Portland State University
Assistant Professor of Acting
Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97204
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Video recording files may be too large for the applicant tracking system. Please submit these files via a URL to a single website.
References will be emailed to upload a letter of reference as soon as you submit your application. Preference will be given to applications with reference letters submitted by 1/9/26.
Position Announcement Proposed Start Date: 09/16/2026
Rank:
Working Title: Assistant Professor of Acting
Position Number: D99239
Representation: AU - AAUP
Faculty Type: Fixed Term End Date:
Position FTE: 1.0
Term of Service: 9 month
Position Summary The School of Music & Theater is located in the Portland cultural district, home of the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, the Portland Art Museum, and the Northwest Film Center. It maintains close ties with the major musical institutions of the city, and students have many opportunities to interact with professionals in the community. Faculty members in the School of Music & Theater are internationally recognized performers, directors, designers, conductors, composers and scholars.
Portland State University is not only the largest institution of higher education in Oregon, but with a 25% minority student population, it is also the most diverse. The urban location and mission of the University allows students to pursue innovative options in their theatrical and musical education. The city is noted for its numerous cafes, pubs, theaters, restaurants, bookstores, and its public transportation. Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking are all accessible within minutes of Portland.
The Portland State University School of Music & Theater seeks a full‑time, tenure‑track artist‑teacher at the Assistant Professor level to lead the acting area, teach introductory through advanced courses in acting, plus core major and elective courses such as Introduction to Theater and Script Analysis.
The successful candidate will bring vision, rigor, and innovation to the program. They should have a primary specialization in acting, the ability to teach a range of acting styles and methodologies at all levels, significant professional experience, a record of outstanding teaching, and strong knowledge of dramatic literature from the Greeks through Shakespeare to contemporary works. We particularly value candidates who integrate the conventional canon with theater of the Global Majority, non‑Western performance traditions, and/or experimental approaches to performance.
Primary Activity Primary Activity I – Instructional
Minimum Qualifications
MFA in acting or related field
Demonstrated higher‑education teaching experience in acting and/or related areas
Significant acting experience in a variety of professional theaters
Experience and training in Global Majority, non‑Western performance traditions, and/or experimental approaches to performance
Experience in and ability to teach at least two to three additional performance specialties, such as:
Voice and speech (Fitzmaurice, Skinner, Berry, or comparable systems)
Intimacy direction
Acting for the camera
Musical Theater
Stage combat
Dialects
Preferred Qualifications
Experience and training in directing and/or producing
Demonstrated interest in working with a broad range of student populations
Experience collaborating across music, dance, film, and/or digital media
Demonstrated leadership and administrative potential
Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.
Professional Standards of Conduct At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our
PSU Professional Standards of Conduct .
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $76,239 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
An excellent benefits package includes
95% premium paid healthcare ;
a generous retirement
and vacation package; and
reduced tuition rates
for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.
Please visit our
total compensation calculator
to see the full value of our benefits package.
Application Materials Required
Cover letter addressing qualifications and how the applicant will contribute to a diverse and inclusive learning community.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy.
Portfolio selections (e.g., video reel, images, reviews) showcasing candidate’s experience in varying styles of performance and/or teaching. (Upload as “Work Sample”)
Contact information for three professional references (they will be contacted to submit a letter of reference when this application is submitted)
Optional Documents
Link to professional websites, news articles, etc.
Application Screening & Contact Information Application screening begins 01/09/2026.
If you have questions, reach out to Search Committee Chair, Solomon Weisbard: sweisbard@pdx.edu.
Posting Information Posting Close Date: 03/15/2026.
Equal Opportunity Statement Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
References will be emailed to upload a letter of reference as soon as you submit your application. Preference will be given to applications with reference letters submitted by 1/9/26.
Position Announcement Proposed Start Date: 09/16/2026
Rank:
Working Title: Assistant Professor of Acting
Position Number: D99239
Representation: AU - AAUP
Faculty Type: Fixed Term End Date:
Position FTE: 1.0
Term of Service: 9 month
Position Summary The School of Music & Theater is located in the Portland cultural district, home of the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, the Portland Art Museum, and the Northwest Film Center. It maintains close ties with the major musical institutions of the city, and students have many opportunities to interact with professionals in the community. Faculty members in the School of Music & Theater are internationally recognized performers, directors, designers, conductors, composers and scholars.
Portland State University is not only the largest institution of higher education in Oregon, but with a 25% minority student population, it is also the most diverse. The urban location and mission of the University allows students to pursue innovative options in their theatrical and musical education. The city is noted for its numerous cafes, pubs, theaters, restaurants, bookstores, and its public transportation. Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking are all accessible within minutes of Portland.
The Portland State University School of Music & Theater seeks a full‑time, tenure‑track artist‑teacher at the Assistant Professor level to lead the acting area, teach introductory through advanced courses in acting, plus core major and elective courses such as Introduction to Theater and Script Analysis.
The successful candidate will bring vision, rigor, and innovation to the program. They should have a primary specialization in acting, the ability to teach a range of acting styles and methodologies at all levels, significant professional experience, a record of outstanding teaching, and strong knowledge of dramatic literature from the Greeks through Shakespeare to contemporary works. We particularly value candidates who integrate the conventional canon with theater of the Global Majority, non‑Western performance traditions, and/or experimental approaches to performance.
Primary Activity Primary Activity I – Instructional
Minimum Qualifications
MFA in acting or related field
Demonstrated higher‑education teaching experience in acting and/or related areas
Significant acting experience in a variety of professional theaters
Experience and training in Global Majority, non‑Western performance traditions, and/or experimental approaches to performance
Experience in and ability to teach at least two to three additional performance specialties, such as:
Voice and speech (Fitzmaurice, Skinner, Berry, or comparable systems)
Intimacy direction
Acting for the camera
Musical Theater
Stage combat
Dialects
Preferred Qualifications
Experience and training in directing and/or producing
Demonstrated interest in working with a broad range of student populations
Experience collaborating across music, dance, film, and/or digital media
Demonstrated leadership and administrative potential
Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.
Professional Standards of Conduct At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our
PSU Professional Standards of Conduct .
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $76,239 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
An excellent benefits package includes
95% premium paid healthcare ;
a generous retirement
and vacation package; and
reduced tuition rates
for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.
Please visit our
total compensation calculator
to see the full value of our benefits package.
Application Materials Required
Cover letter addressing qualifications and how the applicant will contribute to a diverse and inclusive learning community.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy.
Portfolio selections (e.g., video reel, images, reviews) showcasing candidate’s experience in varying styles of performance and/or teaching. (Upload as “Work Sample”)
Contact information for three professional references (they will be contacted to submit a letter of reference when this application is submitted)
Optional Documents
Link to professional websites, news articles, etc.
Application Screening & Contact Information Application screening begins 01/09/2026.
If you have questions, reach out to Search Committee Chair, Solomon Weisbard: sweisbard@pdx.edu.
Posting Information Posting Close Date: 03/15/2026.
Equal Opportunity Statement Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled.
#J-18808-Ljbffr