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The University Of Texas at Austin
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE

The University of Texas at Austin seeks nominations and applications for the position of chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, appointment effective in the 2010-2011 academic-year.

Responsibilities: The chair is the primary academic and administrative officer of the Department of Theatre and Dance and reports to the dean of the College of Fine Arts. He or she is responsible for leading the Department of Theatre and Dance and promoting excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, and service. The chair is also the public face of the department and must serve as a passionate and articulate advocate for the department and its wide-ranging programs.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Promote the department and its ascendant stature to the national and international communities - both academically and professionally
• Foster and nurture external relationships, with particular attention to development and fundraising
• Advocate for the department within the college and university at large.
• Advance the unification of the department's various artistic and pedagogical missions
• Facilitate interdisciplinary activities within the department including the advancement of new technologies
• Oversee the annual production season
• Maintain and strengthen the academic and producing relationships between the department and Texas Performing Arts
• Promote collaboration with the Department of Art and Art History, the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music and other units of the university
• Maintain a positive and supportive working environment for the eleven-member administrative and professional staff
• Manage the department's $4 million dollar budget

Qualifications: The Department of Theatre and Dance is seeking an academically and artistically dynamic individual to lead its outstanding faculty and student body. Candidates should possess demonstrated leadership abilities that include the successful implementation of ideas; management expertise sufficient to embrace and support a rigorous and highly diverse teaching faculty; and deep knowledge of the performing arts and its current aesthetic trends.

Additionally, this candidate must have strong administrative experience that includes an understanding of university administrative and academic processes, including budget management. The successful candidate will have a track record as an effective fundraiser dedicated to building both internal and external relationships.

Candidates must have demonstrated accomplishment as a performer, scholar, and/or creative artist, commensurate with the rank of tenured professor. Candidates in a variety of academic or artistic specialties are encouraged to apply. A demonstrated ability to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels is required.

The University of Texas at Austin is committed to affirmative action and is especially interested in the application or nomination of women and candidates of color.

Overview: The Department of Theatre and Dance is comprised of 300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, a largely tenure-track/tenured faculty of 50,11 full- and part-time staff, and offers a range of baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Facilities include a 250-seat black box, 480-seat proscenium, 130-seat proscenium lab theatre, teaching and rehearsal spaces, and state-of-the-art design and computer labs. The department season consists of six to ten productions and numerous laboratory presentations per year. Augmenting the educational mission, the department sponsors many visiting artists and scholars, as well as the biennial University Co-op Presents Cohen New Works Festival.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is one of four programmatically integrated units of the College of Fine Arts, including the Department of Art and Art History, the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music, and Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin Texas Performing Arts. The college is comprised of 1,200 undergraduate students, 600 graduate students, approximately 275 faculty members, and 200 staff members. The college offers fine arts courses to virtually every undergraduate in the university.

The Department of Theatre and Dance and Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin Texas Performing Arts have a unique partnership within the College of Fine Arts - one that is rooted in academics, production and presenting.

With a staff of dedicated professionals committed to the education of students, Texas Performing Arts provides production, box office, house management, and marketing support to the Department of Theatre and Dance, as well as for other College of Fine Arts units. The Texas Performing Arts staff works with Theatre and Dance faculty to provide hands-on/laboratory experience for students in costumes, scenery (including automation), props, lighting and audio for the department's annual production season.

Many of the Texas Performing Arts staff also serve in a teaching capacity, offering independent study opportunities in wig making, scenic painting, and VectorWorks, as well as internship opportunities throughout the center in arts administration, marketing, event management, outreach and development.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is a comprehensive flagship research institution with highly ranked programs in many fields. With a community of 50,000 students, 2,500 faculty, and 14,000 staff, the university is located at the edge of the Texas Hill Country. As the capital of Texas, with an area population over 1 million, Austin supports a lively arts and cultural scene, a progressive community spirit and offers abundant recreational opportunities.

Please visit our web site at http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad

Procedure: Send a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae and a list of five references to:

Deadline: Formal review of materials will begin October 15, 2009 and will continue until position is filled.

Background check will be conducted on applicant selected.

The University of Texas at Austin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.