Description
The Department of Communication at Santa Clara University invites applications for the position of a tenure-track assistant professor in Narrative or Non-Fiction Filmmaking tobegin in Fall 2026. We are particularly interested in applicants whose creative work and teaching focuses on Black and/or Latiné experiences and/or the representation of people of color, and whose teaching addresses one or more of the following, ideally through a social justice lens: screenwriting, editing or cinematography.
The selected applicant will teach introductory courses in filmmaking, advanced production courses, and/or film/tv history courses in their area of specialty, with a preference for teaching and creative scholarship that focuses on Black or Latiné identities, narratives, or politics. The incumbent may be eligible to be appointed as a Sinatra Assistant Professor during their probationary period, which carries additional salary and research funding.
Candidates should demonstrate a record of innovative work and a strong creative portfolio, including the ability to exhibit at festivals, theaters and/or on television, as well as evidence of successful teaching. Candidates must have an MFA or Ph.D. (or ABD status) in film/television production or related field.
SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the university’s fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice and community engagement, are infused with a culture of care that defines our community—upholding the dignity of all. The university draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located. Faculty members are teaching scholars who balance a commitment to excellent teaching with active programs of research or creative scholarship. A full-time teaching load is two courses per quarter. Maintaining an active research/creative program is required, along with undergraduate advising and service responsibilities. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2025. A more complete job description can be found at https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Assistant-Professor-in-Narrative-or-Non-Fiction-Filmmaking---
Tenure-Track_R6555.
Visa assistance is available for this position.
Visit www.scu.edu for to learn about SCU’s mission, courses offered in our department, the diverse student population we serve, and the University’s housing assistance program. We especially encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/. Email queries: Co-chair Nico Opper ([email protected]) or Co-chair Mike Whalen ([email protected]).
Requirements
The ideal candidate will be an experienced teacher and filmmaker with demonstrable knowledge about a vast range of forms, approaches, and sensibilities of filmmaking in all phases of the production process from screenwriting to post-production, and who can connect her/his work to the social justice mission of the University. The faculty member will primarily teach production courses in digital filmmaking and her/his area of specialty, with a preference for one whose teaching and creative scholarship focuses on the Latiné or Black experiences.
We especially seek candidates who are interested in qualifying one or more of their specialty courses for the following areas of the University's core curriculum: diversity, civic engagement, cultures and ideas 3, or another core area consistent with the candidate’s preparation. We encourage applications from candidates who share this understanding and whose research, teaching and service connect with the university’s mission and values. Candidates must have an MFA or Ph.D. (or ABD status) in film/television production or a related field by appointment start date.
