Drama - Assistant Professor

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We are one of Canada’s top universities and leading research institutions. With more than 8,900 undergraduate and graduate students, two campuses (Lethbridge and Calgary), seven faculties and schools, and more than 2,500 employees, ULethbridge is Lethbridge’s second largest employer.

Faculty and staff come together to contribute, each in their own way, to establishing ULethbridge as Canada’s destination university. In 2022, Lethbridge was recognized as one of Canada’s top small cities.

Rank: Assistant Professor
Tenure Information: Tenure Track
Start Date: July 1, 2025
Salary Range: $79,132 to $94,000

Position Information: The Department of Drama at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for an Assistant Professor with a specialization in acting, to begin 1 July 2025. The University of Lethbridge is strongly committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. This is demonstrated by its ongoing work, relationships, and connections with the Blackfoot Confederacy. The University strives to provide access and opportunity to historically excluded groups identified under the Employment Equity Act. In recognition of the underrepresentation of racialized and Indigenous scholars in the Drama Department, and in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, only applicants who self-identify as racialized or Indigenous individuals will be considered for this opportunity.

Position Description:
The successful candidate will:

• Teach and develop courses in acting at all levels of the undergraduate and graduate Drama programs.
• As part of teaching duties, direct Department of Drama productions featuring student performers and design/technical teams made up of students, faculty, and staff.
• Teach and develop courses in other areas of the program or within the Faculty of Fine Arts, as relevant to their experience, expertise, and These may include courses in performance (such as directing, devised theatre, or playwriting), other areas of the Drama program (such as technical theatre/design, theatre/performance studies, or drama education), or in other disciplines (such as cinema, new media, or interdisciplinary fine arts).
• Develop and conduct a program of original and impactful creative practice and/or scholarly research, as appropriate to the Assistant Professor rank and as required for future tenure and promotion in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
• Contribute in a meaningful and collaborative way to departmental service, as well as to service to the Faculty, University, and/or The department is currently revising its curriculum, course offerings, and learning outcomes across all programs and areas of study; the successful candidate will be expected to participate in curriculum development work within the department. Faculty members are expected to contribute to collegial governance through participation in committees at the departmental, Faculty, and/or University level. Faculty members also contribute to the University and to society through activities such as external outreach, recruitment, disciplinary service, and community-engagement work.

Qualifications:
The committee recognizes that racialized and Indigenous people have been historically excluded from and under-represented in graduate education and in theatre institutions, and is open to a variety of forms of evidence demonstrating that a candidate meets the below requirements, including but not limited to educational experiences, volunteer positions, and work in other artistic or professional contexts than theatre.

Essential Attributes

• A graduate degree in theatre, drama, or a related field; or, equivalent experience working in theatre and drama in a professional or community-based practice.
• An established professional or educational/community-based practice in an aspect of performance relevant to the position’s requirements (for example, in acting and/or directing).
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a teacher and/or mentor to students or emerging artists. This can be demonstrated through experience in postsecondary or other educational contexts, through professional or community-based arts programs or activities, and through other types of educational, community, or professional experience. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to teach a diverse student body, to incorporate innovative and equity-informed pedagogical approaches in their teaching, and to contribute to decolonization and Indigenization through their teaching activities.
• Experience working in a collaborative environment and a demonstrated ability to contribute to creative teams in a respectful, collegial fashion.
• The ability to articulate a feasible and significant creative practice/research plan, with outcomes appropriate to the rank of an Assistant Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience or training in arts curriculum development, whether in post-secondary or other contexts, is highly desirable.
• Experience or interest in teaching directing or mentoring emerging directors is an asset.
• Training and experience in fight and/or intimacy direction for the stage is asset.
• Experience in community outreach and relationship building and maintenance is highly desirable.

