Assistant Professor/Acting and Directing at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. The Department of Theatre invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in Acting and Directing, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

Candidates must hold an MFA in acting or directing by the time of appointment and have experience coaching beginning actors.

The successful candidate will demonstrate promise in scholarly research and creative work. Expertise in areas such as theatre of the global majority, musical theatre, voice, movement, stage combat, or other specialized fields is highly desirable. The individual hired will be expected to teach courses in acting, directing, and general theatre at the undergraduate level; direct in the department production program; mentor student directors; and contribute to curriculum development.

The Department of Theatre at Lehigh University is energetic, highly collaborative, and housed in a multi-venue performing arts center. We offer a NAST-accredited B.A. program and produce four annual productions in a 307-seat theater, with additional productions in our black box theater. Our leadership in theatrical innovation-hip hop theater, game design, immersive media, and more-positions us as a forward-thinking department. We value hands-on faculty involvement and a dedication to the principles of an undergraduate liberal arts education.

Lehigh University's College of Arts and Sciences seeks a community of faculty, staff, and students reflective of society at large. Diversity is a critical component of academic excellence and is essential to fulfilling our mission in education and research. We are especially interested in candidates whose teaching, creative activity, and/or professional experience addresses diversity, equity, or questions of interest to historically underrepresented or underserved communities.

Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation's highly ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,500 students. Lehigh University has some 5,800 undergraduates, 1,800 graduate students, and nearly 600 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, a vibrant and historic area. Over 840,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by January 15. Applicants should submit their materials at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/29014. Candidates should submit the following materials:

• Cover letter


• Curriculum vitae


• Research statement describing past contributions and future directions in scholarship and creative work


• Teaching statement describing instructional philosophy and courses the candidate would want to teach or develop


• A statement on contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that describes knowledge, prior DEI experience, and future plans for enhancing community and belonging at Lehigh


• A representative sample of scholarship (pdf or URL)


• Three letters of recommendation (letters must be sent with submission materials)

Any inquiries regarding this search should be directed to Professor Kashi Johnson, Chair of the search committee, at kkj2@lehigh.edu.

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We are committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. Lehigh University is committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to this mission. Lehigh University is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation award for promoting the careers of women in academic sciences and engineering and is among institutions of higher education recognized for excellence in diversity with the INSIGHT into Diversity HEED Award. Additional information about Lehigh's commitment to diversity and inclusion is available at
diversityandinclusion.lehigh.edu. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits. More information about Work/Life Balance for Faculty can be found at provost.lehigh.edu/resources/worklife-balance. Lehigh University supports dual-career efforts for following spouses/partners of newly hired faculty; see
provost.lehigh.edu/resources/faculty-dual-career-assistance-program/dual-career-guidelines.