Job description

Department of Theater and Dance

Location: Amherst, MA
Open Date: May 26, 2026

Description
The theater and dance department at Amherst College invites applications for a full-time tenure track position at the assistant professor rank beginning July 1, 2027.

Amherst College is one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country. The college is committed to providing financial aid that meets 100 percent of every student’s demonstrated need, and nearly 60 percent of Amherst students receive financial aid. Our expectation is that the successful candidate will excel at teaching and mentoring a broad range of students. The college is committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff and works to support all members of its community. Located in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts, Amherst participates in the Five College Consortium.

We seek a scholar or scholar-artist with primary expertise in performance studies and dramaturgy, and/or dance dramaturgy. The field of specialization is open, but should include engagement with Asian American and Pacific Islander and related diasporic studies within theater and/or dance. Intersecting topics might also include race, gender and sexuality, migration, and transnational exchange. The successful candidate will teach courses in performance history and theory, dramaturgy, and/or related courses; two of the four courses per year will contribute to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies program at Amherst College. We are interested in a colleague excited to provide rigorous critical lenses and depth to a student-centered program in creative practices. Student engagement also includes support of creative projects in our production program, especially those related to theater and dance majors’ senior honors research. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the life of the department and the college. Candidates must have a terminal degree in hand, or all requirements for the degree fulfilled by the start of the appointment, either a Ph.D., or an M.F.A., in dramaturgy or an artistic discipline with evidence of a significant research profile.

The expected salary range for this job opportunity is $90,000 to $122,000. The salary offered will vary based on a number of factors, including but not limited to relevant education, training, and experience, tenure status, and other nondiscriminatory business considerations. Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Click here for benefits information.

Applicants are asked to submit electronically via Interfolio https://apply.interfolio.com/187256 the following materials: a cover letter summarizing the candidate’s interest in the position; curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; a detailed description of research plans and examples of current research and, if applicable artistic work; and three letters of recommendation. Applications received by October 5, 2026, will receive full consideration, and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Professor Ron Bashford, chair of the theater and dance department.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Amherst College does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Amherst College complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Inquiries should be addressed to the chief equity and inclusion officer, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000.

How to apply

For more information and to apply, visit