Assistant Professor of Lighting Design

The Department of Theatre at Wofford College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Lighting Design, beginning August 2026. We seek a dynamic artist-educator who is excited to engage with undergraduate students in a liberal arts setting and contribute to a collaborative and forward-thinking theatre program. The Department is housed in the Rosalind S. Richardson Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art building (opened 2017) that is home to both theatre and visual arts, including a 325-seat proscenium theatre, a 100-seat black box theatre, classrooms, and offices, in addition to extensive gallery, museum, and studio spaces. 

For more information about Wofford College and the Department of Theatre, visit the Theatre program page.

Teaching and Production Responsibilities

The successful candidate will

• Serve as the department’s resident lighting designer

• Teach at least two courses per semester related to design and production, with flexibility to teach in related areas of expertise or interest. The teaching load is 3:1:3, typically including two classroom courses and one course equivalent for production design responsibilities, plus a flexible Interim course during January.

• Design lighting for all departmental productions (typically 3-4 annually), including:

• • Two main stage shows

  • Two black box projects

  • A student-directed January term production

  • End-of-semester course showcases

• Mentor and supervise student lighting designers and technicians

• Maintain and oversee lighting systems in two well-equipped performance venues

• Collaborate closely with faculty, staff, and guest artists to support a vibrant season

Qualifications

• MFA in Theatre Design (with a concentration in Lighting Design) required by August 2026 (or MFA in Lighting Design, Theatre Design, Theatre Technology, or another similar terminal degree required by August 2026)

• Demonstrated excellence or potential in undergraduate teaching (strongly preferred)

• Professional or academic lighting design experience

• Commitment to inclusive teaching and supporting a diverse student body

• Strong collaborative, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills (and a sense of humor)

• Experience with ETC lighting sytems is required.  Knowledge of Vectorworks (preferred) or AutoCAD, QLab, and Lightwright required. Knowledge of Sketchup, Revit, Solidworks, Rhino, or similar programs desirable.

Application Process

For your application to be fully considered, please apply via the Wofford Careers Page and be sure to include the following:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position

• Curriculum vitae

• Portfolio of lighting design work (PDF or link to online portfolio)

• Statement of teaching philosophy, including approach to inclusive pedagogy

• Contact information for three professional references

Applications received by February 15, 2026, will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

ABOUT WOFFORD COLLEGE

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a private liberal arts residential college located a few blocks north of downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina. Wofford offers 27 major fields of study to a student body of nearly 1,800 undergraduates and is nationally known for the strength of its academic program, outstanding faculty, and study abroad participation. Wofford is home to one of the nation’s 290 Phi Beta Kappa chapters. The college community supports 19 NCAA Division I athletics teams and numerous student organizations, including honor societies, professional organizations, faith-based organizations, Greek life, and club sports.

SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA

Spartanburg is located in upstate South Carolina, 30 miles east of Greenville, South Carolina, an hour from Charlotte, North Carolina, and three hours east of Atlanta, Georgia. Historic Charleston and the South Carolina coast are three hours away, and Wofford sits an hour south of the artistic, culinary hub of Asheville, North Carolina. Spartanburg is a growing, diverse community that supports six college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations. It became the first city in South Carolina to join the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and, in 2012, became one of five cities nationally to participate in the 10-year Wellville program, a national nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving equitable well-being in U.S. cities. Spartanburg and Wofford partner on multiple community equity initiatives, including the Northside Initiative, which has brought together a diverse group of citizens to revitalize a neighborhood in ways that don’t reproduce the harm of earlier urban renewal programs.

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