Chair, Open Rank – Associate or Full Professor

Colby College Dept of Performance, Theater and Dance

Colby College seeks an exceptional leader for the position of Chair of the Department of Performance, Theater, and Dance (PTD). Applications are invited for an open-rank faculty appointment (preferably at the level of Associate or Full Professor). This theater artist-scholar and collaborative colleague will contribute to a developing multidisciplinary curriculum, has substantial experience as a department chair, and is enthusiastic about teaching and leading in a liberal arts environment. The successful candidate will immediately serve as chair for a three-year term, with the option of an additional three-year term. The incoming chair will lead curriculum development; manage course scheduling, budgets, season planning, personnel and facilities; provide mentorship to colleagues; advocate for faculty research and professional development; represent and champion the department across campus and within local communities; and support and engage with other academic departments, on-campus centers and offices (such as ColbyArts, Center for Arts and Humanities, etc.), and off-campus organizations.

We seek a colleague with a proven teaching record and robust experience in creative and scholarly research, with a focus on contemporary theater. This colleague will be able to move between different pedagogical modalities and teach courses that engage theory and practice, including acting and directing, and additional areas of expertise such as devising or performance history and criticism. They will also direct one main stage theater production each year that cultivates collaboration, curiosity, and ensemble community. MFA or PhD is required.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ongoing commitment to student-centered, equitable, inclusive, and accessible pedagogies that serve a broad range of student populations. We are specifically interested in deepening our engagement with underrepresented archives and repertoires, as well as transnational frameworks and methodologies.

Housed in the newly opened 72,000-square-foot Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, the Department of Performance, Theater, and Dance celebrates a liberal arts education that encourages students to develop as artist-scholars whose study of the performing arts interacts with other scholarly pursuits and interests. The department’s curriculum offers students a multidisciplinary approach to understanding performance; highlights the development of original work; focuses on performance praxis as inquiry; and emphasizes social responsibility. Under its umbrella, the disciplines of theater, dance, design, mixed-media performance, and performance studies offer multiple perspectives on collaborative performance-making and study through a curriculum guided by four core values: collaboration, leadership, justice, and community reciprocity.

Applications should include:

• A cover letter addressing qualifications and leadership experience
• A curriculum vitae
• A portfolio of creative and scholarly work: candidates should include a selection of video excerpts (no more than 5 minutes) and/or images (no more than 5) from recent productions, as well as an example of published or polished writing (no more than 15 pages). Please upload a single PDF document or a link to a Google folder.
• A one-page statement of teaching values and philosophy including examples of the methodologies, texts, and scripted plays you would be most interested in exploring with Colby students
• Names and contact information for three references

Review of applications will begin on December 12, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

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Employment: Academic Positions Available