Associate Dean, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Associate or Full Professor

Associate Dean, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Associate or Full Professor

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Applicants should submit:

1. Letter of application that specifically addresses your interest in, and qualifications for, the job responsibilities listed above.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Statement describing leadership vision, particularly for a School of Music, Theatre & Dance housed within a comprehensive liberal arts university. 
4. Names, email addresses and telephone numbers of five references.

Additional materials may be required at a later date.
Nominations are also accepted. For nominations, questions, or more information, please contact Cameron Bennett, Dean, College of Professional Studies, at [email protected].

Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number:	0603138
Recruitment Type:	Open to All Applicants
Position Title:	Associate Dean, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Associate or Full Professor
Position Type:	Faculty
Benefits Status:	Benefits Eligible
FLSA:	Exempt
Hiring Range:	$96,000 to $122,667 per year (12 month base) + benefits package.
Location	Tacoma, WA 98447
Department:	Music Department
Posting Date:	09/25/2026
Closing Date	Review of application materials will begin October 26, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.
Work Schedule:	Full time, Associate Dean position available July 1, 2027. 12-month contract (June-May); 67% administrative release and 33% teaching.
General Description:	The School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) of the College of Professional Studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, seeks a dynamic associate dean to lead the unit with a vision to sustain and advance a widely acclaimed program of artistic and academic excellence. Rank of Associate or Full Professor. Teaching responsibilities based upon expertise and needs.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:	Provide academic and artistic leadership of a vibrant and multifaceted School of Music, Theatre & Dance—overseeing all policy, personnel, and budgetary matters. Sustain and advance the SMTD through active student recruitment and faculty development. Foster a collaborative leadership environment and be responsible for: academic planning; assessment and enhancement of the program and curriculum; faculty evaluation; coordination of teaching assignments and schedules; facilities use; budgeting and allocation of resources; student advisement; annual scholarship process; oversight of a robust international and national ensemble touring schedule; and accreditation. Work collegially within a university-wide faculty governance structure. Foster support for College-wide and university goals. Advocate effectively for the SMTD within and outside the university—regionally and the national music community. Encourage collaborative interdisciplinary programming—within the School, College, and across the university. Teach a 33% load (equivalent of two courses) based upon expertise and the needs of the school. Supervise office personnel. Work closely with the Dean of the College of Professional Studies to develop additional resources for the SMTD.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:	Demonstrated excellence as a teacher/scholar/artist with a specialty in a field taught within the school. Demonstrated excellence as an administrator with a distinguished record of continuing research/creative activity. Superior interpersonal and communication skills. Knowledge of emerging technologies for use in the classroom and in research in order to manage and sustain school initiatives.
Required Qualifications:	Terminal degree in music, theatre or dance (Ph.D, DMA, or MFA) and a record of excellence in teaching and artistic or scholarly activity. Academic leadership experience at the level of chair, associate dean, or dean and/or a demonstrable track record of increasing leadership responsibilities.  An understanding of all disciplines housed in the school is essential. Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship.
Preferred Qualifications:	At least three years of demonstrable administrative experience including a history of resource management, recruiting, promotion of university music, theatre or dance programs, program development, community outreach, strategic planning, experience with national accreditation agencies, and success in fundraising.
Work Conditions:
Physical Requirements:
Special Instructions to Applicants:	Applicants should submit: Letter of application that specifically addresses your interest in, and qualifications for, the job responsibilities listed above. Curriculum Vitae. Statement describing leadership vision, particularly for a School of Music, Theatre & Dance housed within a comprehensive liberal arts university.  Names, email addresses and telephone numbers of five references. Additional materials may be required at a later date. Nominations are also accepted. For nominations, questions, or more information, please contact Cameron Bennett, Dean, College of Professional Studies, at [email protected].
Other Information:	Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2025-26 academic year, 45 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 51.4 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant–eligible. Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,800 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound. PLU administration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty-shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or [email protected]. Click here for detailed benefits information.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Will you have a terminal degree in hand by the date of appointment?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * Are you legally eligible to work in the United States on your hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship now and indefinitely into the future?
   • Yes
   • No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Statement
4. List of Five References

Optional Documents