Director of MFA Lighting Design / Open Rank Faculty, 9 Month Salaried - School of Theatre

Department

School of Theatre

Responsibilities

Florida State University's School of Theatre invites applications for a 9 month tenure track faculty position in Lighting Design. We seek a dynamic and visionary artist-scholar to advance our graduate lighting design program, mentor students, and engage in creative and research activities that elevate the School of Theatres profile.

• Teaching: Develop and teach courses in lighting design, covering introductory and advanced topics, production design, and related subjects. Participate in curriculum development and help integrate design technologies and digital media.
• Creative/Research Activity: Maintain an active schedule of creative work and/or research in lighting design. This may include professional design projects in theater, opera, film, television, or related fields; publications; conference presentations; and other scholarly outputs.
• Service: Engage in school, college, and university activities, including committee work, student advising, recruitment, and outreach. Actively support the School of Theatre's production season by serving as a lighting designer and mentor to graduate student designers.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with faculty and staff from both the school and the university on interdisciplinary projects and initiatives. Connect with industry professionals and maintain ties with the broader lighting design community.

Qualifications

• MFA in Lighting Design or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the university level.
• A strong portfolio of professional lighting design work at a national level.
• Evidence of ongoing creative or scholarly activity.
• Experience with digital design technologies, including the use of computer-aided design to create lighting design paperwork, and 3D modeling
• A record of successful collaboration in academic or professional settings.

Contact Info

Search committee chair: Jesse Dreikosen, Professor

University Information

One of the nations elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there's the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow's news!

Learn more about Florida State University and our campuses.

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How To Apply

If qualified and interested in a specific Faculty job opening as advertised, apply through the FSU Faculty Careers site (jobs.fsu.edu). If you are a current FSU employee, apply through myFSU Self Service.

Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include education details even if attaching a Vita.

Candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter that outlines qualifications and experience.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• A digital portfolio showcasing recent work.
• A teaching philosophy statement.
• Three letters of recommendation.

Please submit all application materials through the university's online application system. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Confidential Letters of Reference: This position requires that you have three confidential professional letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf. Follow the steps below to request these letters through our system:

1) After submitting your application, click the Explore Jobs link;

2) Click the My References link;

3) Click the Send/View Reference Request button next to the appropriate position; and

4) Follow the steps on that page to send your references a system generated email requesting they submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.

You may also return to the My References link and click on "Send/View Reference Request" to see if your references have responded, add additional references, or resend requests.

Candidates who currently hold tenure and are seeking appointment with tenure at Florida State University will need to submit the materials for evaluation if selected. These materials are required to support the tenure review process at the time of hire. Finalists may be asked to provide the below additional documentation as part of the evaluation.

• Examples of excellence in research or creative activity or excellence in teaching.
• CV
• One-page statement of their accomplishments over the last five years.
• Discussion of their teaching, research and service (no longer than six pages).
• Three outside letters of recommendation directed specifically to Florida State University. No professional relationships should exist between the candidate and the external reviewer. Relationships include, but are not limited to, student- teacher (including dissertation committee chairs and members), colleagues in graduate school, former departmental colleagues, collaborators, and co-authors. These letters should be sent to Megan Mellino, Administrative Specialist, directly from the external reviewer.

Considerations

This is a Faculty position.

This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

This position is being advertised as open until filled and will begin Fall 2027.

Applicant Review will begin November 30, 2026, and continue until filled.

The faculty rank associated with the appointment will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.