Assistant Professor of Theatre

Search:#1012
Date Posted: 03/01/2022
Type/Department:Faculty in Interdisciplinary Arts
Search Status:Position Filled
Apply Now:Currently we are not accepting resumes for this position.

Hampshire College              

Job Title: Assistant Professor of Theatre

Position Type: Full Time

Pay Range/ Status: $55,600–68,000

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2022

Hampshire College, an independent, innovative liberal arts institution and member of the Five College consortium, is accepting applications for an Assistant Professor of Theatre to begin July 1, 2022.

Hampshire’s academic program is organized around a set of transdisciplinary Learning Collaboratives that assemble faculty, students, and staff to address urgent contemporary issues and challenges. For 2022–23, the urgent challenges are: (1) How should we act on our responsibilities in the face of changing climate?; (2) How do we disrupt and dismantle white supremacy?; (3) How do we decide what constitutes truth in a “post-truth” era?; and (4) How can art and creative practices address trauma? Over the course of the academic year, the successful candidate will teach at least two courses that connect with one or another of these challenges and also mentor student projects that engage with these challenges. Candidates are invited to explain how their teaching and scholarly/artistic work does or could contribute to addressing these shared challenges.

Hampshire College is a member of the Five College consortium (Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts), with rich opportunities for collaboration.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

For decades, the Hampshire College Theatre Program has been a national leader in integrating a rigorous theatrical education with an embodied exploration of the praxis of social change; explorations of race and power; the study of childhood, youth, and drama; the creation of site-specific and immersive theatre; and a transdisciplinary pedagogical approach that weaves together traditional theatrical disciplines with a range of academic fields of study.

We seek a dynamic theatre maker and educator who can

  • build on this foundation; collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to imagine and shape its future;
  • foster in students the craft, imagination, social change vision, and collaborative skills to create original, alive, impactful, and well-crafted theatre that brings unheard voices to the stage and speaks to the vital questions of our time.

The successful candidate will have:

  • experience as both a teacher and practitioner of theatre for social change;
  • significant background in work that centers an intersectional exploration of power and privilege, particularly as they impact BIPOC and queer communities;
  • professional theatrical experience and teaching background in at least two of the following areas: playwriting; directing/devising; acting/performance.

This faculty member will

  • teach two courses each semester (Fall and Spring);
  • connect at least two courses each year with one or two of the urgent challenges listed above;
  • collaborate with the faculty and staff of the Hampshire Theatre program, students of Hampshire Theatre Board (the student body that manages the Hampshire theatre season), and members of the dynamic theatre community of the Five College Consortium, in which Hampshire plays a vital role;
  • mentor students in Hampshire’s rigorous advising system;
  • participate in events and forums organized by one of the Learning Collaboratives;
  • be eager to participate in continuous pedagogical experimentation.

Although faculty members can direct or create work for the Hampshire theatre season, this is not a requirement of the position. At its core, the program empowers students to take leadership roles in all aspects of theatrical production. As such, the candidate’s primary role in production is to mentor and advise students, to engage with them by listening deeply and by asking generative questions, and to work collaboratively with staff and faculty to facilitate hands-on, process-centered, student-driven learning.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE:

  • an M.F.A. or PhD in related fields or significant experience in theatre for social change and a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching;
  • a strong record of teaching, commensurate with Hampshire’s status as a leader in student-centered undergraduate education.

BENEFITS:

Hampshire College offers an excellent benefits program for eligible employees such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, generous retirement plan contributions, flexible leave plans, and many other fringe benefits. For information on Hampshire College, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at www.hampshire.edu.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity employer and deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We’re particularly committed to revealing and combating the social and institutional structures that support racism and white supremacy in all phases of employment and college life. We believe that the educational and employment environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with diverse ideas come together to work and grow. We encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, sexual minority groups, veterans, and other candidates who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives. Hampshire College is committed to removing barriers to employment faced by equity-seeking groups and encourages (but does not require) members of these groups to self-identify in their application materials. Applicants whose work incorporates a global perspective and a demonstrated commitment to issues of diversity in the work environment are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit:

  • a letter describing their teaching and scholarly/artistic interests and how they will contribute to addressing one or more of the urgent challenges listed above;
  • curriculum vita;
  • names, titles, and contact information for three referees;
  • any other materials that could support the application (sample syllabi, evidence of teaching excellence, work samples, etc.)

Please submit your cover letter, resume and names/phone numbers of three professional references via our website at https://jobs.hampshire.edu/

Review of applications will begin on March 21, 2022, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Hampshire College is an equal opportunity institution, committed to diversity and inclusion in education and employment.