Assistant Professor of Performing Arts - Design and Technical Theatre - 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 design and technical theatre program. The Assistant Professor of Performing Arts –Design & Technical Theatre is a full-t...

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 design and technical theatre program. The Assistant Professor of Performing Arts –Design & Technical Theatre is a full-time, tenure-track faculty position that will teach, advise, mentor, and recruit undergraduate performing arts majors with a focus in lighting and scenic design and technology. The academic appointment for this position will be effective August 4, 2025.

The successful candidate will primarily create, teach, and lead as a colleague in the design and technical theatre program. WSU faculty are expected to innovate and maintain professional creative work and scholarship.
Our new colleague will teach foundational and upper-level lighting and scenic design technology courses as well as related design and technical theatre courses in the curriculum. They will also supervise and mentor student designers, design for productions, and work with colleagues on curricular and school innovations aligned with the professional field of performing arts with a focus on inclusive excellence. Additional areas of expertise and curricular interests may include sound design and technology, projection/new media design, drafting, theatre appreciation, etc. Our new colleague must be committed to undergraduate education, fostering an inclusive environment, first-generation students, 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 lighting design and technology, design project, scenic design, and foundational design and technical theatre courses. Additional classes may include period styles, general theatre education courses, as well as courses in the candidate’s other areas of specialization or interest.
This position consists of student advising, mentorship, and recruitment. Additionally, this position will mentor and/or design lighting for annual School of Performing Arts productions. A successful candidate will demonstrate commitment to inclusive undergraduate pedagogy and a strong desire to work collaboratively.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

1. MFA in Theatre with a focus in theatre design and technology.
2. The candidate must demonstrate a record of achievement in lighting and scenic design and technology, teaching scholarship and practice, as well as a clear commitment to inclusive excellence in pedagogies and practices.
3. Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in lighting design.
4. Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in scenic design.
5. Professional experience as a lighting designer.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to use and teach industry standard hardware to include: ETC Family Lighting Consoles.
• Ability to use and teach industry standard software such as Vectorworks and Lightwright.
• 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:

• Professional experience as a scenic designer.
• Ability to teach and/or design projections and media.
• Ability to teach sound design.
• Ability to teach period styles.
• Experience in lighting and scenic design for university productions.
• Leadership experience in higher education.

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: Professor Amy Baker Schwiethale, Search Chair, - Assistant Professor of Performing Arts - Design & Technical Theatre Search Committee, Wichita State University Email: amy.baker@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: