"Teaching Assistant Professor, Theatre & Game Studies - Department of Theatre"

Teaching Assistant Professor, Theatre & Game Studies

Department of Theatre

College of Fine and Applied Arts

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Job Summary

The Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is pleased to invite applications for a full-time Teaching Assistant Professor of Theatre and Game Studies with a proposed starting date of August, 2026.

A successful candidate will have expertise in courses such as Escape Room Design, Interdisciplinary Design, Experience Design for Immersion and Interaction, Collaboration Lab, TTRPG Design, Immersive Theatre, Playable Theatre and other possible courses in Game Studies and Theory. The successful candidate will have professional experience and training in one or more areas of Theatre and the Performing Arts such as Management, Design, Technology or Performance.

This position will focus on the development of our new BA in Immersive and Interactive Theatre through deep collaboration with the Game Studies and Design area within the Informatics Programs Department. Duties will also include teaching, course development, academic advising, recruitment and program administration. Teaching responsibilities include three classes per semester.

This position will be a member of the Theatre Studies program faculty - as well as collaborate with faculty and staff in Acting and Design, Tech, Management within the Theatre Department. The ideal candidate demonstrates a commitment to teaching recognized theater industry standards as well as innovative approaches to problem solving in equitable and inclusive educational environments within our community of students, educators and creative collaborators.

This individual should be a skilled communicator with the capacity to facilitate conversations between fellow faculty and students across all areas of study. A successful candidate will be interested in fostering cross-college collaborations and relationships to develop and maintain a diverse student population.

Minimum Qualifications

• MFA in Theatre, Experience Design, Art, Design or a closely related field.
• Teaching experience or supervisory experience with emerging artists and students.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in theatre and/or the performing arts in professional or educational settings.
• 1-3 years of experience in playable theatre, immersive theatre, games studies and/or game design in professional or educational settings.
• Teaching experience at the college level for three or more years.
• Experience creating innovative courses in the areas of Theatre and/or Game Studies, reflective of inclusive practices and using modern approaches

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic, non-tenure-track (specialized faculty) appointment on an academic year (nine-month) service basis paid over twelve months, carrying an initial appointment of a one-year contract with potential for renewal based on performance. Multi-year contracts typically follow promotion within this path. This appointment is supported by NTFC Local 6546. The budgeted salary range for this position is $70,000-$72,000. Final salary offered will be determined by an assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The expected start date is August 16, 2026. Work authorization sponsorship is available for this position.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Full consideration will be given to applications received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on December 1st, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Please create your candidate profile and upload the following:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Three references with contact information

All required information must be submitted to https://jobs.illinois.edu for your application to be considered.

For further information about this specific position, please contact Cynthia Kocher, Search Chair, ckocher@illinois.edu or Micki Hallam, HR Coordinator, mhallam@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Helpful Links:

• Illinois Theatre - https://theatre.illinois.edu/
• Krannert Center for Performing Arts - https://krannertcenter.com/
• Illinois Theatre News - https://theatre.illinois.edu/about/news/

The Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign includes 24 full time faculty members, 12 Krannert Center Design and Technical faculty members, 3 academic staff, 7 campus affiliated faculty members, 130 undergraduates and more than 60 graduate students. The department offers BFA and MFA programs in acting; theatre studies; and design, technology and management. There are also MA and PhD programs in theatre studies. The department and its production programs are housed in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, a state of the art, multi-venue facility that operates collaboratively within an artistic structure comprised of theatre, dance, music, opera, and professional touring performances. Theatre faculty members work closely with Krannert Center staff and the faculties of the Department of Dance and the School of Music's Lyric Theatre Program.

Illinois Theatre faculty and students also work within a rich campus environment for research and community-partnered learning, supported by an array of top-tier centers, institutes, and academic departments. As the flagship campus within the state university system, Illinois is a Research I university, and one of the first institutions to receive the Carnegie Foundation's Classification for Community Engagement. The Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area, located between Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, is among Illinois' fastest growing communities, and boasts a strong network of community justice and arts organizations.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.