Assistant Professor of Directing

Opt For Healthy Living; Fullerton (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University, Fullerton’s Department of Theatre and Dance invites applications for a tenure‑track Assistant Professor in Directing, with appointment beginning Fall 2027.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate directing courses, mentor students, and direct department productions while pursuing ongoing artistic and scholarly work. CSUF emphasizes inclusive excellence and collaboration within a diverse campus community.

Qualifications

• MFA or Ph.D. in Theatre, Performance, Performance Studies, Directing, or related field; ABDs welcome.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate directing and graduate directing courses.
• Direct department productions annually as part of teaching load.
• Balance teaching with ongoing artistic activity and scholarship.
• Participate in departmental and university service and committees.

Skills

Artistic directing practice

University teaching/directing

Mentorship of students

Curriculum development

Education

MFA or Ph.D. in Theatre/Directing

ABD welcome; degree completed by start date

Job description

Apply now Job no: 562537
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Fullerton
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Fine/Performing Arts, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time

The Department of Theatre and Dance at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure‐track Assistant Professor position in Directing with an appointment to begin Fall 2027.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic‑Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander‑Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university’s mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position

California State University Fullerton’s Department of Theatre and Dance is welcoming applications for a tenure‑track Assistant Professor in Directing. CSUF serves a diverse student population, inclusive of first‑generation students, commuter students, adult learners, and working students; the Assistant Professor of Directing should anticipate providing mentorship that supports students’ artistic development with flexibility to meet individual learning needs. In addition, it is expected that faculty in this position will shape the directing curriculum across Theatre BA, BFA and MFA programs, as well as direct department productions as part of their teaching workload. As a tenure‑track professor, the work of this position includes teaching, scholarship, and service.

• Teaching The CSUF Department of Theatre and Dance is seeking an artistically active educator committed to mentoring students’ artistic and holistic development and to training future directors. The successful candidate will demonstrate adaptability in teaching undergraduate and graduate coursework in group settings and through individual mentorship. This position’s primary teaching responsibility is undergraduate coursework in directing–a requirement for all undergraduate students within our department–and graduate coursework in directing. This position will also direct productions annually as part of its teaching load. We therefore welcome applicants whose teaching is informed by a broad range of experience directing in a variety of venues and genres. As a department with a vibrant range of BA, BFA, and MFA offerings, we enthusiastically invite applicants to highlight how their secondary areas of expertise will broaden the learning opportunities available to our students; candidates are encouraged to communicate additional coursework you may wish to propose or teach.
• Scholarship Faculty are expected to remain artistically engaged with the ever‑evolving field of theatre and performance, and to contribute to the evolution of the craft. This may take the form of directing or other professional creative work at outside institutions, scholarly publications, or presentations of work at external professional conferences. The CSUF Department of Theatre and Dance considers creative work outside of the university as practice‑based scholarship and encourages those who wish to remain artistically active to apply. A successful candidate will be invited to outline their current and ongoing artistic engagement with the field and speak to how they plan to balance that work with teaching.
• Service All faculty in our department collaborate on a variety of committees to promote the success of the department as a whole and to continue enhancing the education we offer to our students. The candidate hired into this position will be expected to have a vision for directing coursework and for the department as a whole, and will be ready to collaborate with the faculty and staff in other areas of the department. A successful candidate will demonstrate awareness of the unique requirements of theatre in higher education and the potential to collaborate ethically and effectively with a diverse student population, staff, and faculty within higher education.

CSUF faculty are committed teacher/scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and individually mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, and serve on departmental and university‑wide committees. The primary responsibilities of the person in this position will include the development and teaching of introductory and core courses in the discipline and the development of courses in their area(s) of specialization. Specific courses that this person will teach include Directing coursework at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This person will also be responsible for publishing written scholarship or participating in professionally produced creative works outside of the CSUF campus commensurate with the requirements for tenure. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities.

Required Qualifications

• MFA or Ph.D. in Theatre, Performance, Performance Studies, Directing, or a related field. ABDs are welcome to apply, but must show evidence that the degree will be completed by the time of appointment.
• An engaged and continuing artistic practice in directing, illustrated by directing credits in university and/or professional settings.
• Dem