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The Department of Theater & Performance Studies at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure‐track Assistant Professor of Theater & Performance Studies with an area of expertise in theatrical scenic design for appointment to begin on August 16, 2025. 

The Assistant Professor of Theater & Performance Studies, with an area of expertise in scenic design, will teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in theatrical design, scenic design, and preferably (but not mandatory) lighting design. They will be expected to teach courses that rotate across departmental faculty (Topics in Theater & Performance History and Senior Seminar). They also will teach other courses in the program in their area of interest. And, on occasion, in the college’s First Year Seminar writing and community-engaged program. They will collaborate with department faculty and staff to plan curriculum and productions. They will design and paint scenery (and, if possible also design lighting), as well as supervise student designers and prop and design assistants for mainstage productions. This faculty member will be an essential member of a dynamic department, advising and mentoring students, as well as participating in college and department service which will occasionally include assessment, grant reporting, and faculty reviews. This faculty member will support our efforts to make our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion visible across campus. The ideal candidate will be committed to mentorship, departmental service, and the liberal arts. 

Occidental faculty are committed teacher-scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, carry out research and creative work, and provide departmental, college-wide, and external service. In this position, the faculty member’s primary responsibilities will include the development and teaching of introductory and core courses in the discipline, including courses in their area(s) of specialization. Specific courses that this faculty member will teach include Introduction to Design, Scenic Design, (possibly Lighting Design), Topics in Theater and Performance History, Senior Seminar, and on occasion, courses in the First Year Seminar program. This faculty member will also be responsible for producing creative work and, if relevant to this faculty member’s expertise, scholarship commensurate with the requirements for tenure. This faculty member will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department which includes assessment and administrative duties, attending faculty meetings, as well as advising students, serving on committees, and participating in the broader college and disciplinary communities.