Job Description
JOB TITLE Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre
LOCATION Worcester
DEPARTMENT NAME Humanities & Arts Department
DIVISION NAME Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Humanities and Arts Department invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor in Theatre, specializing in scenic and/or costume design, to begin in August 2025. We seek an experienced design educator to teach courses, mentor student projects, and support productions for a small theatre program at a STEM-oriented institution with highly motivated and technically savvy students.
Applicants must be prepared to teach Fundamentals of Theatrical Design, Scenic Design, and Costume Design; and should have significant expertise in one or more adjacent disciplines, such as projections/digital media, scenic art, period styles, costume history, costume technology, hair & makeup, masks/puppetry, etc. Expertise in developing technologies and non-theatrical entertainment is of particular interest.
The position requires teaching excellence, strong mentorship skills, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity. In their application materials, candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach engaging, project-based courses; to mentor students of mixed experience levels through production experiences; to think about entertainment design beyond traditional theatre structures; and to contribute to an evolving culture of diversity and inclusion.
JOB DESCRIPTION About WPI Theatre As a division of the Department of Humanities & Arts, WPI Theatre presents two major productions per year and offers courses in a wide array of theatrical sub-disciplines, including acting, playwriting, dramatic literature, design, and technical production. Courses are scheduled over four 7-week terms (two terms per semester), and productions run over two 14-week semesters (Fall & Spring). Like many WPI academic experiences, these offerings employ a project-based learning approach, in which students learn by doing. WPI students may study theatre as part of the 6-course Humanities and Arts undergraduate requirement; they may also pursue a minor or a major concentration in Theatre. In addition to managing its own activities, the Theatre faculty provide informal support to WPI's various performance-based student organizations, which produce plays, musicals, comedy shows, and other events.
Position Expectations:
The teaching load for this position is the equivalent of eight courses per year-which includes all the following activities:
- Teaching 7-week courses in design or other related fields
- Mentoring students through semester-long production experiences & credit-bearing projects (typically 2 productions per year, includes weekly meetings & assignments)
- Managing enrollments & assignments for club- and department-sponsored production credit courses (shared by all Theatre faculty, allocated for optimal workload equity)
Additional responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with other Theatre faculty about the general operation of the program, including: mission & vision setting, curriculum & policy development, season planning, production oversight, supervision of student workers, and informal mentorship of student theatre organizations.
- Participating in initiatives conducted by the Humanities and Arts Department
- Engaging in service to the department and/or the broader university
This is a 9-month faculty position, allowing for both external & internal opportunities (such as professional development, research, or additional teaching) during the summer months. This position is on WPI's "teaching track," which provides secure long-term contracts, with opportunities for promotion.
Candidate Qualifications - MFA in theatrical design or a related field (other degrees will be considered for candidates with significant professional experience)
- Demonstrated success in classroom teaching and advising at the university level (at least 3 years, preferably including project-based, experiential learning)
- Professional experience in scenic design (including props, model building, 2D & 3D drafting, basic scenic/props fabrication) and costume design (including hair & makeup, hand & digital rendering, and basic costume construction)
- Extremely strong collaboration, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work across disciplines with faculty, staff, and students of various experience levels
- Expertise with a broad range of entertainment/design contexts (amusement parks, escape rooms, cruise ships, comedy shows, etc.) and technologies (3D printing, laser cutting, etc.)
Application Materials As part of your application, please submit:
- Cover letter that addresses your teaching philosophy and experience; your professional design work; how you would teach the courses described above at WPI; and how you see yourself adding to WPI's efforts to build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment
- Portfolio of design work (such as a professional website)
- Current CV, including academic and professional experience
We will request letters of reference and a teaching portfolio for short-listed candidates only. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by December 1, 2024 will receive full consideration.
FLSA STATUS United States of America (Exempt)
WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively seeks to increase the diversity of its workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Job Tags
Summer work, Immediate start,