American Association of Blacks in Higher Education
Chair, Department of Theatre and Associate/Professor of Theatre
American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, Fort Worth, Texas, United States, 76102
Overview
Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 Position: Chair of the Department of Theatre; Associate/Full Professor of Theatre. This full-time, on-campus, tenured faculty position includes an administrative appointment with the start date in August 2026. The Chair serves as the senior administrator of the academic unit and reports to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. This leadership role offers an opportunity to shape the future of the performing arts at TCU by continuing our established record of creative excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and national visibility for the Department of Theatre. The next TCU Chair of Theatre will join during a period of renovation for Ed Landreth Hall, which will include new and upgraded spaces for academic, production, and performance activities. Responsibilities
Provide academic and artistic leadership and contribute to TCU's goal of becoming an R1 institution, ensuring alignment and effective implementation of the Department, College, and University strategic plans. Manage the Department of Theatre's budgets, financial resources, and facilities. Work with the Dean, TCU leadership, and Theatre faculty/staff on the renovation of Ed Landreth Hall. Facilitate and manage program development, assessment, and accreditation activities. Oversee full-time faculty and staff recruitment, retention, mentoring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes, and make hiring recommendations to the Dean. Coordinate faculty course loads, curriculum design, and scheduling. Lead the Department's student recruitment and retention efforts, including scholarships and awards. Serve as producing artistic director for Department of Theatre productions. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture among faculty, staff, and students. Represent the Department and engage in fundraising efforts, including cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners. Collaborate with the Assistant Chair, Coordinator of Curriculum & Assessment, and faculty to develop and strengthen the Department's research/scholarly activity portfolio, with an emphasis on increasing externally funded research output. Teach a reduced load in the candidate's area(s) of specialty while maintaining a record of scholarly/creative activity and service. Qualifications
Required: Hold a terminal degree (e.g., MFA or PhD) in Theatre or a closely related field. Qualify for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Theatre. Demonstrated record of administrative and/or leadership experience in higher education. Preferred: A leadership vision for the Department of Theatre. Excellent communication skills. Experience with administrative responsibilities. Ability to build consensus among diverse areas and constituencies within theatre disciplines. Record of mentorship to faculty, staff, and students of all levels and ranks. Record of recruiting and retaining students, faculty, and staff. Excellence as a practicing theatre artist in any theatre discipline(s). Experience building alliances with leaders and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally; ability to promote Theatre Arts to other fields and constituencies within and beyond the university. Experience with professional organizations and/or unions (e.g., NAST, ATHE, USITT, AEA, SDC, USA, MTEA, DGA). Demonstrated fundraising experience. Department Details
The Department of Theatre offers four BFA degrees dedicated to conservatory-style training within a liberal arts education, plus a BA in Theatre. Theatre TCU produces 6-8 productions annually, collaborates with professional theatres, and provides opportunities that support student development. Alumni pursue roles as performers, choreographers, artistic directors, arts administrators, educators, program developers, designers, and more. The department aims to prepare students for the professional theatre market and beyond. Texas Christian University's Department of Theatre fosters a community of artists committed to individual pathways through the BFA and BA programs, offering opportunities to support growth artistically, academically, creatively, professionally, and collaboratively. Admission to the Department of Theatre is highly competitive. Students apply to the university through Undergraduate Admission and complete an audition/portfolio review for BFA programs and an interview for potential BA students. School/College Description
The TCU College of Fine Arts comprises six units: the School of Art, the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, the School of Music, the Department of Design, the Department of Fashion Merchandising, and the Department of Theatre. The college offers 33 undergraduate and 24 advanced degree programs and hosts numerous performances and juried exhibitions annually. University & Fort Worth Description
About TCU:
Founded in 1873, TCU sits on 302 acres in Fort Worth, with seven schools/colleges and the John V. Roach Honors College. Current enrollment includes over 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. The university is categorized as a top 100 National University and has an R2 Carnegie classification for high research activity. About Fort Worth:
Fort Worth is a large, culturally rich city within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. It offers diverse cultural and educational opportunities, with notable venues and a growing job market. Required Application Materials & Application Instructions
1) Cover letter addressing leadership experience and philosophy, teaching experience and philosophy, and research/creative activity highlights (3 pages maximum); 2) Curriculum vitae; 3) List of three references with contact information. The application deadline is January 12, 2026. All applications will be held in confidence. After initial review, candidates advancing to the second round may be asked to submit supporting materials, including examples of leadership and research/creative work. Materials may include evaluations, observations, links to a professional activity website, and/or letters of recommendation. All materials are to be submitted online. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Human Resources at hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790. Other questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs, Alan Shorter and Dr. Marc Reed, at the provided contact emails. Employment Values Statement
Texas Christian University values integrity, engagement, community, and excellence in the workplace. TCU hires and promotes based on qualifications and commitment to a positive, student-centered community. TCU is an equal opportunity employer and follows all applicable employment laws, ensuring a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. TCU Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report Notice of Availability
TCU is committed to campus safety and security. The Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report are published in compliance with Clery Act and HEA. This report includes statistics for the previous three calendar years and contains information on campus security, housing fire safety, and safety programs. The report can be found on the TCU Police Department website or obtained by contacting the TCU Police Department via email or phone.
