"Assistant Professor (Acting and Directing)"

Assistant Professor (Acting and Directing)

Theatre and Dance

Position Details: Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance to begin August 15, 2026.

Employment Type: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Benefits-Eligible; Exempt (Salaried)

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree (MFA or PhD) in Acting, Directing, or appropriately related theatre discipline; we will consider candidates who will complete their degree by September 30, 2026
• Evidence of a body of work as a professional actor and/or director.
• Evidence of teaching experience.
• Commitment to advising and mentoring undergraduate students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching.
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting students from varied backgrounds and identities.
• A broad knowledge of acting and directing techniques.
• Three years of successful post-secondary teaching experience.

Things you will do:

Gustavus faculty teach, advise, conduct research, and serve the college and department.

• Teach a 6-course equivalent each academic year. In their first year, the successful candidate will receive a reduced teaching assignment of five courses, plus one fully-compensated course release. Courses may be different sections of the same course within a semester. Primary teaching responsibilities will include Acting and Performance levels 1 through 3, World Theatre Analysis, and Directing 1, and contributions to general education. Direct one main stage production each semester. Directing assignments are factored into the faculty members teaching load and receive equivalent course releases.
• Mentor students in performance and professional development, and advise students within the Theatre and Dance degree plans.
• Help cultivate a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strive to foster an environment where people can be themselves, build community, learn, and grow.
• Improve your teaching by joining a teaching circle, participating in workshops, applying for an internal teaching development grant, and engaging in conversations about teaching with colleagues across campus.
• Advance your scholarship by working with undergraduate research assistants, joining a writing retreat, applying for an internal grant, receiving travel funds to present at conferences, receiving help applying for external grants, and making use of our research facilities.
• Develop professional skills by participating in faculty meetings and committees, attending faculty development days, and taking advantage of the College's membership to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD).

How to apply:

Visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ and complete the online application. The documents that must be uploaded include the following:

• Letter of application that addresses the required and preferred position qualifications
• Curriculum vitae
• A brief (one page) statement of teaching philosophy
• A brief (one page) statement in which you describe how your activities in primary areas of responsibility (e.g., teaching, scholarship and creativity, service, and advising) help cultivate a welcoming community where every student feels a sense of belonging
• Transcripts (scanned copies acceptable)
• The names and contact information for three professional references (at least one must be able to address teaching experience and teaching effectiveness; please indicate the teaching reference in your letter of application). Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation; the committee will conduct reference checks by phone.

For full consideration, applications must be received by January 30, 2026. While applications may be accepted after this date, it is not guaranteed that they will be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the search committee.

Salary: Based on data from AAUP (American Association of University Professors) and CUPA (College and University Professional Association), we offer a competitive starting salary range of $60,000 to $66,000 for a 9-month academic year. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience, training, certifications/licensure, market factors, departmental budgets, and responsibility.

Institution Information: Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation's leading private liberal arts colleges serving 2,000 students, where faculty help equip students to lead purposeful lives and to act on the great challenges of our time. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota, and within a short drive to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Mankato metro areas. Learn more at https://gustavus.edu/provost/newfaculty/.

Department Information: The Theatre and Dance Department mission emphasizes the value of performance as a vital means of working for social justice and personal transformation. The Department mentors majors and non-majors alike in explorations of the many ways theatre and dance artists interpret and affect society. For more information about the department, its faculty, students, and courses, please see the department website at https://gustavus.edu/academics/departments/theatre-and-dance.