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Chair, Department of Theatre

College of Arts and Sciences

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks an innovative, visionary, and inclusive leader to chair the Department of Theatre. This position would begin in Fall 2025. We welcome applications from scholars and practitioners from all areas of the discipline of Theatre. The department offers the B.A. degree with concentrations in Performance, Design/Technology, and General Theatre and the B.F. A. degree in Musical Theatre, in which it collaborates with the UAB Department of Music, and the minor in Theatre. With approximately 100 undergraduate majors, 14 full-time faculty and 4 full-time professional production specialists, UAB is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. The Department of Theatre is housed and presents performances in the Alys Stephens Center for Performing Arts and presents 5 fully-mounted productions each year and supports 4 touring companies who perform throughout Alabama.

See the departmental website for more information: https://www.uab.edu/cas/theatre/.

The successful candidate should be able to build upon and broaden the regional and national reputation of the Department of Theatre. The candidate should be able to facilitate an environment conducive to scholarship, collaboration, student retention and success, and a high level of faculty creative work. Essential skills for this position include the management of both faculty and professional staff, oversight of recruitment for both the BA and BFA programs, support and guidance of students, and the ability to manage budget models to achieve department goals. The ideal candidate will guide the department in the development of the production season, engage in fundraising and development and work to establish relationships throughout the university and the local and larger community. We seek a leader with a clear understanding of the professional theatre market, a passion for theatrical innovation, and strong commitment to inclusive collaboration. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional leader of the department with knowledge of the current theatrical landscape.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished scholar or practitioner with administrative experience, evidence of effective teaching and mentorship, and a proven track record of performance, design or publishing excellence. In addition, the candidate should be able to articulate their vision to lead a department that emphasizes inclusivity with specific regard to recruitment of faculty and students from traditionally underrepresented [or underserved] groups. This may include demonstrating a collaborative leadership style, engaging with colleagues within and beyond the department, communicating with transparency and clarity, identifying emerging department priorities, engaging in strategic planning and implementation, supporting faculty teaching, research, and creative activity, managing enrollment, and fostering growth in undergraduate programs.

Appointment at the full professor level is expected, and Associate Professors may apply if they are likely eligible for the rank of Professor at UAB. A terminal degree in the candidate’s area of study in Theatre is required.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is home to 19 academic departments and six Centers and Institutes. Our 19 departments — home to over 300 full-time faculty and more than 58 baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees — make us the largest academic entity in the UAB academic enterprise. We are home to research centers, community outreach programs, and interdisciplinary cooperation.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service. UAB was ranked #1 in the United States for 2018 and 2019 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Young University Rankings. In 2021, Forbes named UAB as America’s No. 1 Best Large Employer, topping a list of more than 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities, Fortune 500 companies and more, across dozens of industries.

Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with nearly 28,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 16 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and eight UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, totaling $715 million in FY22 — a 50% increase over the past five years. UAB ranks 33rd among all universities in federal research funding and 17th among public universities. UAB’s NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 25th among all universities in NIH funding and 11th among public universities.

All applications should include the following documents: (1) a cover letter that specifically addresses your qualifications, (2) current CV, (3) a statement articulating your leadership experience and philosophy, and (4) the names and contact information for three professional references. Please address your cover letter to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Patrick Evans (patricke@uab.edu) and contact him if you have any questions about the position.

Review of applications will begin on September 15, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.