Theatre and New Dance

Theatre and New Dance - Assistant Professor
Job no: 535096
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Pomona
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Theatre Arts, On-site (work in-person at business location)
Tenure Track Faculty Position
Theatre and New Dance

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Theatre and New Dance. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university's nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus's more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master's degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 3 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor's degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour's drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit , and for more about faculty life, please see .

Student Population. California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona, and 41% of new students were transfers in Fall % of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible. The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 53% Latinx, 22% Asian, 14% White, 3% Black, 2% International, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. Thirty-nine percent of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

*As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below.

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences: Cal Poly Pomona's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) brings to life a vibrant hands-on experience through disciplines in the humanities, performing arts, and social sciences. As the heart and soul of the campus, the College's mission is to cultivate one's intellectual development, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic sensibility to support creative and critical thinking in a dynamic world of competing challenges. We are a community diverse in backgrounds, expertise, and thought, committed to improving the human condition and to bettering the world. Our faculty, students, and staff are devoted to creating an inclusive environment where all can thrive through the College's programs, research activities, creative performances, community outreach, and signature experiences. Learn more about the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and our 12 distinct departments at

Department of Theatre and New Dance: The Department of Theatre & New Dance at Cal Poly Pomona offers a B.A. degree with specializations in Acting, Dance Theatre, Design & Technical Production, General Theatre, and Theatre in Education & Community Engagement. The program centers a learn-by-doing approach aligned with Cal Poly Pomona University values, offering students opportunities to participate in a range of production activities including performance, choreography, design, management, and dramaturgy. Curricular support for this work is designed to strengthen students' critical thinking and collaboration skills, and their ability to engage with diverse cultural contexts. The Department nurtures a lively community of students engaging with professional artists including faculty and guest artists from the robust Los Angeles arts communities. CPP tenure-line faculty engage in teaching, research and/or creative work, student mentorship and advising, and service to the University and greater community.

Position description: The position of Assistant Professor of Theatre for Social Change is a new faculty line that will support an established sub-program in Theatre in Education & Community Engagement. The successful candidate will teach existing undergraduate courses, including general education courses, and/or develop new courses related to their specialty. The Department understands Theatre for Social Change as practices related to theatre and performance which engage communities, foster resistance through performance, intentionally disrupt oppressive structures, create dialogue as a tool for social justice, and engage decolonial educational frameworks. Candidates whose experience includes Theatre Education and working with diverse academic and/or non-academic communities will be strongly considered.

Minimum requirements include:

M.F.A., Ph.D., or other terminal degree in Theatre, Performance Studies, or related field. (Must be completed by start date of appointment)
Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and equity. Evidence should be provided in a Student Success Statement that responds to the prompt above - "Inclusive Excellence and Student Success"
Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence, as evidenced in the Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Evidence of ongoing scholarly research and/or creative activities related to the candidate's area/s of expertise
Ability to teach a variety of existing courses
Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

We welcome candidates with diverse academic backgrounds, scholarly and/or creative practices, and methodologies of Theatre for Social Change.

Experience in Theatre of the Oppressed, Theatre of Witness, Performance Ethnography, Playback Theatre, Youth Theatre, Verbatim Theatre, Oral History Performance, or related methodologies.
Community Activism/Artivism and/or Community Engagement
Formal training in Theatre Education
Experience in K-12 Education
Experience Directing
Experience Devising
Experience Performing
Experience as a Dramaturg
Formal training and/or certifications in relevant techniques or pedagogies (such as voice, intimacy etc.)
Membership in relevant professional unions and/or professional organizations
Previous College or University teaching experience
Demonstrated ability to mentor and advise students
Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.