Visiting Professor (Lighting Design)

General Summary

The School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts seeks a Visiting Professor of Lighting Design for a one-year appointment with potential for renewal. Classes begin August 31, 2026 and end May 1, 2027.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include:

• Teaching 2) classes per semester (Potential classes from Entertainment Design & Production, Theatre, or Arts Management)
• Designing for 1-2 shows per semester (Lighting design, with potential work in other areas of expertise such as sound or projection design)
• Teaching/supervising student crew members, designers, and workers in backstage production work
• Operating within a typical 10-week production calendar and adhering to predetermined schedules and deadlines
• Maintaining regular office hours
• Assessing student work and performance, and assigning and submitting grades in accordance with established University schedules
• Working with design/production faculty and staff to assess and grade students enrolled in Theatre Practice each semester
• Attending regular School and Area meetings, as scheduled
• Producing research/sketches/draftings/renderings/paperwork for design elements
• Attending production meetings, collaborating with the director and production team
• Coordinating hang and focus for any show where serving as the LD
• Coordinating with the Technical Director to train and supervise student crew members on delegated production area
• Designing, sourcing, pulling, and renting elements within a pre-established budget
• Attending company meetings, designer runs, dress rehearsals, and performances, as well as necessary crew calls to supervise student workers
• Work collaboratively with colleagues on productions
• Mentoring student designers and crew members, as opportunities arise

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• The successful applicant will have an MFA (or suitable terminal degree) in Lighting Design or a related design discipline with significant professional experience in Lighting Design.
• In addition, the candidate should have experience teaching at the university level and mentoring student designers. This role requires a working knowledge of modern lighting systems (i.e. networked lighting, show control, and multi-console environments), design software / platforms (i.e. Vectorworks, ETC EOS, LightWright, etc.) and ability to teach them.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in one or more additional design / tech areas (particularly sound and/or projection design)
• Professional experience in design / technology / production work in the wider entertainment industry (opera, dance, experience design, theme parks, museum / installation, etc)
• Membership in Union (USA829 / IATSE) and/or professional organizations such as USITT / SETC / ACTF, etc.

Special Instructions:

Please attach a cover letter, CV, 3 references, and a link to your design portfolio (or portfolio file of representative works). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until filled.

Appointment Percentage:

100%