Associate Professor of Acting

Uc-SAN-Dieg; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego's Department of Theatre and Dance invites applications for a tenured Associate Professor of Acting in the Ladder Rank Series, effective July 1, 2027, with instruction beginning Fall 2027. The candidate will lead a rigorous graduate acting progression while teaching undergraduate courses, focusing on foundational acting techniques and, secondarily, Shakespeare or heightened text.

Experience in acting for camera is desirable.

Qualifications

• MFA or 3–5 years of equivalent professional experience or training.
• Ability to teach five graduate and undergraduate courses.
• Experience in acting and directing with mentorship of MFA students.
• Interest in acting for the camera is desirable.
• Capacity to direct productions and shape the department's artistic vision.
• Evidence of sustained high-quality creative work in theatre.

Responsibilities

• Teach a mix of five graduate and undergraduate courses.
• Direct productions during the academic year.
• Contribute to recruitment, casting, and curriculum development.
• Engage in committee service and department governance.
• Mentor MFA and select undergraduate students.

Skills

Acting techniques

Directing

Mentorship

Curriculum development

Recruitment/Casting

Education

MFA or 3–5 years of equivalent professional experience

Job description

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego invites theatre artists to apply for a tenured faculty position within the Ladder Rank Series. The academic appointment for this position will be for an Associate Professor of Acting, effective July 1, 2027 and instruction beginning September 2027 (Fall Quarter).

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego invites applicants specializing in acting to join a vibrant department committed to shaping the future of the arts by fostering a new generation of creative and collaborative theatre professionals. We are seeking a candidate who can lead a rigorous two year graduate acting progression while also teaching undergraduate courses within the Department of Theatre and Dance. The primary focus of this position will be on a practice-based approach to foundational acting techniques, with a secondary emphasis on Shakespeare and/or working with heightened text. Experience and/or demonstrated interest in acting for the camera is highly desirable. In addition to teaching, we are looking for a candidate who can contribute to the creative vision of our department by directing productions during the academic year. As the field of acting continues to evolve, we are seeking a dynamic collaborative leader to guide the acting area through its next phase of growth and innovation.

Professorial appointments and advancement at UC San Diego require a sustained record of high-quality and impactful creative work. The position involves active participation in all aspects of the department, including recruitment, casting, curriculum development and a commitment to contributing to the ongoing development of the acting program.

The responsibilities of this position include teaching a combination of five graduate and undergraduate courses, ranging from small seminars in the candidate's area(s) of expertise to larger courses that serve both the BA and MFA communities and fulfill the relevant Colleges’ General Education requirements. Given the department's emphasis on integrating production into the curriculum, we are especially seeking candidates with experience in both acting and directing, who are capable of mentoring MFA students, as well as select undergraduate students, in these disciplines. Committee service is also a key component of this placement.

Alongside its ranking as a premier acting program at a Research 1 institution, the Department of Theatre and Dance at the UC San Diego has a continued partnership with the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse, collaborating on productions annually.

Applicants must possess an MFA or 3 – 5 years of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training.

Examples of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training may include such genres as: acting, directing, new play development, and artistic direction. Professional experience and/or relevant training venues may include: resident and regional theatres, studio spaces, cinema, national theatres, cultural and/or community-centered venues, and/or commercial theatres including: Broadway and Off-Broadway.

Applicants must exhibit 5 or more years of teaching experience in Academic or Studio environments.

Applicants must demonstrate 5 years or more of evidence of teaching effectiveness and mentorship in higher education or studio environments. Examples include but are not limited to: positive teaching/mentoring evaluations, student support letters, peer/professional reviews, and applicable awards/honors/nominations.

Applicants are required to have accumulated a body of work consisting of teaching, acting and/or directing professional experience, spanning a decade or more.