Job description

Union College invites applications for the position of Lecturer of Dance, beginning September 1, 2027. Applications will be accepted through September 4th, 2026, and the candidate review will begin in September 2026The Union College Department of Theater and Dance invites applications for a Lecturer of Dance at the rank of Lecturer. Lecturers have three-year, renewable contracts. After six years, Lecturers are eligible for promotion to Senior Lecturer with a five-year renewable contract. The candidate should be able to collaborate with existing faculty to support and expand interest in this Minor-specific program within a combined Theater and Dance performing arts department. The program serves students from across all majors and disciplines.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

The standard teaching load at Union College is six full-credit courses or their equivalents during each academic year of the appointment. The six-course load for this position includes a mixture of technique and choreography practicum sections and full-credit courses totaling five course equivalents, plus one course release for serving as coordinator/faculty mentor for the Spring choreography showcase and Associate Director for the Winter Dance Concert. In addition to the standard six-course load, every Lecturer fulfills one additional course equivalent of co-curricular duties specific to the needs of their academic program. For this position, these co-curricular duties include four areas: 1) support the overall coordination and administration of the Dance Program’s activities, including developing and implementing policies, procedures, and guidelines that support courses, rehearsals, performances, and workshops; 2) work closely with the Director of Dance to plan and manage the program calendar and coordinate use of Henle Dance and studio spaces; 3) serve as the primary liaison between student dance organizations and the program, providing mentorship and coordination support for initiatives such as FallU; and 4) collaborate to develop guest artist residencies and workshops across a range of dance forms, enhancing student learning, community engagement, and professional development opportunities throughout the academic year.

To learn more about the program’s current curricular, performance, and academic offerings, please visit https://www.union.edu/academic/majors-minors/dance.

Qualifications

Candidates should hold an MFA in dance or other comparable performance area along with suitable experience in dance at an academic level. They should also have a record of professional experience as performer and/or choreographer, including the ability to integrate performers with a variety of experience levels into their creative work. Candidates holding other degrees who demonstrate exceptional professional, administrative, and academic teaching experience will be considered.

We welcome applicants who demonstrable openness to diversity of expression and innovation across multiple disciplines and forms of dance, including candidates who have skill and experience in traditionally underrepresented forms. Candidates should be able to offer full-credit choreography courses, and courses exploring various histories, contexts, and interdisciplinary connections from beginner through advanced levels. The candidate must also be able to teach choreography and technique practicum classes to mixed-level groups in one or more styles that support and expand the current offerings. Union College has a number of engineering and STEM majors that participate in dance classes, and co-taught or individually taught courses that can make connections between these disciplines and the study of dance would be welcome. Candidates are encouraged to highlight their ability to contribute courses that would support the College’s rich array of interdisciplinary programs.

About the Department

The Theatre and Dance Department at Union College encourages community engagement, academic excellence and guiding student inquiry and experiences to develop artistic exploration, collaborative skills, and critical thinking. We offer our students hands-on training with a foundation of scholarly investigation by fostering the integration of a liberal arts education within a global perspective of their artistry.

The department fully supports three faculty or guest artist-directed theater productions in each academic year, one faculty-directed dance concert, two faculty-led dance showcases, and a number of presentations of student-led performances as part of the production season in both dance and theater (three-six+ in each academic year). A recently introduced musical theater and vocal performance minor in conjunction with the Music Department offers an opportunity for students and faculty to work on a fully produced musical every other year. The department regularly invites guest artists to campus for performances, workshops, master classes in theater and dance, and produces a yearly Dance Residency with a co-produced performance at a professional venue in the region.

The Henle Dance Pavilion houses one primary dance studio with the ability to use other non-dance specific studios for additional courses. The primary studio has a full lighting rig, sound system, and the ability to support aerial silks and lyra rigging for classes, workshops, and performances.

How to apply

Please submit all application materials as pdf files. Only the materials listed below will be considered.

• Cover letter indicating your interest, and how your skillset and experience would be a match for this position
• Resume/CV detailing professional and academic/teaching experience
• Teaching philosophy that includes a discussion of how you have or how you would approach incorporating a variety of students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experience levels into your classes and choreography work for performances
• Videos or link to website showing full choreographic work/s in performance

Please send questions and other inquiries to Laurie Zabele Cawley at [email protected]. Applicants invited to the first round of interviews will receive a request for the contact information for three professional references who can speak to their abilities in collaboration, teaching, mentorship, communication, artistry, and ability to contribute to program support needs.

Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $68,500-70,500. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, the wage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Location: Schenectady, NY

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Exchange

Background Checks: In accordance with our background check policy, finalists for hire will undergo a background check that includes education, employment, and criminal convictions.

E-Verify Participation: Union College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify and your Right to Work (Derecho a Trabajar).

Diversity at Union College

Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and veteran status. Union College is committed to providing access and will provide reasonable accommodation in its application process to individuals with disabilities that request such accommodations.