Assistant (or Associate) Professor of Acting, Tenure-track - School of Theatre and Dance

The School of Theatre & Dance at West Virginia University is seeking applications for a tenure track position of Assistant/Associate Professor of Acting, an actor-training specialist, to teach in its BFA and MFA acting programs. The candidate must be able to teach on all levels of these programs in a conservatory-style environment guided by the principles of team teaching and collaboration:

• Expertise in Shakespearean study and other period styles required.
• Skill in teaching fundamental to advanced acting classes in one or more of the following techniques: Meisner, Michael Chekhov, Uta Hagen, Stanislavski, required.
• Secondary creative/scholarly/professional expertise in a specialty discipline beyond acting technique, including acting for the camera, directing, and/or text analysis highly desired.

The successful candidate will direct 1-2 main stage productions per academic year for the School of Theatre & Dance, contribute to curriculum development, recruit, advise, and assist students in professional development, including auditioning and showcase preparation. Participation in university and school committee activities, faculty governance, and recruitment is expected. The appointed candidate will be required to maintain a professional profile of research/creative activity.

Rank and Salary: Assistant or Associate Professor, nine-month, tenure-track appointment. Rank and salary are commensurate with experience. In order to be appointed at the rank of Associate Professor, the candidate must have an established reputation with distinguished experience in recognized and respected venues. Experience must be commensurate for appointment at the Associate Professor level.

Date of Appointment: August 16, 2025

THE SCHOOL OF THEATRE & DANCE (theatre.wvu.edu): The School of Theatre & Dance is a NAST- accredited and URTA member training program with an enrollment of approximately 200 undergraduate and graduate students. The School offers MFA degrees in acting, design & technology, and technical direction; BFA degrees in acting, musical theatre, and design & technology; a BA degree in dance and a BA in theatre studies, and minors in theatre, dance, and technical production.

As part of its mission, the School educates students in the traditions and practices of the art of theatre and dance by challenging them to engage in the many processes used and valued by collaborative artists. The School employs 17 full-time and 3 part-time faculty and 3 professional staff to annually produce a vibrant season of theatre and dance productions in four theatres supported by well-equipped production facilities. The School is dedicated to providing an exceptional classroom and studio education supported by hands-on production experiences.

College of Creative Arts and Media has an enrollment of over 2,000 students and consists of the nationally recognized School of Art & Design, School of Music, Reed School of Media & Communications, School of Theatre & Dance, and the Art Museum of West Virginia University. The purpose of the College of Creative Arts and Media is to serve students, our university, community, and state through innovation, teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity in the arts, media, strategic communications and sustainable design. We engage students to become principled, creative, ethical, curious, courageous and inclusive thinkers, leaders and contributors to society through free expression, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications: The successful candidate must hold an MFA in Acting (or MFA in Theatre with acting emphasis) and have at least 3years of teaching experience at the collegiate level. Candidate must also have professional acting and/or directing experience in respected venues. AEA and/or SAG-AFTRA affiliation is desirable. Candidate must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a dedication to teaching, and enjoy working collaboratively and collegially.

Application: For a complete application, interested candidates should submit the following:

1. Letter of interest
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Statement of Teaching Philosophy
4. Creative and research agenda statement (may be written, demonstrated, or expressed; video, audio, or other media may be included)
5. Names and contact information (email, phone, mailing address, relationship to applicant) for three references

Application Deadline: Review of applicants will begin on January 6, 2025, continuing until the position is filled.

To apply, please visit: http://careers.wvu.edu. Additional materials may be requested at a later date.

West Virginia University is classified as a Doctoral/Research University - Extensive and is the state's only comprehensive doctoral-granting, land grant institution. The university community is committed to student-centered priorities, academic excellence, research, creative activity, and service to the state.

The WVU Morgantown campus is in a town named "#1 Best Small City in the East" by Guide to Life in America's Small Cities for its exceptional quality of life. Morgantown, population 30,855, was also among Livability's top 10 best places to raise a family and is within easy traveling distance of Washington, D.C., to the east; Pittsburgh, Pa., to the north; and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, to the northwest. Other rankings: Southern Living included

Morgantown as one of the South's best small towns; one of the "Top 15 College Football Towns in the Country" by Bleacher Report.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.