The Department of Theater & Performance Studies at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2026. We seek an enthusiastic and collaborative artist-scholar who is committed to advancing a liberal arts model of Theater & Performance Studies that emphasizes both scholarly inquiry and artistic practice.

We are looking for a multifaceted artist-scholar who can teach across our curriculum - including in our acting program and direct in our main stage season. We welcome applicants with expertise in any area of theater and performance studies including, but not limited to, comedic traditions, global theater and global performance practices, historical practices, and applied theater. Ideal candidates will bring expertise in an area not currently represented by our Resident and tenured/tenure-track faculty.

The new hire  will normally teach the equivalent of 5 courses each year, though in their first year they will receive 1 course reduction. Courses can include Introduction to Acting  (THEA 110), Theater & Performance History (THEA 301), and other courses in performance, literature, or theory in the new hire’s area of expertise, as well as in other performance areas aligned with the department’s evolving curriculum. The new hire will also direct one full-length production per year as part of our production season and will count as a course equivalency towards the teaching load. Periodic contributions to the College’s writing-focused course for the College’s First Year Seminars program and advising of senior comprehensive projects (THEA 490) are expected.

We are looking for candidates who can contribute to a curriculum that interrogates theater as an art form deeply rooted in cultural, historical, and social traditions. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to inclusive and innovative pedagogy,  a record of teaching success, and a record of directing full-length productions at the collegiate or professional level. 

In addition to teaching and directing, the new hire will join the leadership team of the department, contributing to curricular planning, season selection, mentorship and advising, support for interdisciplinary collaboration and participation in strategic planning and community-building initiatives. A commitment to recruiting majors and minors and retaining a diverse student body and to fostering an inclusive academic environment is essential.

Located within the vibrant city of Los Angeles, Occidental is committed to a community-engaged curriculum—faculty build fieldwork, visits to local museums and cultural organizations, and long-standing partnerships into their courses. Occidental is also committed to undergraduate research, regularly mentoring students in Occidental’s hallmark summer research program. For decades, Occidental has been a leader in creating access for a diverse student body. That diversity enriches the education of all students. We seek an innovative teacher, scholar, mentor, and colleague who wishes to work in such an environment and who shares the commitments articulated in the mission of the College.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Theater or Performance Studies  or an MFA in Directing, Acting, or Dramaturgy  Applicants must have degree in hand by start date, August 16, 2026
• College-level teaching experience and demonstrated ability or potential to teach practice and research-based courses that complement our course offerings
• Record of/commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body
• A record of directing live performance that evidences the ability to direct our department productions
• A record of scholarly and/or professional accomplishments appropriate to the level of appointment
• Potential for / evidence of continued scholarly/professional work
• Willingness and demonstrated ability to contribute to departmental service 

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience equivalent to 2 years, or 4 courses, as instructor of record at the college or university level

• Willingness and demonstrated ability to mentor undergraduate research
• Demonstrated ability or potential to be able to teach courses in the liberal arts
• Willingness to engage with the Los Angeles performance and theater world

To be assured full consideration your application materials must be received by midnight Eastern time (9:00 pm Pacific time) on November 15, 2025

Application Submission Materials

You must submit a complete application package electronically to be considered by the search committee. An application includes the following:  

• Cover Letter (2-3 pages) in which you describe how you fit the Required and Preferred Qualifications above, including:
• A discussion of your experience and goals as a teacher and mentor 
• A discussion of the practices you employ to create equitable learning opportunities and inclusive pedagogies for a diverse student body.
• An explanation of your intellectual and artistic orientation and trajectory 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Short (1 paragraph each) descriptions of 2 courses you could teach in Oxy’s TPS department
• Three confidential letters of reference

For candidates moving on to the semi-finalist round we may ask for the following materials:

• Course syllabi (from 2 different courses)
• More detailed explanations of proposed courses
• Student Evaluations (From 2 courses)
• Directing portfolio
• A writing sample such as an article or book chapter

• EEO/AA Policy

  Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups that are underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.

  Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is available that includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https: //www.oxy.edu/offices-services/humanresources/benefits-information. 

  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 

  Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu).