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Assistant Professor - Teaching (Costume Design)

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedAssistant Professor - Teaching (Costume Design)at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Located in the heart of Detroit’s Cultural Center, Wayne State University is seeking a full-time, Assistant Professor of Teaching in Costume Design in the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance.

The ideal candidate is, first, excited to come to Detroit. Wayne State University’s distinct characteristic is its Detroit location. With the second largest performing arts district in the country and as the Nederlander Organization’s original market, it has a long history of influencing the performing arts both locally and internationally, with the city playing a particularly important role in the development of American culture. WSU’s Theatre & Dance programs have long played integral parts of performance in the city.

The individual selected for this position should showcase a strong dedication for exceptional teaching and designing an innovative curriculum to cater to a student body with varying identities and backgrounds, who aspire to explore a broad range of educational opportunities and career paths. The successful candidate’s duties will include mentoring and supervising of student designers for a season that includes six theatre productions and two dance concerts, designing costumes for the season, costume budget management, and teaching undergraduate & graduate courses in costume design & technology, make-up, or possible other courses as assigned. The candidate will teach courses during the fall and winter terms and participate in department committees and activities.

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre & Dance serves as a creative incubator for the next generation of artists, thinkers and leaders in theatre, dance, and performance. While the department is grounded in praxis, it is committed to creating thinking artists who have strong foundations in theory, history, and performance studies. Prominent alumni include Ruben Santiago-Hudson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Garth Fagan, Ernie Hudson, Tom Skerritt, David Ramsey, Sam Richardson, Lily Tomlin, and Sonya Tayeh. The theatre and dance programs prepare students for professional careers as performing artists, choreographers, designer/technicians, directors, stage managers, administrators, and theorists within the urban, metropolitan context of Wayne State University.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to providing students the opportunity to develop within their disciplines through an extensive performance program that includes on-campus theatrical productions and dance concerts, and community outreach performance companies that target the city and metropolitan area’s schools, and the Underground Theatre Company—a student-run theatre company. Wayne State is also the home of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival during the summer, and we maintain professional relations with artistic institutions throughout the area.

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance is one of four departments in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; the other constituent units are the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design, the Department of Communication, and the Department of Music. The college offers 17 undergraduate programs, 10 graduate programs. It is home to today’s aspiring artists, performers, scholars, dancers, debaters, entrepreneurs, and communication professionals who all represent the college’s legacy of excellence in our respective fields.

From debate to dance, jazz to journalism, and fashion design to center stage, our students create captivating performances, inspire artistic and academic excellence, and conduct innovative research on behalf of our Detroit community. The college’s alumni include a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and winners of and nominees for the Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Obie, Screen Actors Guild and Caldecott awards.

Wayne State University is a Carnegie Tier 1 Research (R1) university enrolling more than 24,000 students in 350 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the University’s 13 schools and colleges. Wayne State’s immediate neighbors in our Midtown Cultural Center include the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Opera Theatre. The vibrant Midtown and Downtown areas are also home to active theatres, galleries, professional sports stadiums, and entertainment venues ranging from Detroit Artist Market and the Fox and Fisher Theatres.

Qualifications:

We are seeking an exceptional teacher in design with a primary focus in costuming. We require an appropriate terminal degree in theatrical design or a closely related field and evidence of teaching excellence.

The successful candidate should demonstrate a passion for theatre and have a record of professional design experience; USA membership is a plus.

A demonstrated ability to empower, advocate for, and value all students is essential, as evidenced through pedagogy, mentoring, and related activities.

Embracing diverse training methodologies is crucial for nurturing students’ creative journey and guiding them to become future innovators.

A letter of application, curriculum vitae, and a list of three references (including names, titles, addresses and contact information) must be submitted through Wayne Talent at https://jobs.wayne.edu.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on April 1, 2025. Applications remain open until the position is filled. The position begins August 18, 2025; salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

School/College/Division:

H04 - Fine & Performing Arts

Primary department:

H0405 - Theatre

Employment type:

+ Regular Employee

+ Job type: Full Time

+ Job category: Academic/Faculty

Funding/salary information:

+ Compensation type: Annual Salary

+ Salary minimum: TBD

+ Salary hire maximum: TBD

Working conditions:

This position must be filled pursuant to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, and as such may be filled by a qualified bargaining unit member, should one apply.

Job openings:

+ Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

Equal employment opportunity statement:

Wayne State University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, height, weight, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The university welcomes applications from persons with disabilities and veterans. Wayne State is an equal opportunity employer.