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The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See: Notice of Nondiscrimination
Working Title
Assistant Professor, Emerging Media Arts - Video and Interactive Media
Department
Johnny Carson School-Theatre & Film-1033
Requisition Number
F_260156
Posting Open Date
11/10/2026
Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date)
01/04/2027
Open Until Filled
Yes
Description of Work
Position Summary The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Emerging Media Arts specializing in Video and Interactive Media. This position will advance the School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Emerging Media Arts while contributing to the continued development of its proposed Bachelor of Fine Arts in Entertainment Design and Production. Working within the interdisciplinary environment of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, the successful candidate will collaborate with artists, designers, filmmakers, and technologists across disciplines, strengthening connections between the two programs through creative research, innovative storytelling, and real-world projects.
We seek an active artist and designer with a recognized body of professional work in video, projection, interactive media, or related fields. The position combines creative activity and research, undergraduate and graduate teaching, student mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration across moving-image design, live performance, installations, and immersive media.
The position will be based in the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, the primary setting for teaching, creative research, and collaboration with faculty and students across animation, film, experience design, computational media, digital fabrication, and immersive and interactive storytelling. The faculty member will also contribute expertise in video, projection, and mediated design to the developing Entertainment Design and Production curriculum, including applications in theatre, opera, dance, and other live and experiential work. Teaching assignments will reflect the successful candidate’s expertise and the curricular needs of the School.Duties and Responsibilities
Video and Interactive Media- Teach the artistic, conceptual, and technical processes of video and interactive media design, including visual storytelling, composition, dramaturgy, spatial media, and audience experience.
- Teach contemporary workflows in projection mapping, media systems, real-time visuals, interactive media, and multimedia performance, as appropriate to the candidate’s expertise.
- Incorporate relevant practices such as augmented and virtual reality, motion capture, virtual production, and responsive environments.
- Mentor students through original projects, installations, performances, laboratories, and realized productions.
- Support production-based learning in video and mediated design, including interdisciplinary projects and, where appropriate, Nebraska Repertory Theatre productions.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum and Collaboration- Contribute to the continued development, delivery, and assessment of undergraduate and graduate curricula within the School and Center.
- Help develop and deliver coursework in video, projection, media systems, and mediated design.
- Collaborate with faculty and staff in emerging media arts, entertainment design and production, performance, film, music, dance, and related disciplines on teaching, productions, and creative research.
- Connect students with professional practices across live, recorded, immersive, and virtual entertainment.
Teaching, Research, and Professional Responsibilities- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in video and interactive media. Assignments may include moving-image design, interactive storytelling, projection and spatial media, real-time systems, immersive media, and video design for live performance.
- Maintain an active, peer-recognized program of creative activity and research through professional productions, exhibitions, installations, commissions, festivals, screenings, publications, or comparable work.
- Pursue collaborations, commissions, residencies, grants, and professional partnerships that advance creative work and student opportunities.
- Integrate current artistic methods, technologies, and relevant ethical considerations into teaching and creative work.
- Participate in recruitment, advising, portfolio review, curriculum development, faculty governance, and School, College, and University service.
- Maintain a record of teaching, creative activity and research, and service consistent with expectations for promotion and tenure.
Appointment- 50% Teaching – Undergraduate and graduate instruction, mentorship, project-based learning, and curriculum development.
- 40% Creative Activity and Research – Original artistic work, professional production, dissemination, and related research.
- 10% Service
About the School and CenterLincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln is a vibrant university community and state capital with a growing technology sector and a strong arts and cultural ecosystem. The University is adjacent to a dynamic downtown with restaurants, music venues, theatres, bike trails, and residential neighborhoods.
The city is home to the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Sheldon Museum of Art, International Quilt Museum, Nebraska State Museum, and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, along with independent arts and performance organizations.
Minimum Required Qualifications
- Terminal degree in media arts, design, film, theatre, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five years of significant professional creative experience in lieu of a terminal degree.
- An active professional career in video, projection, interactive media, or related design practice, demonstrated by a body of recognized work in productions, exhibitions, festivals, museums, installations, live events, or digital and immersive platforms.
- Demonstrated artistic and technical expertise in video or interactive media design.
- Ability to collaborate across artistic and technical disciplines.
- Evidence of teaching effectiveness, professional mentorship, or potential for effective undergraduate and graduate instruction.
- Evidence of sustained or developing creative activity and research with potential for national or international recognition.
Preferred Qualifications
- Significant professional credits, commissions, exhibitions, or other recognized accomplishments in video, projection, interactive media, or multimedia performance.
- University teaching, curriculum development, or comparable professional mentorship experience.
- Experience creating work for theatre, opera, dance, film, installations, museums, galleries, or other experiential settings.
- Experience with projection mapping, spatial media, real-time visual systems, augmented or virtual reality, motion tracking, motion capture, editing, compositing, or motion graphics.
- Fluency with tools such as TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine, Unity, Disguise, Isadora, QLab, or comparable platforms.
- Strong understanding of dramaturgy, visual composition, narrative, and relationships among media, performers, space, and audiences.
- Experience leading interdisciplinary creative collaborations and mentoring students through realized projects.
Work Location (City, State)
Lincoln, NE
Criminal History Background Check Required
No
For questions or accommodations related to this position contact
Hank Stratton
hstratton2@unl.edu
Job Category (old)
Faculty Tenure/Tenure Leading
Job Type
Full-Time
Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding?
No
Planned Hire Date
08/16/2027
Organizational Location
Default Location