DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS & DANCE
(Tenure-Track) Assistant or Associate Professor
Starting August 2020

Refer to #104940 all correspondence and inquiries regarding this position.

OUR COMMITMENT
Guided by our core values, Sonoma State University offers an exceptional educational experience that fosters intellectual, cognitive, social, and personal growth. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in California, we are uniquely positioned to foster ethical exploration, civic engagement, social responsibility, and global awareness combined with a solid foundation in an academic discipline. We have a strong commitment to graduating students who have the ability to think critically and communicate effectively in an ever-changing world. The unique campus culture fosters our Seawolf Commitment to integrity, respect, excellence, and responsibility and is integrated into all campus life. We nurture inclusive excellence through a celebration of the rich diversity of our local communities and our interconnected global economy. Members of the University community are expected to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. SSU is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
THE UNIVERSITY
Sonoma State University’s beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, Sonoma State University is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University System. As members of the largest public higher educational system in the nation, we provide accessible, high quality education to more than 9000 students. Sonoma State University is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and endeavors to employ faculty and staff reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the region and state.
FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected to engage in service to the department, school, and community. Sonoma State is committed to the Teacher/Scholar model and places an emphasis on faculty support of student research. Faculty are also encouraged to participate in our distinctive, high impact Freshman and Sophomore year programs and to foster our commitment to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through excellent teaching, advising, and mentoring. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the University’s Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Policy. Aligned with the California Faculty Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, during the first 2 years of the probationary period the instructional assignment will be reduced by 2 courses per academic year. All faculty are required to have the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance offers a B. A. in Theatre Arts with concentrations in Acting, Dance, Theatre Studies and Technical Theatre. There are currently 80 majors in the department, with approximately 40 acting majors. Facilities include a 450-seat proscenium theatre, a black box studio, a dedicated acting studio, classrooms, and 2 dance studios.
The department’s vision is for a world where the artist is transformative, essential and engaged. It offers students a home where they can seek their potential and develop their voices as artists through the study and collaborative making of live performance.
The department has applied for NAST accreditation, a process that will be completed by the spring of 2022.
THE ACTING PROGRAM: The Sonoma State University Acting Program offers a conservatory-style approach to acting designed to prepare the student actor for the professional world through the development of a personal acting process, systematic skills training, performance in productions, and the study of theatre traditions and styles.
We aim to: nurture individual artistic process; expand technical skill and artistry; develop performance skills; provide an effective range of physical and vocal training approaches; introduce our students to a broad range of genres and dramatic writers; provide a safe learning environment where risk-taking is possible and encouraged; inspire passion and discipline for the art and craft of acting and theatre.
DUTIES OF THE POSITION
The department of Theatre Arts & Dance seeks an innovative educator/artist able to envision, define, implement and recruit for an inclusive, diverse Acting Program that collaborates in moving the department into the future of performance. In order to attract a diverse pool of applicants who work at the highest levels of the profession, rank at hiring is open. Start date is mid-August 2020.
The successful candidate will be expected to direct in the season regularly, establish and maintain local and national recognition as an educator and artist while supporting recruitment of new majors.
Teaching responsibilities will include studio teaching in acting from fundamentals to advanced courses in methods and styles, as well as voice OR movement courses based on the candidate’s expertise.
Course load will include assignments in lower-division general education courses in theatre history and theory including beyond Western traditions, or First-year Learning Community. Other teaching responsibilities may be assigned according to the needs of the Department and the background and specialization of the candidate.
Creative and/or scholarly productivity, directing in the department season, maintaining an active profile as a professional actor or director; and participation in the success of the Department through recruiting, and mentoring are expected. Capacity for taking on leadership roles in the program, department, and the University is also expected.
In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected to engage in academic advising, assist the department with program assessment, support administrative and/or committee work, and serve on campus-wide committees.
During the first two years of the appointment (4 semesters), the course load will be 9 weighted teaching units. After that the unit load will be 12 weighted teaching units. Multiple funding opportunities exist within the School and University to assist new faculty in achieving their scholarly and creative goals.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
M.F.A, Ph.D., or DFA with a focus in acting; along with demonstrated excellence as an actor or director.
