"Assistant Professor in Dance, Tenure Track, Fall 2026"

Description

The Department of Dance in the College of the Performing Arts at Chapman University invites applications for a full-time tenure track position at the rank of assistant professor. This position requires in-person on-campus teaching at the undergraduate level with an expected start date of August 1, 2026.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution dedicated to forward-looking, personalized education that embraces collaborative work environments and unparalleled experience solving real-world problems. Chapman offers traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 87 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including College of the Performing Arts, offer 65 bachelors, 53 master, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by the more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including Nobel Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.

The College of Performing Arts brings together the Hall Musco Conservatory of Music, the Department of Dance, and the Department of Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of Chapman University. We offer 7 degrees for about 450 majors who benefit from scholarship, creativity, free expression, and intellectual curiosity both in the classroom and on stage. Each year, students participate in more than one hundred performances across multiple campus theaters. Our most prestigious venue, The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, hosts many world-renowned performers and showcases student and faculty work. The alignment of this venue with the college advances our position at the forefront of performing arts education.

Chapman University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, and the department is ranked as a Best College Dance Program by Dance.org.

Responsibilities

We are a student-focused institution, and our new colleague must be able to teach and mentor across different pedagogical modalities in the liberal arts, including seminar, rehearsal, studio, community, and production formats. We seek a colleague with a strong record of collaborative work, and excellent communication and organizational skills. Additionally, this faculty colleague is expected to contribute meaningfully to consistent recruitment and retention efforts.

Primary responsibilities include teaching undergraduate lecture courses such as dance history, teaching methods, senior seminar, dance in world cultures, dance in film, dance education and outreach and courses that align with the department's goals.

Secondary responsibilities include studio technique, movement studies-based courses and directing concerts.

Tenure-track faculty members are expected to develop and maintain an active research and publication agenda for future tenure consideration and are evaluated on their scholarship, teaching, and service.

Qualifications

We invite scholars who are excited to mentor undergraduates in their scholarly and creative pursuits; collaborate with colleagues in the department and across campus; and update and develop lecture-based curriculum in innovative and rigorous ways. The ideal candidate will have an emerging to established record of dance scholarship and creative practice and is a forward-thinking scholar and practitioner of performing arts for the 21st century.

Minimum qualifications:

• Terminal degree in dance or related discipline; PhD preferred.
• Evidence of scholarly research excellence.
• Evidence of creative/performance excellence.
• Evidence of teaching excellence at the undergraduate level.

Application Instructions

Required materials:

• Cover letter that addresses the requirements of the position, why you are interested in this opportunity and how you see yourself aligning with the goals and mission of this department.
• One page teaching philosophy that tells your perspective on the teacher-learner relation, and notes your role in student mentorship.
• One page research statement that details current and future research.
• A Curriculum Vitae that includes scholarly and creative activities.
• Sample syllabi of two undergraduate level lecture courses developed and taught.
• Three references. (No letters of recommendation are requested currently.)

Inquiries may be directed to Wilson Mendieta, Chair of the Search Committee at mendieta@chapman.edu. Please use "Assistant Professor in Dance position" as the email subject line.

This position will remain open until filled, but prospective candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by 5:00pm Monday, November 3, 2025 (Pacific Standard Time).

Salary range is $80,000 to $90,000. Chapman University offers a relocation expense reimbursment package as well as a first-time homebuyer assistance program within the Chapman University vicinity. This position is subject to final budget approval. Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.