Assistant Professor (Continuing Track) and Artistic Director, Department of Theatre and Dance, College of Arts & Sciences
The University of Delaware’s Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts & Sciences invites applications for a full-time, continuing track (CT) Assistant Professor position. The selected candidate will serve as Artistic Director of the REP (Resident Ensemble Players), the University of Delaware’s resident professional theatre company (AEA) housed within the department. Additional responsibilities will include teaching and service, and may include research, scholarship, or creative activities. The selected candidate will have a terminal degree (M.F.A. or Ph.D.) and will begin on August 16, 2026.
CT faculty are full-time, benefits-eligible faculty with renewable contracts. CT faculty with terminal degrees hold professorial rank and have a path to promotion to full professor. CT faculty are eligible for sabbaticals and may have opportunities to pursue research and creative activity, participate in shared governance, and hold academic leadership positions.
The REP is a professional theatre company whose actors, designers, and staff also contribute as part-time or full-time faculty, enriching the department’s curriculum and productions. The individual in this role will report to the Department Chair and is expected to promote and administer the artistic direction of the REP in consultation with the Department Chair, collaborate closely with faculty in the department, and demonstrate a commitment to creating student opportunities within the REP.
The ideal candidate is an accomplished professional with a background in theatre as a director, artist, designer, and/or scholar. Demonstrated experience serving as an artistic director and evidence of teaching are preferred.
The successful candidate will join a vibrant community of artist-teachers and scholars who provide dynamic learning experiences for a large community of students studying the performing arts in theatre and dance.
- Provide visionary artistic and academic leadership, shaping the creative direction of the REP and advancing the department’s mission.
- Administer the artistic direction of the REP in consultation with the Department Chair, and with the Chair’s approval.
- Demonstrate a commitment to creating student opportunities within the REP, integrating the professional company’s work with student learning and participation.
- Develop and foster opportunities for guest artists to engage with students, faculty, and the wider community, enriching departmental and regional collaboration.
- Curate and produce innovative and engaging seasons with the input of the faculty and consent of the department chair, advancing the department’s artistic and educational missions.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to expand programming and outreach.
- Serve as a public ambassador for the REP and department, including participation in donor cultivation, fundraising events, and community partnerships.
- Teach courses that are aligned with professional expertise, mentoring students in artistic practice and career development.
- Provide oversight and monitoring of budgets for the REP, collaborating with the Department Chair (who holds full budget authority) to ensure expenditures align with established priorities and funding allocations.
At the University of Delaware, you’ll become part of a vibrant community devoted to artistic innovation, scholarly exploration, and creative collaboration. With the addition of the new BA programs in theatre and dance, the Department seeks to strengthen the connection between artistry, education, and the community.
The Roselle Center for the Arts is a state-of-the-art performing arts complex that includes a 450-seat proscenium theatre, a flexible studio space, and support spaces. It serves as the creative hub for professional productions, student and faculty work, and community engagement and is the home of the REP. Each season features a dynamic range of performances including REP, faculty, and student productions.
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest college at the University of Delaware, comprising 22 academic departments, 2 academic centers, and 35 interdisciplinary centers, programs, and institutes across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. CAS serves every student at the University through foundational coursework, while also supporting over 7,000 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate students majoring in our disciplines. In 2024-2025, CAS conferred more than 1,400 BA and AA degrees and 460 graduate degrees.
Our community includes more than 540 full-time tenure-track and non-tenure contract faculty who are leaders in their fields, innovators in teaching, and advisors to nonprofit and governmental agencies at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Faculty emphasize the enduring value of an arts and sciences education and share a deep commitment to excellence in scholarship and all forms of creative and intellectual expression. With annual sponsored research expenditures totaling more than $40 million, including significant funding from the NIH and NSF, CAS houses several large, interdisciplinary grants and maintains outstanding research and teaching facilities that encourage innovation and collaboration.
Guided by a commitment to shared governance, CAS faculty serve as leaders in the University and College Faculty Senates. More than 380 staff members and 45 postdoctoral fellows and researchers further enrich the CAS community by providing essential support to students and academic units. CAS maintains annual operating expenditures of over $152 million and is a hub for interdisciplinary engagement, connecting students and faculty with local, national, and global communities through research, creative activity, and public service.
The University of Delaware (www.udel.edu) is one of the nation’s oldest institutions of higher education, combining tradition and innovation. The University of Delaware is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran, as well as any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. For the University’s complete non-discrimination statement, please visit www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html.
TO APPLY: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and a detailed cover letter addressing the qualifications and expectations listed above. These documents are to be uploaded at http://www.udel.edu/careers. Questions may be addressed to the search committee chair, Professor Denise Murphy ([email protected]).
SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation packages are highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The UD benefits package is one of the best in the nation.
