"Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Playwriting"

Barnard is a premier liberal arts undergraduate college for women in New York City affiliated with Columbia University. The Department of Theatre at Barnard College seeks a full-time Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Playwriting: a working playwright with broad expertise in writing for the theatre and in the pedagogy of creative writing, to start July 1, 2026.

As a full time reviewed and renewable position, we anticipate the successful candidate to participate fully in the life of a dynamic Theatre department that places equal weight on lecture/seminar courses and practicum courses. The candidate would be expected to contribute to service at the departmental and eventually college-wide level. PoPP (Professor of Professional Practice) appointments require--in analogy to tenure-track faculty--ongoing artistic work for retention and promotion. The successful candidate must develop, sustain, and advance a nationally-visible artistic trajectory during the first seven years of appointment and beyond.

The Department of Theatre at Barnard College offers the undergraduate theatre major to all Barnard College, Columbia College, and Columbia General Studies students. The teaching load is four courses per year, with accompanying undergraduate advising, service on departmental committees, and service to the College. This position includes oversight and teaching of the senior thesis in playwriting, in which 5-10 students per year develop a one-act play that receives a reading at the end of the spring semester.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

Candidates must have the appropriate terminal degree (MFA in Theatre/Playwriting) and have an exciting portfolio of plays.

Applicants might also hold the Ph.D. and so be qualified to teach more traditionally research-oriented courses, e.g. contemporary drama, digital culture.

Applicants may also demonstrate relevant expertise in the areas of directing, acting, writing for tv/film, or environmental theatre and sustainability.

Application Requirements

Only complete applications submitted via Workday will be considered. Applicants are required to upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae (maximum file size: 5 MB)
• A single PDF file (maximum file size: 30 MB) containing: Cover letter describing current and future creative work and teaching experience; the letter should speak to an ability to work with a student population that is broadly diverse; Statement of teaching philosophy; Sample play excerpt, 30-40 pages

Applicants will be asked to identify three to five references upon submission of the application.

Review of applications will begin on approximately 10-26-2025 and continue until the position is filled.

For questions or further information please contact Alice Reagan at playwritingsearch@barnard.edu.

Salary: $95,000 - $115,000

Barnard College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Barnard does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, or any other legally protected basis. Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.