About the Academic Unit: The Drama Department offers a variety of undergraduate programs including a general BFA in dramatic practice, specialized BFAs in performance and tech/design, and a BA degree. Drama also offers MFA degrees in dramatic arts practice that can be tailored to individual student interests and an MA degree with a substantial thesis requirement. All Drama Department coursework is supported by a robust calendar of theatrical productions including a two-show department Mainstage, courses with public performance outcomes, and two student- initiated and student-run Theatre Xtra shows per year.

The Drama Department is part of the Faculty of Fine Arts, which also includes Art, Music, and New Media departments, as well as a Multidisciplinary BFA program. The Faculty of Fine Arts includes two Canada Research Chairs: one in Indigenous Music, Culture, and Politics (Music) and one in Digital Extremism (New Media). The Faculty is committed to collaborative, community-oriented scholarship and research-creation.

In 2024, the Faculty of Fine Arts was gifted the Blackfoot name Piiksinaasin, which means Manifesting Beauty, by Dr. Leroy Little Bear. The name represents the Faculty of Fine Arts as a place where students create, explore and research, transforming the world around them through creative practice and critical thinking. The name reflects the Faculty’s long-standing support of Indigenous arts and creative initiatives and exemplifies the work done to advance reconciliation and decolonization. For more information about the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Drama program, please visit our website: https://www.uleth.ca/fine-arts/study/drama 

About the University: The University of Lethbridge (uLethbridge) is a comprehensive and research- intensive university founded on the principles of liberal education where inspired scholars integrate research and creative activity with teaching. Our University’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. Founded in 1967 on traditional Blackfoot land, it is a place where student engagement in learning, creative activities, and research takes place every day. With campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary,  uLethbridge offers  more than  150 undergraduate and 60 graduate programs in the Faculties of Arts & Science, Education, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, the Schools of Liberal Education and Graduate Studies, and the Dhillon School of Business, to more than 8,900 students.

Many world-class researchers, visual, sound, and performing artists have made their home here, contributing to a thriving arts community supported by numerous galleries, including the SAAG (Southern Alberta Art Galley Maansiksikaitsitapiitsinikssin), CASA Community Arts Centre, the Trianon Gallery, the University’s Dr. Margaret (Marmie) Perkins Hess Gallery, as well as theatre and music venues. The University is a vital part of Lethbridge, a community of over 100,000 people, located near the Oldman River, close to the Rocky Mountains, and within easy driving distance to Calgary's International Airport. The many recreational and cultural amenities of the Lethbridge area offer a wonderful quality of life, reflected in its 2022 recognition as one of Canada’s best small cities.

Our Values: The University of Lethbridge recognizes that diversity enriches our campus and community and is fundamental to teaching, learning, and research excellence. The University as a whole embraces equity as a core value to be truly inclusive of the communities of which we are a part, and this requires ongoing intentional and systemic action. Through recruitment and support of individuals who further enhance our commitment to inclusion and diversity, the University strives to create a diverse community where students, faculty and staff feel welcome, are treated equitably, and can thrive.

Application Process
Interested individuals should submit via the ULethbridge Careers page (https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/7975) an application that includes:

• A letter of interest that addresses how the candidate meets essential and preferred qualifications, outlines their approach to teaching, and describes their professional/artistic experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization
• A current curriculum vitae
• Names and email addresses for three qualified referees who can address their teaching and research/creative practice qualifications. Referees will be contacted for reference letters for shortlisted candidates.

Candidates may be asked to provide additional materials for the search committee’s consideration. Applications must be received by January 10, 2025.

Please address application documents to:

Dr. Heather Davis-Fisch, Dean
Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4
Tel: (403) 329-2126
Email: fi[email protected]

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

The University of Lethbridge invites applications from all  qualified  candidates;  however,  in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residence will be given preference.

The University of Lethbridge is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, including through all aspects of the hiring process. If you require support during the hiring process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] so that accommodations can be put in place to support you. All private information received in relation to your request for support will be kept confidential, only information required to facilitate the accommodation will be shared with the selection committee.

Please contact Dr. Justin A. Blum, Chair of Drama ([email protected]) with any questions related to this opportunity.