Terminal degree must be in hand by August 1, 2020. Required qualifications include previous university teaching experience equivalent to two (2) semesters at the college level teaching and another two (2) semesters through a combination of courses taught, college residencies, and professional experience. The successful candidate will come with a deep capacity and proven record of teaching or professional coaching of actors, either in voice and speech production OR in physicality and approaches to embodiment. Preferred qualification is an ability to teach acting for the camera.
Voice and speech candidates should be able to teach vocal anatomy, vocal production, International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), dialects and accents, rhetoric and speech. In addition to teaching stand-alone voice courses and coaching main stage productions, this hire would be responsible for integrating voice work across the acting program in all its course offerings. Physical theatre candidates should be able to teach movement for actors, embodiment, and physical characterization techniques. Applicants are asked to describe specific voice or physical / embodiment in their cover letters).
Demonstrated commitment to enhancing inclusion and diversity through a record of equitable practices in pedagogy is required. The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance is committed to diversity and inclusion in its faculty and curriculum. The most competitive applicants will have a record of inclusive pedagogy and of engaging students from diverse backgrounds. Candidates who support those goals are encouraged to apply and to identify their relevant strengths and experiences, indicating these in the cover letter.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred qualifications include professional performance and directing experience, and demonstrable inclusive teaching skills in engaging undergraduates from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Ability to teach acting for the camera. A certification in voice and speech is preferred.
To be recommended for tenure, the candidate must demonstrate satisfactory performance in four areas: teaching effectiveness; scholarship, research, creative achievement and professional development; service to the University; and public service and service to the community. Although tenure may be granted at any time, contract provisions specify "the normal period of probation shall be a total of six (6) years of full-time probationary service and credited service, if any. Any deviation from the normal six (6) year probationary period shall be the decision of the President following his/her consideration of recommendations from the department or equivalent unit and appropriate administrator(s).” Tenure is required for promotion above the level of Associate Professor.
RANK AND SALARY
Salary, service credit, and rank depends upon academic preparation and professional experience. The salary range for this position is: $74, 267- $83,788.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position, go to www.sonoma.edu/jobs and select Job Opportunities. If you are not currently employed at Sonoma State University, select the External Applicants box. You will be redirected to a list of all available jobs at Sonoma State University. Find and select the faculty position you are applying for to view the description and select Apply Now. If you have not applied for a job at Sonoma State University previously you will be asked to Register Now in order to proceed. After submitting the application letter and curriculum vitae, please proceed to My Career Tools to attach the additional required documents. Your statement of research interests may be a statement of scholarship and/or creative activity if appropriate to your discipline. PDFs are the preferred format for all submissions. Once you have submitted all materials, a confirmation email will be automatically sent to you. If you encounter difficulties during the application process, please email facultysearch@sonoma.edu. Applications submitted to the faculty search email address will not be considered, so please use the www.sonoma.edu/jobs link above.
Please submit:
Required
• Application letter that includes: Research Interests, Teaching Philosophy and experiences with diversity in your research, teaching or service, and your potential to support SSU’s commitment
to diversity
• Curriculum vitae including contact information for three (3) references to be contacted by committee members (do not submit letters of recommendation)
• Student Evaluations
Additional Required Documents for semi-finalists only
● Two online video clips (YouTube or Vimeo) no longer than 3 minutes in length of candidate’s directing
● An online video clip no longer than three (3) minutes in length of the candidate’s teaching.
Official transcripts may be required at the time of hire.
Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee’s identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications received by Monday, December 16, 2019 will be given full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
Questions concerning this position may be directed to:
Paula Draper, Search Committee Chair
Email: paul.draper@sonoma.edu
Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: facultysearch@sonoma.edu.
#104940 PLEASE REFER TO THIS NUMBER ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE AND INQUIRIES REGARDING THIS POSITION.
OTHER INFORMATION
The university is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.
This position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.