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Title: Assistant Professor (Designer: Lighting, Sound, Special Effects, Projections)
Position Number: 85088
Hiring Unit: College of Arts, Languages & Letters, Department of Theatre & Dance
Location: Manoa
Date Posted: January 13, 2025
Closing Date: Continuous - application review begins February 19, 2025
Salary Information: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience
Monthly Type: 9 Month
Tenure Track: Tenure
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Other Conditions: To begin Fall 2025, pending position clearance and availability of funds.

The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa is renowned for its emphasis on traditional and contemporary Hawaiian, Pacific and Asian performance. The Design Program also reflects this same approach, paired with individualized mentoring with professionally active faculty, hands-on training, varied design & teaching opportunities, and design prospects with local theatres. For more information about our course offerings, programmatic structure, and production season, see here; and our Action Plan committed to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and access).

Degrees: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, PhD

Focus Areas: Acting; Asian Theatre; Dance; Design; Directing; Hawaiian Theatre; Performance Studies; Playwriting; Theatre for Young Audiences; Theatre History & Criticism

Duties and Responsibilities
Teaching Duties:

• Teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in design & technology for lighting in courses such as technical theatre, production, and computer-aided design;


• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in one or more of the following areas: sound, special effects, and/or projections, based on the needs of the department;


• Develop new courses as needed and be involved in curriculum development;


• Supervise students in practicum work;


• Advise undergraduate and graduate students;


• Serve on and chair MFA committees;


• Serve as a guest lecturer for other classes within the department to facilitate the instruction of relevant subject matter.

Production Duties:

• Serve as designer for the department’s production season in the areas of lighting, sound, special effects, and projections, as needed;


• Collaborate with and assist relevant staff to supervise the lighting/sound shop;


• Facilitate the execution of lighting, sound, special effects, and projection designs for the department’s production season;


• Recruit and supervise student designers and technicians for lighting, sound, special effects, and projections for departmental productions;


• Advise and consult on the purchase of up-to-date technologies, equipment, and software for productions and facilities;


• Participate in the physical aspect of backstage production.

Research & Service Duties:

• Maintain an active program of research through scholarly publications and/or creative endeavors;


• Collaborate with design faculty and staff in the supervision and training of backstage work by graduate assistants, student employees, and other students;


• Participate in the governance of the department and provide service to the college, university, and community;


• Other duties as assigned by the Department Chair.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Terminal degree (MFA or equivalent) in Lighting Design or related field from a college or university of recognized standing. All requirements for degree must be completed by August 2025;


2. One year of relevant teaching experience in theatre and/or dance;


3. One year of relevant design experience in theatre and/or dance;


4. Evidence of an established record of creative and/or scholarly research activities in the field;


5. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and flexibly with students, faculty, staff, administration, and community members.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Demonstrated excellence in teaching;


2. Relevant teaching experience in theatre and/or dance at the college/university level or other relevant fields;


3. 2 or more years of relevant design experience in theatre and/or dance;


4. Relevant professional, national, and/or international credits;


5. Demonstrated commitment to up-to-date industry-standard software and technology;


6. Affiliations with relevant professional/scholarly organizations;


7. Evidence of successful grant writing;


8. Demonstrated knowledge of Asian/Pacific theatre/dance;


9. Teaching experience, practical application, and/or research in lighting diverse skin tones and complexions;


10. Experience mentoring students and working with colleagues from historically underrepresented groups;


11. Experience in community engagement and/or outreach with underserved populations;


12. Evidence of application of IDEA concepts (Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) in practice, such as in course syllabi and/or production design.

To Apply:

Job Ad To apply, click on the “Apply” button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the following required documents:

• Cover letter detailing how you meet the minimum and desirable qualifications and are qualified to perform duties;


• Teaching Philosophy;


• Statement of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access;


• Resumé/curriculum vitae;


• Transcripts for the highest degree (copies accepted, official transcripts required upon hire);


• Names and contact information (phone and email) for three professional/academic references;


• Samples of relevant teaching and design work uploaded in .pdf format (max 10 mb).

Inquiries: Maile Speetjens, speetjen@hawaii.edu