"Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting"

Job Details

Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting

College: College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and The Arts - 321 College
Dept/School: Theatre - 32122
Vacancy Number: 16F-728
Position Number: 6795
Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:
The Department of Theatre at the University of North Carolina Wilmington invites applicants for a full-time, tenure track position as Assistant Professor of Theatre - Acting to begin August 2026.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative undergraduate teaching and production environment, bringing expertise in acting and performance with an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to teaching and creative practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach acting and related performance courses, including:
  • Acting for Non-Majors / Introduction to Acting
  • Introduction to Theatre
  • On-Camera Acting / Media Creation
  • Business of Acting / Professional Preparation
• Direct departmental productions as part of the annual season
• Mentor students in performance and professional development
• Contribute to recruitment and departmental service
• Maintain an active record of creative and/or scholarly work

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Terminal degree (M.F.A. or Ph.D.) in Theatre, Acting, or Performance at the time of application
• Professional acting experience
• Evidence of creative and/or scholarly work
• Demonstrated experience in student mentorship, recruitment, or retention

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
Preferred Areas of Specialization

• Acting
• On-Camera Acting / Media Performance
• Business of Acting / Professional Preparation
• Directing
• Acting Pedagogy
• Performance in Interdisciplinary Contexts

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years of university-level teaching experience
• Professional and/or academic directing experience
• Experience working with diverse student populations
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and creative practice

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:
The Department of Theatre is part of UNCW's College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) and serves about 130 theatre majors and 60 minors. The department offers a B.A. in Theatre with concentrations in Performance, Design and Technology, and Theatre Studies/Customized, as well as minors in Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Dance.

The department encourages curricular development in areas of specialization that complement and extend existing offerings. Faculty are supported in pursuing innovative courses that align with their expertise and research interests, broadening the scope of training available to students. Areas such as stage combat, movement, or other specialized techniques are examples of courses that could strengthen the curriculum and enhance student preparation for professional work.

Facilities are located in the Cultural Arts Building, which includes two theatres, production shops, acting studios, and media creation spaces. UNCW's location in Wilmington, North Carolina, a center for film and television production, provides opportunities for professional collaboration in performance and media.

College/School Information:
The College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (CHSSA) is home to 14 academic departments and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Public Administration as well as combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in Spanish and English. The CHSSA also houses the Gender Studies and Research Center and the Academic Resource Center, which offers full-service, professional advising for all CHSSA undergraduate students.

In addition, the CHSSA offers a full complement of interdisciplinary minors and post baccalaureate certificates including: Africana studies, American studies, Asian studies, classical studies, conflict management and resolution, emergency and disaster management, forensic science, Hispanic studies, journalism, Latin American studies, medical humanities, Middle East and Islamic studies, Native American studies, professional writing and publishing, science and medical writing, and women's, gender, and sexuality studies.

The CHSSA contributes significantly to the curriculum that comprises UNCW's University Studies Program, through which all undergraduates gain a foundation in the liberal arts and develop the transferable skills essential for life in the twenty-first century. The CHSSA strives in its undergraduate programs and in its University Study offerings to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen fields. Graduate programs in the CHSSA are designed to develop intellectual competence and to prepare the student for careers in business, industry, government, teaching or for further study at the doctoral level.

Applied learning is a hallmark of the student experience in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. Each of the CHSSA's departments requires an applied learning experience as a part of the curriculum for its undergraduate majors. Examples include faculty-directed research, internships, service learning, and capstone courses and projects, all of which challenge students to integrate various strands of knowledge and to apply that knowledge to broader, real-world or real disciplinary situations.

Upon completion of their studies, all CHSSA students will have the necessary preparation for rewarding careers, advanced study, effective citizenship, and meaningful lives. The College of Humanities, Social Science, and the Arts offers limitless opportunities to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary research and service while also making a positive societal impact. Come and join our vibrant academic environment that values discovery, innovation, and creativity.

University Information:
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

Special Notes to Applicants:
Prior to the official appointment to the university, the candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other documentation as required.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59PM EST on January 6, 2026, the posting closing date. To apply, please complete the online application available at https://jobs.uncw.edu/ and attach the following materials as Adobe PDF documents:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vita
• Teaching Philosophy
• List of 3 Professional References
• Demo Reel - Optional, 2 minute max please

Please note that a minimum of three references are required for all applications.
The references you provide may be used to request reference letters during the screening process.

Applications without the requested components will not meet the application requirements.

For questions about the position or the online application process, please contact Christy Grantham at granthamc@uncw.edu.

Position Type: Permanent
Job Posting Date: 11/05/2025
Job Close Date: 1/6/2026

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/37869