Position Overview

The School of Performing Arts in the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State University invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Assistant Teaching Professor/Educator in Lighting, Projection, and Sound Design to begin September 2027.

We seek an experienced and dynamic educator, mentor, designer, and artistic leader who will play a central role in shaping the future of design and production within a highly collaborative interdisciplinary performing arts environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop sound and projection curriculum, mentor emerging designers, foster undergraduate creative leadership, and contribute to a vibrant production culture.

Because production is central to the school's applied curriculum and mission, this position serves as both an artistic and educational leader. Rather than functioning primarily as a production designer, the successful candidate will mentor and guide student designers in lighting, sound, and projection across theatre, musical theatre, dance, film, and interdisciplinary projects. Through coaching, artistic supervision, and collaborative project development, they will help students translate classroom learning into meaningful creative practice while building professional portfolios and leadership skills.

Department Description

The School of Performing Arts is a comprehensive interdisciplinary school offering BFA and BA degrees in Performing Arts with concentrations in Acting, Dance, Design and Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Theatre. Grounded in a shared core curriculum, the school emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and extensive applied learning opportunities. A hallmark of the School of Performing Arts is its commitment to undergraduate leadership through production curriculum, with students actively designing, performing, managing, and producing work across a diverse range of artistic projects.

The School of Performing Arts produces a diverse season of plays, musicals, dance concerts, films, audio productions, new works, and student-led projects each year. Located in Wichita State University's College of Fine Arts, the School benefits from strong partnerships across campus and throughout Wichita's active arts community, providing rich opportunities for collaboration, professional engagement, and experiential learning.

Core Responsibilities

Teaching: Develop and teach lighting technology and design courses while helping expand curricular opportunities in sound design, projection design, and emerging media practices. Teaching responsibilities include designing curriculum and instructional materials, delivering high-quality instruction in various modalities (in-person, online, or hybrid), and assessing student learning. Through classroom instruction, advising, and production mentorship, they will help students develop the artistic, technical, and collaborative skills necessary for successful careers in the performing arts.

Research/Scholarly Activity: No responsibilities in this area

Service: Lighting, projection, and sound are foundational elements of every production season and support all performance venues and degree programs. In addition to teaching responsibilities, the faculty member will engage in significant service through leadership in lighting and electrical safety and supervise student interns in a lighting shop and production environments.

Required Qualifications

·      MFA in Theatre or related studies with a focus in theatre design and technology/lighting design/sound design OR BA/BFA in Theatre/Design and Technical Theatre with commensurate professional experience in lighting and sound design

·      Evidence of achievement in lighting design

·      Evidence of achievement in sound design

·      Evidence of experience in projection design

·      Evidence of a commitment to fostering collaborative classroom and production environments

·      Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in lighting and sound design

·      Demonstrated ability to use and teach industry standard software such as Vectorworks, Dante, Lightwright, QLab, etc.

·      Demonstrated ability to use and teach industry standard hardware to include ETC Family Lighting Consoles

·      Demonstrated ability to teach and apply current industry standards and best practices related to audio production, including the legal and ethical use of sound libraries, licensed music, copyrighted materials, intellectual property, and digital media assets.

**Terminal degree is required for Assistant Teaching Professor**

Preferred Qualifications (in addition to required)

·      MFA in Theatre/Design and Technical Theatre with a focus in lighting and sound design

·      Professional experience as a lighting and sound designer

·      Three years’ teaching experience at full-time or equivalent course load in higher education

·      Evidence of achievement in projection/media design

·      Experience supervising student interns/employees

·      Ability to teach theatre courses beyond lighting and sound technology

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

·      Cover Letter: A letter of application addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and experience align with the position.

·      Teaching Statement: A statement (1-2 pages) describing teaching approach/philosophy and experience (including course topics the candidate can teach, mentoring experience, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness).

·      Digital Portfolio: File or link to file(s) or website of professional digital work

·      References: Three reference letters are required.

·      Optional Materials: Any additional materials the candidate would like to share such as sample publications, teaching evaluations, reviews, etc.

Review Date

Review of applications begins on 10/16/26 and continues until the position is filled. The start date for this appointment is August 2027 or as negotiated.

Pay

Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Contact Details

For more information contact: Professor Amy Baker Schwiethale, Chair - Assistant Teaching Professor/Educator of Performing Arts – Lighting, Sound & Projection Design Search Committee, Wichita State University Email: amy.baker@wichita.edu

Position Overview

The School of Performing Arts in the College of Fine Arts at Wichita State University invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Assistant Teaching Professor/Educator in Lighting, Projection, and Sound Design to begin September 2027.

