Associate Professor of Acting

Position overview

Position title: Associate Professor of Acting

Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $103,600-$124,300 The posted UC Academic salary scales set the minimum pay as determined by rank and/or step  the following table for the salary scale for this position here: UCOP Academic Salary Scales. Please refer to the 10/1/2026 salary scale for Faculty-Ladder Ranks-Professor Series. The base salary range, from the salary table, for this position is $103,600-$114,800 "Off-scale salaries" and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Additional UCSD salary information can be found here: UCSD salary information

Application Window

Open date: July 29, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Thursday, Jul 29, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego Theatre and Dance Department Website invites theatre artists to apply for a tenured faculty position within the Ladder Rank Series. The academic appointment for this position will be for an Associate Professor of Acting, effective July 1, 2027 and instruction beginning September 2027 (Fall Quarter).

The Department of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego invites applicants specializing in acting to join a vibrant department committed to shaping the future of the arts by fostering a new generation of creative and collaborative theatre professionals. We are seeking a candidate who can lead a rigorous two year graduate acting progression while also teaching undergraduate courses within the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The primary focus of this position will be on a practice-based approach to foundational acting techniques, with a secondary emphasis on Shakespeare and/or working with heightened text. Experience and/or demonstrated interest in acting for the camera is highly desirable. In addition to teaching, we are looking for a candidate who can contribute to the creative vision of our department by directing productions during the academic year.

As the field of acting continues to evolve, we are seeking a dynamic collaborative leader to guide the acting area through its next phase of growth and innovation.

Professorial appointments and advancement at UC San Diego require a sustained record of high-quality and impactful creative work. The position involves active participation in all aspects of the department, including recruitment, casting, curriculum development and a commitment to contributing to the ongoing development of the acting program.

The responsibilities of this position include teaching a combination of five graduate and undergraduate courses, ranging from small seminars in the candidate's area(s) of expertise to larger courses that serve both the BA and MFA communities and fulfill the relevant Colleges' General Education requirements. Given the department's emphasis on integrating production into the curriculum, we are especially seeking candidates with experience in both acting and directing, who are capable of mentoring MFA students, as well as select undergraduate students, in these disciplines.

Committee service is also a key component of this position.

Alongside its ranking as a premier acting program at a Research 1 institution, the Department of Theatre and Dance at the UC San Diego has a continued partnership with the acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse, collaborating on productions annually.

Applicants must possess an MFA or 3 - 5 years of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training.

Examples of equivalent professional experience and/or relevant training may include such genres as: acting, directing, new play development, and artistic direction. Professional experience and/or relevant training venues may include: resident and regional theatres, studio spaces, cinema, national theatres, cultural and/or community-centered venues, and/or commercial theatres including:
Broadway and Off-Broadway.

Applicants must exhibit 5 or more years of teaching experience in Academic or Studio environments.

Applicants must demonstrate 5 years or more of evidence of teaching effectiveness and mentorship in higher education or studio environments. Examples include but are not limited to: positive teaching/mentoring evaluations, student support letters, peer/professional reviews, and applicable awards/honors/nominations.

Applicants are required to have accumulated a body of work consisting of teaching, acting and/or directing professional experience, spanning a decade or more.