APAP Career Center

The School of Drama within the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University  invites applicants for a one year, Visiting Lecturer in the Costume Design Program.

The Costume Design Program prepares students for careers in theater, television and film, opera, dance, and emerging forms of performance-based entertainment. Under the mentorship of world-class faculty, emphasis is placed on developing individual artists with active voices in collaborative creation. We combine established practice and innovative pedagogical and technological advancement across all subject areas with an intensive student-centered school production season.

Our conservatory program prepares its students to be committed to the enrichment of diverse art practices, to champion interdisciplinary collaboration, to explore new forms of creative expression, and to promote community and diversity. As the first established degree-granting Drama program in the US, Carnegie Mellon has a long, rich history of  preparing  Theater artists to be at the forefront of the Entertainment industry.

Location:  This position requires being physically located on the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania campus throughout the academic year.   

Position Type:  This position carries the academic rank of Visiting Lecturer in Costume Design. The position is for academic year 2025-26, with a commitment of nine months from late August 2025 through mid-May 2026.  

Position Description

This position would serve as an integral part of a five-person costume design and production team who work closely together within a dynamic, drama conservatory community.

Courses in the first semester would be History of Clothing (from a global, multi-cultural and broad socio-political viewpoint)--this course would be taught primarily to first year costume graduates, junior undergraduate  and dramaturgs; and shadowing Fundamentals of Costume Design with a current faculty mentor.

Courses in semester two would be a continuation of History of Clothing, Introduction to Costume Design for recently declared sophomores and ideally, a course in Digital Drawing and/or Concept Character Illustration if these skills are within the purview of the candidate.

Each semester would include some production design advisement.

Salary range: $65,000-$70,000, plus benefits.

Position is open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents only.

• Professional experience is necessary; some teaching and an MFA are desirable.

Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.

Review of applications will begin immediately.  The application process will remain open until January 15, 2025 or until position is filled.  Early application is encouraged.

To apply, please submit the following:

The School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University values candidates that exemplify a commitment towards building a more inclusive community which includes a vast array of identities and approaches to increased belonging who can utilize their experiences to increase the capacity of such practices.

• Cover Letter describing your qualifications and interest in the position; summarizing your experience, what you might bring to the program and how your growth as an artist and educator can continue to evolve as part of our community.
• Comprehensive Digital Portfolio or Website link.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae
• A list of at least three current References with contact information.

Application Review Process:

Review of applications will begin immediately.  The application process will close on January 15, 2025.   Early application is encouraged.

The search committee is interested in attracting a diverse pool of applicants. Research indicates that individuals identifying from marginalized backgrounds do not apply to positions that do not precisely align with their skillset, however we encourage folks that consider their qualifications to be unique and can contribute to the costume design team. To apply or ask additional questions via email, subject line ?COSTUME SEARCH?, to Joyce Dellovade at joyced@andrew.cmu.edu

Are you interested in this exciting opportunity?  Please apply!

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Carnegie Mellon University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

About Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon (www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university’s seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon’s main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California’s Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.

Connections working at Carnegie Mellon University