Assistant Teaching Professor: Drama - Text Analysis, Dramaturgy, Theater History

The Department of Drama at Syracuse University within the College of Visual and Performing Arts, a highly ranked BFA program uniquely integrated with Syracuse Stage, a major regional theater, invites applications for a full-time Assistant Teaching Professor in Text Analysis, Dramaturgy, and Theater History to begin Fall 2027. We seek an accomplished, dedicated teacher who will play a central role in the intellectual and pedagogical life of our department, and whose classroom is a place where close reading, historical inquiry, and creative practice meet.

The department is particularly interested in candidates who have communication abilities and cross-cultural competencies to maximize their effectiveness with many different groups of students, colleagues, and community members. We welcome candidates who can connect the seminar room to the rehearsal room, who bring global and diverse perspectives to the study of theatre, and who are excited to work with students at all stages of their training.

This is a teaching-focused appointment with a 4:4 load. The successful candidate will deliver foundational and advanced courses in dramatic analysis, dramaturgical theory and practice, and global theatre history, and will be a devoted advisor and mentor to students preparing for careers in theatre, performance, and beyond. Syracuse Drama's conservatory-informed training sits within a research university, and we are looking for a colleague who thrives in that combination and can make scholarship vital to the studio, the rehearsal room, and the stage.

About The College of Visual and Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University is committed to the education of cultural leaders who will engage and inspire audiences through performance, visual art, design, scholarship, and commentary. We provide the tools for self-discovery and risk-taking in an environment that thrives on critical thought and action. To learn more about the college, our distinguished faculty, and our program, please visit our websites at www.syracuse.edu, www.vpa.syracuse.edu.

This position is part of a bargaining unit and is represented by a union, SEIU Local 200 United.

Qualifications

• M.F.A. / Ph.D. / terminal degree in Theatre, Drama, Performance Studies, or a related field
• Demonstrated expertise in dramatic text analysis, dramaturgy, and theatre history
• Substantial record of excellence in university-level teaching, appropriate to rank

Job Specific Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional experience, teaching, and creative activity.
• Demonstrated teaching excellence.
• Proficiency in contemporary commercial music vocal techniques.
• Commitment to the development of a curriculum that responds effectively to the artistic needs of an ever-changing profession.
• Ability and willingness to collaborate with faculty in all programs (Acting, Musical Theater, Theater Design and Technology, Stage Management, and the B.S. in Drama) in the ongoing life of a top-quality pre-professional training program.
• Commitment to student mentorship and to teaching practices that support the success of every student.

Experience in one or more of the following is not required, but will add strength to an application:

• Playwriting and new-play development
• Applied theatre and community-engaged practice

Responsibilities

• Teach a 4:4 load of courses in text analysis, dramaturgy, and theatre history at the undergraduate level
• Design, renew, and coordinate curriculum, including sequencing and assessment across core academic courses
• Advise and mentor students on coursework, research, dramaturgical projects, and capstones projects
• Contribute dramaturgical support and contextual research to the department's production season, in collaboration with faculty directors, designers, and guest artists
• Engage in ongoing pedagogical development and, where appropriate, professional or creative activity that informs teaching
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service, including recruitment, advising, and curricular governance

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy
• Name and contact information for a minimum of four (4) references.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration given to candidates who apply by November 20, 2026. For further information contact Associate Professor Ricky Pak, Search Committee Chair (rpak02@syr.edu)