Assistant/Associate Professor - Theatre/Musical Theatre

Apply now Job no:495006
Position type:FAC - Tenure Track Faculty
Location:Allendale, Michigan
Categories:College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Summary: The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance seeks an assistant or associate professor, full time, 9-month, tenure-track, specializing in acting instruction and theatre and musical theatre direction. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates from underrepresented groups, and from candidates who have interest and/or experience in working with diverse student and community populations. Opportunity to collaborate with other faculty on curriculum development and creative projects. This position will start August 6, 2024.

Required Qualifications and Education:

• MFA in Directing or Acting. PhD or MFA in Theatre considered with commensurate specialization in acting instruction and theatre and musical theatre direction.
• Specialization in directing and experience with directing and/or producing musical theatre required.
• Potential for successful college-level teaching and research.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. This could include experience using inclusive teaching practices; research relating to minoritized populations or social inequality; community-based outreach to minoritized and underserved communities; and other forms of DEI-infused teaching, scholarship, and/or service.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience or certification in various acting methodologies; stage voice or dialects; stage movement; stage combat; and/or intimacy choreography preferred.
• One or more years of teaching experience in higher education.
• Ability to teach in both face-to-face and online environments.

Responsibilities: Duties each semester include a 9-credit hour teaching load, baseline scholarship and service, and a significant focus (equivalent to 3 credit hours) of additional responsibilities in teaching, scholarship/creative activity, and/or service depending on the candidate's interests and the department’s needs. Duties include directing mainstage straight and musical theatre productions. Courses to be taught include acting (all levels) and other performance classes, introduction to theatre, and other classes within the theatre curriculum. Depending on teaching load, additional assignment including a secondary teaching area dependent upon the successful candidate’s qualifications and interests and the needs of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Possible secondary teaching areas may include directing/teaching in the University’s professional-level Shakespeare Festival. 

Salary/Benefits

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The university offers an excellent comprehensive package that includes health/vision/dental plans, life insurance, retirement, sick/leave disability, tuition waiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities. Family and child care options on and off-campus are also available. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit Benefits and Wellness - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu) .

Department/College:

The Theatre Major at Grand Valley State University is part of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance and has 40+ majors and 30+ minors.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered and diverse learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

Campus/University:  Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources - Human Resources - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu) . Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service. More information can be found at Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu) .

How to Apply: A complete application must include:

The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at 616-331-2215.  Email questions about the position to: Theatre Faculty Member James Bell at [email protected].

Application Deadline:  The review process will begin on December 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

The University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution, consistent with its obligations as a federal contractor. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. It is committed to protecting the constitutional and statutory civil rights of persons connected with the University. Members of the University community, including students, employees, faculty, staff, administrators, Board members, consultants, vendors, others engaged to do business with the University, candidates for employment or admissions, and visitors or guests have the right to be free from acts of harassment and discrimination, including sexual misconduct, as defined by this policy. In accordance with applicable federal and state law and this policy, acts of discrimination or harassment by members of the campus community are prohibited if they discriminate or harass on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex/gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, veteran or active duty military status or weight. This includes inappropriate limitation of, access to, or participation in educational, employment, athletic, social, cultural, or other university programs and activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Limitations are lawful if they are: directly related to a legitimate university purpose, required by law, or lawfully required by a grant or contract between the university and the state or federal government. For the purposes of this policy, sex-/gender-based harassment includes sexual misconduct, sexual assault, interpersonal or relationship violence, and stalking. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Advertised:29 Sep 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

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