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Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 Position: Chair of the Department of Theatre; Associate/Full Professor of Theatre. This full-time, on-campus, tenured faculty position includes an administrative appointment with the start date in August 2026. The Chair serves as the senior administrator of the academic unit and reports to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. This leadership role offers an opportunity to shape the future of the performing arts at TCU by continuing our established record of creative excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and national visibility for the Department of Theatre. The next TCU Chair of Theatre will join during a period of renovation for Ed Landreth Hall, which will include new and upgraded spaces for academic, production, and performance activities. Responsibilities
Provide academic and artistic leadership and contribute to TCU's goal of becoming an R1 institution, ensuring alignment and effective implementation of the Department, College, and University strategic plans. Manage the Department of Theatre's budgets, financial resources, and facilities. Work with the Dean, TCU leadership, and Theatre faculty/staff on the renovation of Ed Landreth Hall. Facilitate and manage program development, assessment, and accreditation activities. Oversee full-time faculty and staff recruitment, retention, mentoring, evaluation, promotion, and tenure processes, and make hiring recommendations to the Dean. Coordinate faculty course loads, curriculum design, and scheduling. Lead the Department's student recruitment and retention efforts, including scholarships and awards. Serve as producing artistic director for Department of Theatre productions. Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture among faculty, staff, and students. Represent the Department and engage in fundraising efforts, including cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners. Collaborate with the Assistant Chair, Coordinator of Curriculum & Assessment, and faculty to develop and strengthen the Department's research/scholarly activity portfolio, with an emphasis on increasing externally funded research output. Teach a reduced load in the candidate's area(s) of specialty while maintaining a record of scholarly/creative activity and service. Qualifications
Required: Hold a terminal degree (e.g., MFA or PhD) in Theatre or a closely related field. Qualify for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Theatre. Demonstrated record of administrative and/or leadership experience in higher education. Preferred: A leadership vision for the Department of Theatre. Excellent communication skills. Experience with administrative responsibilities. Ability to build consensus among diverse areas and constituencies within theatre disciplines. Record of mentorship to faculty, staff, and students of all levels and ranks. Record of recruiting and retaining students, faculty, and staff. Excellence as a practicing theatre artist in any theatre discipline(s). Experience building alliances with leaders and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally; ability to promote Theatre Arts to other fields and constituencies within and beyond the university. Experience with professional organizations and/or unions (e.g., NAST, ATHE, USITT, AEA, SDC, USA, MTEA, DGA). Demonstrated fundraising experience. Department Details
The Department of Theatre offers four BFA degrees dedicated to conservatory-style training within a liberal arts education, plus a BA in Theatre. Theatre TCU produces 6-8 productions annually, collaborates with professional theatres, and provides opportunities that support student development. Alumni pursue roles as performers, choreographers, artistic directors, arts administrators, educators, program developers, designers, and more. The department aims to prepare students for the professional theatre market and beyond. Texas Christian University's Department of Theatre fosters a community of artists committed to individual pathways through the BFA and BA programs, offering opportunities to support growth artistically, academically, creatively, professionally, and collaboratively. Admission to the Department of Theatre is highly competitive. Students apply to the university through Undergraduate Admission and complete an audition/portfolio review for BFA programs and an interview for potential BA students. School/College Description
The TCU College of Fine Arts comprises six units: the School of Art, the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, the School of Music, the Department of Design, the Department of Fashion Merchandising, and the Department of Theatre. The college offers 33 undergraduate and 24 advanced degree programs and hosts numerous performances and juried exhibitions annually. University & Fort Worth Description
About TCU:
Founded in 1873, TCU sits on 302 acres in Fort Worth, with seven schools/colleges and the John V. Roach Honors College. Current enrollment includes over 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. The university is categorized as a top 100 National University and has an R2 Carnegie classification for high research activity. About Fort Worth:
Fort Worth is a large, culturally rich city within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. It offers diverse cultural and educational opportunities, with notable venues and a growing job market. Required Application Materials & Application Instructions
1) Cover letter addressing leadership experience and philosophy, teaching experience and philosophy, and research/creative activity highlights (3 pages maximum); 2) Curriculum vitae; 3) List of three references with contact information. The application deadline is January 12, 2026. All applications will be held in confidence. After initial review, candidates advancing to the second round may be asked to submit supporting materials, including examples of leadership and research/creative work. Materials may include evaluations, observations, links to a professional activity website, and/or letters of recommendation. All materials are to be submitted online. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Human Resources at hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790. Other questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs, Alan Shorter and Dr. Marc Reed, at the provided contact emails. Employment Values Statement
Texas Christian University values integrity, engagement, community, and excellence in the workplace. TCU hires and promotes based on qualifications and commitment to a positive, student-centered community. TCU is an equal opportunity employer and follows all applicable employment laws, ensuring a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. TCU Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report Notice of Availability
TCU is committed to campus safety and security. The Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report are published in compliance with Clery Act and HEA. This report includes statistics for the previous three calendar years and contains information on campus security, housing fire safety, and safety programs. The report can be found on the TCU Police Department website or obtained by contacting the TCU Police Department via email or phone.
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