We seek an experienced and dynamic educator, mentor, designer, and artistic leader who will play a central role in shaping the future of design and production within a highly collaborative interdisciplinary performing arts environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop sound and projection curriculum, mentor emerging designers, foster undergraduate creative leadership, and contribute to a vibrant production culture.

Because production is central to the school's applied curriculum and mission, this position serves as both an artistic and educational leader. Rather than functioning primarily as a production designer, the successful candidate will mentor and guide student designers in lighting, sound, and projection across theatre, musical theatre, dance, film, and interdisciplinary projects. Through coaching, artistic supervision, and collaborative project development, they will help students translate classroom learning into meaningful creative practice while building professional portfolios and leadership skills.

Department Description

The School of Performing Arts is a comprehensive interdisciplinary school offering BFA and BA degrees in Performing Arts with concentrations in Acting, Dance, Design and Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Theatre. Grounded in a shared core curriculum, the school emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and extensive applied learning opportunities. A hallmark of the School of Performing Arts is its commitment to undergraduate leadership through production curriculum, with students actively designing, performing, managing, and producing work across a diverse range of artistic projects.

The School of Performing Arts produces a diverse season of plays, musicals, dance concerts, films, audio productions, new works, and student-led projects each year. Located in Wichita State University's College of Fine Arts, the School benefits from strong partnerships across campus and throughout Wichita's active arts community, providing rich opportunities for collaboration, professional engagement, and experiential learning.

Core Responsibilities

Teaching: Develop and teach lighting technology and design courses while helping expand curricular opportunities in sound design, projection design, and emerging media practices. Teaching responsibilities include designing curriculum and instructional materials, delivering high-quality instruction in various modalities (in-person, online, or hybrid), and assessing student learning. Through classroom instruction, advising, and production mentorship, they will help students develop the artistic, technical, and collaborative skills necessary for successful careers in the performing arts.

Research/Scholarly Activity: No responsibilities in this area

Service: Lighting, projection, and sound are foundational elements of every production season and support all performance venues and degree programs. In addition to teaching responsibilities, the faculty member will engage in significant service through leadership in lighting and electrical safety and supervise student interns in a lighting shop and production environments.

Required Qualifications

·      MFA in Theatre or related studies with a focus in theatre design and technology/lighting design/sound design OR BA/BFA in Theatre/Design and Technical Theatre with commensurate professional experience in lighting and sound design

·      Evidence of achievement in lighting design

·      Evidence of achievement in sound design

·      Evidence of experience in projection design

·      Evidence of a commitment to fostering collaborative classroom and production environments

·      Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in lighting and sound design

·      Demonstrated ability to use and teach industry standard software such as Vectorworks, Dante, Lightwright, QLab, etc.

·      Demonstrated ability to use and teach industry standard hardware to include ETC Family Lighting Consoles

·      Demonstrated ability to teach and apply current industry standards and best practices related to audio production, including the legal and ethical use of sound libraries, licensed music, copyrighted materials, intellectual property, and digital media assets.

**Terminal degree is required for Assistant Teaching Professor**

Preferred Qualifications (in addition to required)

·      MFA in Theatre/Design and Technical Theatre with a focus in lighting and sound design

·      Professional experience as a lighting and sound designer

·      Three years’ teaching experience at full-time or equivalent course load in higher education

·      Evidence of achievement in projection/media design

·      Experience supervising student interns/employees

·      Ability to teach theatre courses beyond lighting and sound technology

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

·      Cover Letter: A letter of application addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and experience align with the position.

·      Teaching Statement: A statement (1-2 pages) describing teaching approach/philosophy and experience (including course topics the candidate can teach, mentoring experience, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness).

·      Digital Portfolio: File or link to file(s) or website of professional digital work

·      References: Three reference letters are required.

·      Optional Materials: Any additional materials the candidate would like to share such as sample publications, teaching evaluations, reviews, etc.

Review Date

Review of applications begins on 10/16/26 and continues until the position is filled. The start date for this appointment is August 2027 or as negotiated.

Pay

Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Contact Details

For more information contact: Professor Amy Baker Schwiethale, Chair - Assistant Teaching Professor/Educator of Performing Arts – Lighting, Sound & Projection Design Search Committee, Wichita State University Email: amy.baker@wichita.edu