Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.

The College of Arts and Humanities invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. The preferred rank at appointment is Professor. The five-year administrative term begins July 1, 2024. While serving as director, the tenured faculty appointee will hold a 12-month appointment and be expected to teach one course per year in the scholar’s area of expertise and contribute to the school’s outstanding graduate program.

The Director of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. As chief academic, administrative, and financial officer of the unit, the director is responsible for course assignments, instructional workload, and scheduling; the appointments, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review processes; shared governance; faculty mentoring; staff supervision and development; strategic planning; and budgeting. The director also serves as a liaison to other academic units of the College and University as well as the wider community of academic institutions, policy and advocacy organizations, foundations, and private donors who support the department.

For more information about the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, see https://tdps.umd.edu/.  Candidates must possess the capacity to provide leadership in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and administration. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence and to support an open and inclusive environment among the diverse groups and disciplines within the school and across campus.

We seek candidates whose work has prepared them to contribute to diversity and inclusion. Applicants are asked to summarize their leadership efforts and past or potential contributions to diversity. Contributions might include leadership in teaching, mentoring, research, or service towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment and/or increasing access or participation of individuals from historically underrepresented groups.

Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent, a demonstrated excellence in research, and the capacity to provide leadership in the areas of scholarship, teaching, administration, and institution-building.

SALARY: Commensurate with education and experience.

HOW TO APPLY: Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a letter outlining the candidate’s vision for the future of the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies with specific plans for the implementation of that vision. The statement should include views on graduate education; undergraduate education; research and scholarship; community outreach; diversity and inclusion; staff relations; hiring and promotion (especially plans for new hires in coming years); curricular and programmatic initiatives; the relationship of the department’s strategic plan to those of the College and University; and other issues of current concern before the department.

It is expected that each finalist invited to campus will be asked to give a public presentation to the department, interview with the search committee, faculty and staff in the department, undergraduate and graduate students, and interview with the Dean and members of the Dean’s staff. A recommendation from the search committee should be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities no later than April 1, 2024. It is expected that the appointment will begin July 1, 2024.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by February 1, 2024.

Those wishing to nominate colleagues should send their nominations to the chair of the search committee, Professor Ahmet Karamustafa, at akaramus@umd.edu. Any questions about the search can also be directed to Trevor Parry-Giles, tpg@umd.edu, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research in the College of Arts and Humanities.

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.