Artist-in-Residence Faculty Position I Theatre Education

The Department of Performing Arts invites applications for a one-year, full-time Artist-in-Residence faculty term position in Theatre Education for our MA, MFA, and BFA programs. The Department seeks candidates who can contribute to the excellence and diversity of the academic community through ongoing engagement with students both inside and outside of the classroom in addition to traditional teaching and service. The appointment begins August 21, 2025, with a mandatory 2-day orientation on August 21 & 22, 2025.

The Department of Performing Arts is home to one of the nation’s leading undergraduate programs in theatrical performance, design, stage management, and theatre education with 90 full- and part-time faculty members and staff and 530 students studying in nine distinct undergraduate and one graduate program. The department offers multiple BFA degrees and Emerson Stage, the production organization within the department, produces eight to ten fully staged major productions annually in five theatres. The graduate program offers an MA and MFA in Theatre Education and Applied Theatre. With social justice frameworks and pedagogies at its core, the MA and MFA programs support students to use the tools, techniques, and creativity of theatre to transform classrooms and communities.

Equity, inclusion, creativity, and expression are among the core values of Emerson. Emerson College believes the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence is fostering a campus climate where everyone can thrive. As a community of scholars and storytellers, we continually strive to cultivate a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent, characterised by the intentional inclusion of individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

The Performing Arts Department is committed to cultivating an inclusive community. To that end, the PA Department is dedicated to transparency, accountability, and addressing all forms of inequality as they could manifest in PA classrooms and studios, performance spaces, curriculum and season planning, auditions and casting, department meetings and policies, recruitment and hiring practices, partnerships and procedures. The PA Department obligates itself to value and foster multiple perspectives and lived experiences and continuously practice inclusivity and compassion to advance social justice and human-centred education.

Inspired by Emergent Strategy and adrienne maree brown’s invitation to “move at the speed of trust,” we commit to centering trust-building and prioritising well-being as we work to create thrilling and beautiful performances, courses, and collaboration.

Emerson College enrolls over 5,300 graduate and undergraduate students from 49 states and more than 70 countries. Its main campus is located in the dynamic, multicultural city of Boston. The college also has campuses in Los Angeles and the Netherlands. Emerson’s commitment to inclusive excellence is supported by a range of resources such as the Office of Internationalization & Equity, the Social Justice Collaborative, and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will hold a terminal degree in Theatre Education or a related field and have teaching experience within a diverse college community. Familiarity with current Massachusetts and/or other state and national curriculum frameworks, theatre standards, and licensure requirements is preferred. Candidates should have a background and college-level teaching experience in teacher training, experience in PK-12 teaching and/or youth theatre and TYA, and expertise in several of the following areas: applied theatre and devised work in community environments; drama/theatre arts curricula design, assessment, and instruction in PK-12 public education; contemporary theories of teaching/learning; student teacher supervision; anti-oppressive and consent-based classroom and studio practice; and national and international practices in process drama and drama-in-education. Theatre licensure and teaching experience in public schools is preferred but not required.

The position includes teaching a maximum of six courses in drama and theatre education with the possibility of a course release for work related to the licensure program. Courses may include Drama as Education I and II, Theatre for Young Audiences, Directing Young Performers, Student Teaching Practicum, and Student Teaching Seminar. All courses should include a focus on and rootedness in critical pedagogy and social justice values. The position may also include teaching new electives and/or serving as Chair on MA theses.

In addition to teaching, all faculty members advise and mentor students and participate in the college’s system of shared governance. This position includes attending program, departmental, and college-wide faculty meetings, participating in curriculum development, and advising and reporting for the licensure program.

Special Instructions To Applicants

Please submit the following:

• cover letter describing your experience in and approach to theatre education and teacher training.
• curriculum vita
• A statement of teaching philosophy
• contact information for three references (not to be contacted without applicant’s written approval)

Please note, in the job application where there is the "CV/Cover Letter/Additional Documents" drop box, you must include all of the required materials listed above. You can upload each document separately or as one combined PDF (preferred). Max file attachment is 5MB - if a file is too large, consider breaking up the file into separate PDFs. Your application will not be complete without these documents. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Priority will be given to applications received by July 18, 2025.

If you are having issues uploading, please email facultycareers@emerson.edu.