Visiting Assistant Professor - Musical Theatre - #120565

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
* 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

This position is located on WCU's main campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

The School of Stage & Screen at Western Carolina University invites applications for one semester, fixed-term Visiting Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre. We seek an energetic, collaborative, and student-centered artist-educator with expertise in music direction and musicianship who is excited to contribute to the continued growth and national visibility of our BFA Musical Theatre program. The anticipated start date is January 2027.

The successful candidate will join an engaged community of working artists and educators committed to preparing versatile, thoughtful, and resilient musical theatre professionals. We welcome candidates who bring an active professional practice, a passion for undergraduate teaching, and an interest in helping shape the evolving future of musical theatre training.

The expected workload for this position is 60% teaching and production activity, 20% service, and 20% creative scholarship, research, or publication. The standard teaching assignment is nine credit hours per semester, with course releases provided for assigned production responsibilities such as music direction. Specific teaching and production assignments will be determined by program needs and the successful candidate's areas of expertise. Specific teaching and production assignments will be determined according to program needs and the successful candidate's areas of expertise.

The BFA Musical Theatre program is guided by four core values: Authentic Curiosity, Daring Experimentation, Joyful Contribution, and Radical Critical Thought. Through our shared commitment to these values, we cultivate a compassionate and inclusive artistic community that honors its members, encourages meaningful risk-taking, and holds space for growth, inspiration, belonging, and excellence.

Candidates must possess one of the following:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following:

For questions or additional information please contact Tory Depew at vdepew@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

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