Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies & African American Studies

Note for Current UM Employees

Current employees must apply internally via connectU > connectu.olemiss.edu

Position Description

The Department of Theatre & Film at The University of Mississippi invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies & African American Studies beginning August 21, 2025. This full-time, tenure-track position requires a Ph.D. in theatre studies, performance studies, literary studies, or a closely related field. The successful candidate will be a humanities research scholar with broad expertise in the field of race, drama, and theatre in North America, and specific research expertise in African American theatre and drama. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate theatre studies courses at both the lower and upper division; maintaining and growing a strong record of publication; and performing service appropriate to the position including recruitment, academic advising, and participation in shared governance. Courses may include topics in theatre history, theatre studies, dramatic literature, with an expectation that the preferred candidate will develop specialized courses based on their research portfolio. Additional responsibilities may include directing or dramaturgical work within our mainstage season (as appropriate to the experience of the candidate) and mentoring students in the program. 

The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi is in Year 4 of its multi-year faculty cluster hire initiative. This initiative is designed to expand our understanding of multicultural competence in a number of areas including: successful, effective, and ethical leadership; inclusive pedagogy in STEM; and Black intellectual thought in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine and Performing Arts. The goal of this cluster hire initiative is to attract and support scholars who are doing cutting-edge research, scholarship, and creative achievement around one of these broad themes in their fields of specialization. This year (2024-25), two tenure-track searches will be conducted in the following areas:  Psychology and African American Studies and Theatre and Film and African American Studies.

The Department of Theatre & Film and the African American Studies Program are committed to fostering students’ creativity through the development of critical-thinking skills combined with intellectual inquiry. With a focus on academic excellence, creative exploration, and scholarly investigation, our students and faculty learn, evaluate, and exchange their knowledge of theatre and film in an inclusive environment. Students experience a range of perspectives that prepare them for real-world practice in today’s complex world. As a community of artists and scholars we strive to be engaged global citizens as a means to propose and build new visions for the future, while examining expectations of being human in the 21st century. The Department of Theatre & Film currently enrolls 130 majors with 25 full time faculty and offers a BA in Theatre Arts and BFA in Theatre Arts emphases in Acting for Stage & Screen and Design & Theatre Production, as well as a BFA in Film Production.

The African American Studies Program develops and coordinates an interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum that focuses mainly on the African American experience in the United States, especially in Mississippi and the South. Its objectives are to encourage all students and faculty to examine the African American experience, to facilitate a cultural and intellectual atmosphere on campus favorable to such studies, and to develop and support a related program of research and community service.  The African American Studies Program has joint appointments with several departments including History, English, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology, and Psychology.  African American Studies has seven full time faculty and offers a B.A. in African American Studies as well as a minor.

Position Details

Appointment: 9 month

Assignment Type: Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

This full-time, tenure-track position requires a Ph.D. in theatre studies, performance studies, literary studies, or a closely related field.

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

Application Procedures

Applicants should complete the University’s online application form at https://careers.olemiss.edu/ AND submit a letter of intent and a Curriculum Vitae. Review of applications will begin immediately. The position will remain open until an adequate pool has been established.
 

About the University of MS & Oxford, MS

Founded in 1848, the University of Mississippi (UM), affectionately known to alumni, students and friends as Ole Miss, is Mississippi's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R-1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. The University of Mississippi, consistently named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” is located in Oxford, MS, which is ranked one of the “Top 10 Best College Towns.” With more than 24,000 students, UM is the state's largest university and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing institutions. The University of Mississippi, which has aggressively implemented many health and wellness initiatives for its more than 2,900 employees, has consistently been named one of Mississippi’s Healthiest Workplaces.

Touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South”, creativity abounds in Oxford as musicians, artists and writers alike find inspiration in Oxford’s rich history, small town charm and creative community. Oxford is a one-hour drive south of Memphis, TN and is known as the home of Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner. Over the years Oxford has also been known for offering exceptional culinary experiences and as the home of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Rebels, there is always something here to immerse yourself in. Oxford has also been featured as a literary and arts destination in such publications as The New York Times, Southern Living, Condé Nast Traveler, and GQ. Among other cultural activities, annual events include the Oxford Film Festival, a thriving local music scene, and the Ford Center Performing Arts Series. Oxford is a vibrant university town, filled with unique shops and galleries, eclectic restaurants and clubs, historic landmarks, and comfortable inns.
 

Our Department recognizes and is committed to the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for all in teaching, research, and service and maintains an enthusiasm for making the most of the opportunities to promote inclusivity in our Department, our academic field, and the broader community.  Our Departmental goals are supported by the larger mission and strategic commitment to access and opportunity at the University of Mississippi and in the College of Liberal Arts.

Mississippi provides a rich environment for creativity and research. The university is located in Oxford, home to a vibrant literary and arts scene, about an hour south of Memphis and three hours north of Jackson, MS. Each year the community hosts the Oxford Film Festival, the Double Decker Music Festival, and the Oxford Blues Festival, among other gatherings, and UM sponsors the Oxford Conference for the Book and a yearlong performing arts series at the Gertrude C. Ford Center among its many cultural events.
•    UM Department of Theatre & Film: https://theatreandfilm.olemiss.edu 
•    Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts: https://fordcenter.org 
•    UM University Museums: https://museum.olemiss.edu/
•    Visit Oxford: https://visitoxfordms.com/
•    Yoknapatawpha Arts Council: https://oxfordarts.com/
•    Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce: https://oxfordms.com/chamber-of-commerce/
 

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.