Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice: Costume Design

SMU Division of Theatre; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Division of Theatre at Southern Methodist University invites applications for a full-time Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice in Costume Design, beginning August 1, 2027. The role centers on mentorship of MFA costume designers within a rich production environment spanning theatre, opera, dance, and musical theatre.

Responsibilities include teaching graduate courses, portfolio development, and realized productions, while collaborating with faculty and staff across Theatre, Music,

Qualifications

• Accomplished professional costume designer with a strong design portfolio.
• Ability to mentor MFA students through studio instruction and productions.

Responsibilities

• Teach graduate courses in costume design and related skills.
• Mentor MFA designers through portfolio development and realized productions.
• Design productions within the Division's season and collaborate across departments.
• Supervise graduate assistants and engage in recruitment, curriculum development, and assessment.
• Maintain an active professional costume design practice.

Skills

Costume design

Teaching/mentoring

Collaboration

Job description

The Division of Theatre in the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University invites applications for a full-time appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Practice in Costume Design, beginning August 1, 2027.

We seek an accomplished costume designer whose professional practice reflects artistic excellence, collaborative engagement, and a commitment to mentoring emerging designers. The successful candidate will foster the development of the MFA costume design students in an unusually rich production environment spanning theatre, opera, dance, and musical theatre. We welcome applicants whose professional life actively informs their teaching and who is passionate about helping students develop both technical mastery and distinctive artistic voices.

The successful candidate will play a central role in the education and mentorship of MFA costume designers and the artistic life of the Division.

Responsibilities include:

• Teaching graduate courses in costume design, design history, and related skills. Mentoring MFA costume designers through studio instruction, portfolio development, and realized productions. Designing productions within the Division's production season. Collaborating closely with faculty and production staff across Theatre, Music, Dance, and the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre. Supervising graduate assistants and working in partnership with the Costume Shop Director and production faculty. Participating in MFA Design recruitment, curriculum development, and assessment. Engaging in divisional, school, and university service. Maintaining an active professional costume design practice.