College of Science and Technology, offer 65 bachelors, 53 master, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by the more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.

The College of Performing Arts brings together the Hall Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of Chapman University. We offer 7 degrees for about 460 majors who benefit from scholarship, creativity, free expression and intellectual curiosity both in the classroom and while performing in some of the hundreds of performances offered annually at one of several performing arts venues on campus. Our most prestigious venue, The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, hosts an array of world-renowned performers as well as showcases student and faculty work. The alignment of this venue with the college advances our position at the forefront of performing arts education.

The Department of Theatre offers three degrees in BA Theatre, BFA Theatre Performance, and BFA Screen Acing with a strong professional theatre curriculum with high-quality productions, all while enjoying the benefits of a liberal arts university located just a short drive from Hollywood and the vibrant SoCal performing arts community. Our students gain real-world experience working onstage and backstage with industry professionals and renowned faculty in state-of-the-art facilities. Our entire team is dedicated to delivering an education with strong professional ethics that will empower you to pursue your chosen career. The department seeks a forward-thinking practitioner of the performing arts for the 21st century. The faculty colleague is expected to contribute meaningfully to consistent recruitment and retention efforts.

The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. More information on diversity and inclusion at Chapman University is available at https://www.chapman.edu/diversity.

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate must be able to teach a range of acting courses such as Acting Fundamentals, Character Building, Text Analysis and Scene Study, and direct one mainstage production for Chapman University’s Department of Theatre. Additional areas of expertise are encouraged but not required.

As a tenure-track faculty member, the candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an active creative/scholarly body of work in acting recognized both nationally and internationally. The department, college, and university value personalized faculty collaboration with undergraduate students. The faculty member will be expected to advise, mentor, and encourage undergraduate students with regard to curriculum, research projects, internship opportunities, and career possibilities. In addition, faculty members must show a consistent dedication to university service.

The successful candidate will work with the existing faculty, chair, and dean of the College of Performing Arts to continue developing the Department of Theatre’s curricula and streamlining production season offerings.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree (MFA or PhD) conferred by August 1, 2025.
• Professional ongoing background in acting.
• Significant experience and commitment to outstanding teaching at the undergraduate level.
• Strong pedagogical approach that is informed by acting professionally and experience teaching learning outcomes that correspond to existing curriculum.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in developing innovative courses, curricula, and research related to one’s area of scholarship and creative activity, as well as a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinarity, are highly desirable.
• Areas of specialization such as Meisner, Viewpoints, Shakespeare and devising are desirable.
• Candidates with professional directing experience are also encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

Interested and qualified applicants should submit:

• Letter of Interest
• C.V.
• Teaching Philosophy Statement
• Diversity and Inclusion Statement
• Contact Reference (Information with names, affiliations, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can provide a professional recommendation)

For i nquiries, please email Tamiko Washington (theatresearch@chapman.edu). Please use "Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting" in the subject line.

The position will remain open until filled, but prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by 5:00pm Friday, November 1, 2024 (Pacific Standard Time). The salary range is between $80,000 and $85,000 per year. The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Chapman University offers a relocation expense reimbursement package as well as a first-time Orange County homebuyer assistance program. This position is subject to final budget approval. Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Office of Human Resources, DeMille Hall - 140, One University Drive, Orange, California 92866