Faculty Employment Opportunity

POSITION:

Assistant Professor in Theatre - Lighting and Media Design: The Department of Theatre invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, effective August 2026.

We seek a Theatre artist that has professional and educational experience in Lighting Design to work in a collaborative environment. Stan State Theatre is a program that offers a BA in Theatre, with concentrations in Performance, Technical Theatre, and Theatre Education, in addition to a BA in Musical Theatre.

Responsibilities for the person appointed to this position will include:
 

Teaching lighting and media courses and other relevant coursework including Fundamentals of Light Design, Foundations in Scenography and Stagecraft. In addition, this position will teach courses in the major and in the CSU General Education program including Introduction to Theatre and Theatre Workshop. Design Practicum supervision for technical theatre students and lighting and/or media design responsibilities in the 5-show production season are expected. The Theatre Department offers team-taught courses in Theatre Workshop, Stagecraft and Rehearsal and Performance. Experience with Sound Design and/or sound engineering is a plus.

Lighting and/or media design responsibilities in the 5-show production season.

Other responsibilities may include:

Conducting scholarly and professional creative activity that advances the professional and scholarly goals of the faculty member, the Department of Theatre, and the University.

Advising and mentoring Theatre students for successful completion of the program, design projects and in their academic careers.

Recruitment of students to the Theatre program

Working collaboratively and collegially with department faculty, staff and students.

Participating in service activities and committees at the Department, College, and University levels.

Supporting, developing, and enhancing Department curriculum in keeping with industry standards while fostering student success.

Working with the department and college to maintain the lighting and media equipment in keeping with industry and safety standards.

Effective teaching, scholarly productivity and/or creative activity, and service to the University are required for retention, promotion, and tenure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A terminal degree in Theatre - M.F.A. in Theatre Arts or Lighting Design/Technology (or a related field with an emphasis in Design/Technology), or equivalent professional experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Significant professional experience as a lighting designer.
2. Computer-assisted design proficiency in drafting and design software, and 3-D modeling/rendering.
3. Demonstrated experience and effectiveness with instructional technology and learning management systems such as Canvas.

HOW TO APPLY & DEADLINE:

A complete application must include: an application letter specifically addressing the position description and qualifications; unofficial photocopies of graduate transcripts; a statement of teaching philosophy/or an Artist statement outlining Design Philosophy and Goals and evidence of teaching proficiency; cover letter addressing the position and criteria laid out in the job announcement; professional/educational CV, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references.

Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.

Optional: Professional design portfolio as website link or file upload

To apply for this position, please click the "Apply Now" button on this page.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Scott Davis, Chair
Department of Theatre
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle Turlock, CA
Email: SDavis@csustan.edu  


Screening of applications will begin February 13, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. This appointment begins August 17, 2026.

COMPENSATION:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.  Anticipated hiring range is $6,800 - $7,200 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year).  As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT and THE COLLEGE, CAMPUS, AND AREA: 

California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture – one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty holds doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 CSU post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts.

Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as by U.S. News and World Report in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West’s No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.

Stanislaus State values shared governance: Statement on shared governance

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. You can learn more about federal equal employment opportunity protections by accessing the Department of Labor’s notices: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf 

Individuals with disabling conditions who require accommodation during the recruitment process may contact the ADA Coordinator at (209) 667-3159.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

Stanislaus State is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Stanislaus State is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@csustan.edu. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.

The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

MANDATED REPORTER PER CANRA

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse And Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

CLERY ACT DISCLOSURE

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, crime report statistics are available at: http://www.csustan.edu/UPD/pages/CampusCrimeStatistics/index.html