Samford University
School of the Arts
Department of Theatre & Dance

Assistant/Associate Professor of Theatre – Acting/Directing
(9-month, Tenure-Track)

Samford University’s School of the Arts Department of Theatre and Dance invites individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for the Assistant or Associate Professor position beginning August 2026. This tenure-track, full-time faculty position is a 9-month appointment.

The School of the Arts is a community of artists that value interdisciplinary, harmonious working relationships within the areas of music, theatre and dance, graphic design, gaming and animation, architecture, and interior design. The Department of Theatre and Dance, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in theatre (with a concentration in acting & directing), Bachelor of Arts in theatre (with a concentration in production design & technology), Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre, Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre for youth and Bachelor of Arts in dance.

For more information, see the Department’s web page: https://www.samford.edu/arts/theatre-and-dance/

Qualifications

Qualified candidates should have a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or equivalent terminal degree in Acting or Directing; experience in voice and moment for the actor, active practice in the professional world and a commitment to applying this knowledge in the classroom; demonstrated excellence in teaching and directing in a higher education setting with evidence of successful student mentorship experience; excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to the university’s Christian mission.

Ideal candidate will have a diverse range of acting and movement techniques such as Viewpoints, Alexander, Stanislavski and Period/Style work. Additional expertise and certification in other areas such as Acting for the Camera, Stage Combat and Intimacy Choreography is a plus.

Rank and salary are dependent upon academic qualifications, professional experience, and previous academic teaching experiences. To be considered at the rank of Associate Professor, candidates will have at least five years of higher education teaching experience in the discipline. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position. Samford University and the School of the Arts encourage applications from those who would enjoy working in a dynamic academic community.

Description

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate acting courses to theatre majors; assist in the development of curricula in order to prepare theatre majors to be successful, innovative performing artists in the 21st century; participate in student recruitment, retention, and advising; direct in the mainstage production season; remain active in creative/scholarly pursuits; maintain/develop a national or international profile as an actor or director and educator; cultivate and maintain professional relationships with colleagues in schools and universities in the region and in the broader theatre community.

Application

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply, please submit one PDF file comprised of a letter of interest, a complete curriculum vitae, a teaching philosophy statement, links to professional work and bio, examples of teaching to include course syllabi and student evaluations, an application for a faculty position, Graduate transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) and a faculty applicant Christian mission statement.

Additionally, please have three letters of recommendation submitted directly from the recommender to: mtaylor3@samford.edu with the subject line denoting: “LAST NAME, FIRST NAME – Acting/Directing Search” as PDF documents.

“Application for Faculty Position” can be found at: https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf

“Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at: https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx.

Please submit all materials in PDF format (except recommendation letters that are sent separately by recommenders as indicated above) to: FACAPP@samford.edu

Subject: Acting/Directing Search

For questions about the position contact:
Mary Taylor Gurney, Acting/Directing Search Committee Chair
mtaylor3@samford.edu
205-910-6740

About Samford University and Birmingham, Alabama

Samford University (www.samford.edu) is the largest privately supported and fully accredited institution for higher learning in Alabama. Located in suburban Birmingham, the University was founded in 1841 and has 425 full-time faculty and more than 5,700 students representing 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 22 countries. Samford has been nationally recognized by several prestigious publications and rankings for academics, affordability, and value. The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranks Samford 1st nationally for student engagement and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks Samford 34th among private universities in the U.S. for value and affordability. The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

*Except as specifically exempted by federal law requirements, Samford University does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, or age in the administration or application of its educational programs and policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship, and loan programs. Consistent with its Christian mission and organizations, Samford is exempt from the religious provisions of Title VII pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2(e).*