Lecturer–Theatre Performance, Fine and Performing Arts, Fine & Performing Arts at Northwest Missouri State University – Maryville, Missouri

EMPLOYMENT TERMS: The position begins as a one-year term lecturer appointment for Academic Year 2025-2026, with the potential to be converted to an assistant professor, tenure-track position the following academic year, depending on faculty performance and budget availability.

PRIMARY DUTY: The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach undergraduate courses in acting (including beginning and advanced acting, acting period styles, and voice/movement), theatre history, Theatre Appreciation, and other theatre courses based on need, experience and qualifications; to direct one production each semester, and to work in support of departmental production and programmatic activities as needed.

The Theatre Program at Northwest provides a rigorous, student-centered education that encourages risk-taking, exploration, and collaboration. We are a vibrant faculty with a vision for revitalizing our program to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We seek a dynamic colleague in theatre performance to help shape the curriculum and grow the program. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching theatre performance within a robust and collaborative theatre program at a regional comprehensive state university. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the ability to work with diverse populations, work collegially, and develop and maintain effective professional relationships within a multi-disciplinary department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Teach courses and coordinate related activities (i.e., teach performance courses, direct productions, and supervise student directors as needed) that incorporate rigorous critical thinking, challenging problem solving, and sound and creative artistic principles to prepare students for success as professional theatre artists. Engage in creative professional activity and in service activities that support the success of the program and department.

1. Teach lower- and upper-division theatre performance courses (i.e. Acting, Advanced Acting, Acting Period Styles, Voice/Movement), as well as teach Theatre History and Theatre Appreciation.

2. Maintain, develop, and foster strong relationships with regional professional theatres, the arts community, and university alumni.

3. Teach other courses in theatre (when so qualified and as needed) and perform other program-related duties as assigned by the chair.

4. Perform service including participation in recruitment efforts.

5. Engage in ongoing professional development in the field.

6. Engage in student support by advising and mentoring students and other activities as needed.

7. Engage in theatre program, school and university service.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: MFA or equivalent terminal degree.

Experience: Extensive experience in, depth of understanding of, and ability to teach theatre performance courses to beginning and advanced students.

Skills: Demonstrated ability in directing/choreography in a variety of performance venues and modalities

WORKING CONDITIONS: Highly collaborative academic environment in a Fine and Performing Arts Department at a regional, comprehensive university. Faculty use Canvas, an online learning management system, and are provided a laptop computer.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervision of student directors and student choreographers, and other student production leadership assignments as needed. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the potential to supervise student employees. EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Laptop computer, PC-based hardware and software, online course and information management systems as needed, university instruments. TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds.

COMMUNITY: Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY: With an enrollment of about 10,000 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus as well as its Northwest-Kansas City location at the Northland Innovation Center and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905 and ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top public regional universities in the Midwest, Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jump start on their careers. Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area and Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.

The University also is a national model for student success and career placement with 96 percent of graduates securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.

Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, saving students an estimated $6,800 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. Designated the Missouri Arboretum, the Northwest campus was named one of the “50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S.”

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Consideration of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. DATE AVAILABLE: August 2025

TO APPLY: Please fill out a Northwest application online by clicking https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/nwmissouri to reach our employment opportunities listing. You will also need to submit the application materials below in order for your application materials to be complete. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at 660-562-1127 or email bbadger@nwmissouri.edu for more information.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: A letter of application, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcript(s) (official transcripts are needed prior to offer of contract), a pdf of or weblink to your professional portfolio, and the names of at least three professional references with current email addresses.

INQUIRIES FOR THE POSITION CAN BE MADE TO:

Dr. Joseph Kreizinger

Search Committee Chair

jkreizi@nwmissouri.edu