School Director, School of Theatre and Dance

James Madison University (JMU) is seeking applicants for the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance. This position is a 12-month tenured appointment within the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor to begin July 1, 2025.

The School of Theatre and Dance is a dynamic, student-centered, and production-oriented academic department offering a Bachelor of Arts degree with Majors in Dance, Theatre, and Musical Theatre. Our curriculum seeks to inspire and integrate rigorous critical thinking and free-flowing creative practice. Our school supports 250 majors, 100+ minors, 6 staff and administrative faculty, and 19 tenured or tenure-track faculty with national and international artistic and scholarship portfolios.

An ideal candidate would demonstrate the ability to lead a busy production schedule, improve operations and workflow, share a commitment to equity and culturally-responsive pedagogy, design new and innovative arts curriculum, initiate processes for shared faculty governance and decision-making, and provide both mentorship and accountability to our students, faculty, and staff in pursuit of the highest standards for educational, professional, and creative practice.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary administrative officer for the School of Theatre and Dance
• Increase student recruitment activities for the School of Theatre and Dance, and recruit, support, coach, and evaluate highly qualified faculty and staff
• Guide the implementation of culturally-responsive, consent-based pedagogy, scholarship, and creative practice
• Supervise academic and production budgets, budget strategies, and organizational planning
• Analyze production resources and implement new standards for production capacity
• Implement systems for measuring and distributing faculty and staff service and teaching responsibilities in alignment with JMU’s elevation to R2 status
• Lead School of Theatre and Dance faculty and staff in strategic planning processes, and the ongoing implementation of that strategic plan
• Lead School of Theatre and Dance faculty and staff in fundraising, grantwriting, and donor cultivation activities
• Lead and facilitate the development of dynamic, forward-thinking curriculum
• Increase creative and professional opportunities for students through partnerships with external artists and arts organizations
• Supervise the maintenance and improvement of written procedures and policies
• Contribute as an instructor in the classroom or as an artist on production
• Act as a spokesperson for the School of Theatre and Dance in institutional, community and public forums, including advocating for the unique and vibrant work of its students, faculty, and staff
• Maintain a non-standard work schedule including evenings and weekends for the attendance of rehearsals, performances, and recruiting events

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
• MFA, PhD, or EdD in dance, musical theatre, theatre, or related field (such as arts management, etc.)
• Teaching experience in higher education which qualifies for appointment to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure within one of the STAD disciplines.
• Experience in arts and/or production management in academic or professional settings
• Record of excellent scholarship and/or creative work
• Experience with curricular design and accreditation

Preferred Qualifications:
• Record of amplifying culturally-responsive pedagogy
• Experience leading organizational change processes with multiple stakeholders
• Experience in student recruiting

Additional Posting Information:

Applicants should submit a detailed CV, a statement of their administrative and leadership philosophy (uploaded under "Other Document #1"), and a cover letter that includes their approach to leading a faculty of artists and scholars. Applicants will also be asked for the names and contact information of three professional references.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or [email protected]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.