Assistant Professor of Theatre Teaching

The University of Utah•Salt Lake, UT

3d•$60,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Department of Theatre at the University of Utah invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Theatre Teaching commencing in fall 2024. The qualified applicant will hold a Ph.D. in Theatre Education, an MFA in Theatre, or equivalent qualification in a related subject area. They will have K-12 and college/university teaching experience, an active research agenda, and will be well-versed in contemporary pedagogical issues and practices related to school-based theatre teaching. Area of research specialization is open, but may include theatre integration in K-12 schools, inclusive practice, theatre for young audiences, applied theatre with young people and/or communities (e.g., social action, theatre for health, devising), or puppetry. Launched in 2019, the Theatre Teaching program is committed to using critical inquiry, experiential education, community engaged learning, theatre for young audiences/new works for young people, and pedagogical experimentation to prepare school- and community-based teaching artists to serve the needs of a variety of populations. In addition to regular course work and student teaching opportunities, students also regularly work with the leadership and staff of our award-winning youth theatre program, Youth Theatre at the U. Graduates of the Theatre Teaching program are licensed by the College of Education to teach theatre in K-12 schools in Utah. We are particularly interested in someone with a background in working with Latine, Hispanic, or Indigenous communities in order to better serve the State’s increasingly diverse student population and the university’s commitment becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution. As part of a larger Department of Theatre recruitment strategy, we hope to better engage with Latine and Hispanic students by leveraging existing relationships and building new partnerships with K-12 schools across the valley. (As of 2022, almost 40% of students enrolled in the Salt Lake School District identify as Hispanic and 58% of students in the district identify as members of a racial or ethnic minority.) Taking a cue from University of Utah President Taylor Randall, whose vision for the University is to become a top ten research institution with unparalleled societal impact, we seek a colleague whose research and/or teaching activities will advance our efforts to bridge the gap between the department and the broader community—someone skilled in the exploration of BIPOC perspectives, who engages diverse theatrical lexicons or creative practices, has demonstrated a commitment to accessible and inclusive theatre education, and is committed to the idea that theatrical expression is one of our most powerful tools to both build community and honor the diversity of human experience.

Requirements

A PhD in Theatre Teaching, MFA in Theatre, or an equivalent qualification in a related field
Experience teaching in K-12 schools and at the college/university level
Experience working with students/learners who have not traditionally been well-served by the American theatre system (e.g., BIPOC , disabled, rural, economically disadvantaged)
Record of on-going scholarly publishing and/or presentation at academic conferences and that shows potential for growth

Nice To Haves

A history of teaching or research that meaningfully engages Latine, Hispanic, or Indigenous populations
3 years of employment as a full-time faculty member in higher education
Evidence of commitment to engaging in professional development opportunities that build effectiveness in areas of inclusion, intercultural communication, and advancing diversity