Assistant Professor of Performing Arts - Acting - Wichita State University Careers

Housed within the College of Fine Arts, the School of Performing Arts seeks a dynamic and experienced colleague to enhance our acting and theatre studies program. The Assistant Professor of Performing Arts – Acting, is a full-time, tenure-track fa...

Department: School of Performing Arts

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Work Schedule: Varied depending upon class, rehearsal, and production schedule.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Housed within the College of Fine Arts, the School of Performing Arts seeks a dynamic and experienced colleague to enhance our acting and theatre studies program. The Assistant Professor of Performing Arts – Acting, is a full-time, tenure-track faculty position that will teach, advise, mentor, and recruit undergraduate performing arts majors in acting and theatre. Applicants must be committed to fostering an inclusive environment and promoting the success of underrepresented students. The academic appointment for this position will be effective August 4, 2025.

We are seeking a colleague with primary expertise in acting for stage, film, and voice acting. Other areas of expertise may include but are not limited to: Improvisation, Screen/Scriptwriting, Directing for Stage and Film, Script Analysis, and Performance Studies.

Beyond our current acting and theatre studies curricula and program approaches, we are interested in a candidate able to teach courses that enliven and expand our acting curriculum with a focus on intersectional categories of performing arts, digital arts, inclusion, devised work, and community-engaged learning. Our new colleague must be committed to undergraduate education, fostering an inclusive environment, first-generation students, and understanding and promoting the success of underrepresented students. Learn more about the School of Performing Arts: www.wichita.edu/spa

About the School of Performing Arts (SPA)
Offering a BFA and BA in Performing Arts with concentrations in Dance, Design & Technical Theatre (BFA Only), Musical Theatre (BFA Only), and Theatre Performance/Acting (BFA), general Theatre Studies (BA), the School of Performing Arts values and promotes applied learning in the classroom, studio, on stage & screen, in the community, and through site-specific engagement & performance. In addition to curricular-related showings on and off campus, the school annually produces plays, a national student playwriting competition, films, audio shows, dance concerts, musicals, a new musical theatre incubator program, and more. Three student-led organizations produce shows and events as well.

To enhance and broaden students’ knowledge and career preparation, SPA offers several certificates including: Directing, Stage Management, Voice Acting, Choreography, Dance and Digital Performance, and Commercial Dance. Several certificates and courses are in collaboration with the School of Digital Arts, the School of Music, the Honors College, and the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Job Summary

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Essential Functions

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Primary responsibilities include courses focused on acting including acting for the camera, auditioning, techniques for film, directing for film, and voice acting. Additional courses may include new media performance, improvisation, theatre or performance history courses, script analysis, as well as upper-division courses in other areas of specialization.

Position responsibilities also include directing program films, student advising and recruitment. Additionally, this position may lead and direct annual productions in film. A successful candidate will demonstrate commitment to undergraduate pedagogy, and a strong desire to work collaboratively. WSU faculty are expected to innovate and maintain professional creative work and scholarship.
All candidates for faculty positions should be able to demonstrate the ability to successfully educate and empower a diverse student population.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

1. MFA in Acting, Theatre, Performance or related studies.
2. The candidate must demonstrate a record of achievement in acting for film/camera, teaching scholarship and practice, as well as a deep commitment to inclusive excellence in pedagogies and practices.
3. Experience directing for film.
4. Experience as an acting coach for various formats and venues.
5. A clear demonstration of commitment to engagement and inclusion principles in the classroom, production, and university community.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to teach acting for the camera/film.
• Demonstrated ability to teach voice acting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Willingness to accommodate a variety of learning styles and strategies in instructional delivery and learning activities, including online and blended learning, flexible teaching methods, and applied learning approaches.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum one year teaching at a full-time or equivalent load in higher education.
• Professional experience in film, television, commercials, voiceover and on stage.
• SAG-eligible.
• Ability to teach additional courses such as improvisation, script/screen writing, directing for stage and film.
• Experience with performance and/or teaching digital performance such as, multimedia performance or motion capture.
• Leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated research focused on film acting practices/traditions of Latine/a/o/x, Indigenous, Black performance tradition, performance and disability, and other underrepresented groups.

Additional Information:

Required Documents:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application
Teaching philosophy, including approaches to inclusive pedagogies
Statement on Research/Creative Activity Interests
Digital Portfolio

Optional Document/s:
Sample syllabus/i

Priority deadline for applications being reviewed is January 2, 2025
Only advancing candidate's references will be contacted for letters of recommendation.

For more information contact: Sabrina Vasquez, Senior Educator of Dance – Chair, Asst Prof of Performing Arts – Acting Search Committee, Wichita State University Email: sabrina.vasquez@wichita.edu

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position – Frequent 60-90%; Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators – Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement: