Lecturer or Assistant Professor

The Department of Communication Arts seeks applicants for a faculty position at the rank of Lecturer (non-tenure track) or Assistant Professor (tenure-track) beginning August 1, 2023. Position will serve as Technical Director and Scenic Designer for academic season productions of the Theatre and Dance programs. The selected candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. Rank is dependent upon credentials.

Valdosta State University is proud to have a highly diverse student body, and we are  seeking to recruit and retain outstanding candidates who exhibit a clear commitment to diversity and inclusion and who will enhance the diversity of our faculty and staff.

The VSU College of the Arts includes the Department of Art & Design, the Department of Music, and the Department of Communication Arts (Communication, Mass Media, Theatre & Dance, and MAIC). The College of the Arts is also home to the award-winning Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and the Peach State Summer Theatre, designated as the Official Musical Theatre of the State of Georgia. VSU is accredited by NASAD, NASM, and NAST. With nearly 90 faculty members and approximately 800 students, the College offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For more information, www.valdosta.edu/coa

Online application is required and should be submitted at www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/huma…↗↗ Review of completed applications will begin February 13, 2023, and continue until position is filled. F
or more information contact Dr. Nicole Cox, Interim Dept. Head, via email nbcox@valdosta.edu or phone 229-333-5820.

RESPONSIBILITIES
This position will be responsible for teaching a full course load—4/4 or 5/5 (dependent on rank) in fall and spring—in Theatre. This position is primarily responsible for teaching courses that are central to the production track such as Basic Tech, Scenic Design, Painting, Advanced Tech, Theatre Production Practicum, and Theatre Design Practicum. Courses may be delivered in traditional, online, hybrid, and in off-campus formats. Faculty members are expected to make substantive contributions to the Department including department, university, and community service.

This position will also oversee students working in carpentry, props, and paint, and will oversee and work towards the design and implementation of production aspects of scenery, props, and paint for a five-production season. The individual is responsible for training students on the safe use of the theater equipment, systems, and facilities; maintain equipment as needed; and supervise student work in the production shop; among other things.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• For the Lecturer rank, Master’s degree in Technical Theatre or Theatre Production;
• For the Assistant Professor (TT) rank, terminal degree in Technical Theatre
  or Theatre Production or related field;
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and learning;
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• Technical Theatre experience;
• Working knowledge of theatrical carpentry, props, paint, and troubleshooting
  and maintenance of equipment;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, QLab, and computer-aided drafting programs
  (AutoCAD preferred);
• Knowledge of industry-standard rigging practices and protocols;
• Understanding of industry-standard safety practices and protocols;
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative setting;
• Ability to work nights and weekends;
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, climb ladders, and use mechanical lifts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A record of effective teaching appropriate to the applicant’s career stage;
• A record of mentoring students of diverse backgrounds;
• Professional/industry technical theatre experience;
• Experience in welding/metalwork;
• Experiences of industry standards for the rigging of aerial silks.

This position is an investment in the future of VSU’s growing Theatre and Dance programs. VSU is in the design phase with the architectural firm, Cogdell & Mendrala, to create a new Performing Arts Center that will include a 350-seat proscenium theater and mezzanine, black box theater, and academic and production support spaces. This state-of-the-art facility will be roughly 42,500 square feet, and is supported by the University’s Strategic Plan with a projected completion date of Fall 2024. It will enhance the visibility of the arts for VSU, the South Georgia region, and the theatre community. The incumbent of this position will also play a vital role in the direction and final stages of the facility’s development.

Through modernization and innovative performance spaces and classrooms, the new Performing Arts Center will serve as a gateway to connect our community and campus, serve the needs of a professional company and academic program, create a space for 21st Century productions, and respond to the challenges of an ever-changing industry.

Valdosta State University, founded in 1906 and elevated to university status in 1993, is a regional comprehensive university located on a gorgeous 168-acre campus of palm trees, vast green lawns, Spanish mission style architecture and an award-winning design. The university serves a student enrollment of approximately 9,300 from all states within the US and hosts over 300 international students from more than 76 countries. Located in the city of Valdosta, the city is a very family friendly area with new housing developments, modest living costs, excellent public and private schools, a vibrant music and arts scene, and a 170-acre theme park, Wild Adventures. The city is
served by the Valdosta Regional Airport and is home to Moody Air Force Base. The  city is located just north of the Florida state line on Interstate 75 and is within a two-hour drive of Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida and a three-hour drive of Atlanta, Georgia. For more information visit www.valdosta.edu and for more information about the community visit www.valdostachamber.com

VSU is an Equal Opportunity educational institution and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Valdosta State University has a nondiscrimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, and veteran status.