Department: School of Digital Arts

Campus Location: Wichita, KS-WSU Shocker Studios (Harry Street)

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: Varies depending upon teaching schedule.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Do you leap before you look? Do you live for the adrenaline of a perfect fall? Does your idea of dressing in a suit mean wearing lycra with a bunch of reflective markers? If so, we want YOU to join our team!
We are seeking an Assistant Professor of Acting for Digital Arts with expertise in Performance Capture & Stunt Work to train the next generation of bold storytellers, digital adventurers, and fearless performers.

What You'll Do:
• Teach students to embody everything from tragic heroes to CGI dragons.
• Lead motion capture sessions where dots, suits, and imagination reign supreme.
• Demonstrate safe yet jaw-dropping stunt techniques
• Collaborate with fellow faculty on productions that blend film and cutting-edge technology
• Inspire students to push the boundaries of performance – without breaking any actual bones.

What We're Looking For:
• Hands-on motion capture expertise (yes, we want those stories about pretending to be a dinosaur).
• A flair for teaching, mentoring, and occasionally convincing students that "yes, rolling across the floor IS part of the assignment."
• Enthusiasm, creativity, and a sense of humor that can withstand a hundred questions about "how do I get into Marvel movies?"

Perks of the Job:
• Access to state-of-the-art performance studios and motion capture labs.
• A community of passionate, curious, and slightly dramatic students.
• Opportunities to choreograph, direct, and experiment with wild, innovative projects.
• Daily workouts disguised as class demonstrations.
• Bragging rights: "I train actors to fight dragons, fly across stages, and emote in ping-pong ball suits."

The Assistant Professor of Acting for Digital Arts is a full-time tenure track faculty position that will teach, advise, mentor and recruit undergraduate digital arts students with a focus in acting for digital arts. The academic appointment for this position will be effective August 2, 2026.
If you're ready to bring drama, daring, and digital magic to the classroom, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help us shape the future of performance on screen and beyond!

About the School of Digital Arts (SODA)
Offering a Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) in Media Arts with concentrations in Acting for Digital Arts, Animation, Audio Production, Collaborative Design, Filmmaking, and Game Design, the School of Digital Arts stands out as the fastest growing school within the university. Its enrollment and programmatic expansion are outpacing initial projections and contributes to the institution’s record-breaking growth. The School of Digital Arts at Wichita State University is deeply connected to industry partners, giving students first-hand, applied learning experiences that bridge the classroom and real-world practice. These opportunities prepare students to enter their chosen fields with practical skills, professional networks, and clear career pathways: https://www.wichita.edu/digitalarts

About the College of Fine Arts (CFA)
Wichita State University’s College of Fine Arts includes four schools: Art, Design and Creative Industries, Digital Arts, Music, and Performing Arts. The college is a beacon for arts leadership and economy in the city, state, and region. Learn about the CFA arts and cultural impact: https://www.wichita.edu/about/strategic_plan/documents/2021-WSU-Impact-report-digital.pdf

Job Summary

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Essential Functions

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Our new colleague will teach courses in Performance Capture I & II, Stunt/Combat for Camera, Emotion Through Movement, and support interdisciplinary performance classes that serve animation, game design, and filmmaking. This position will mentor student performers and collaborate on digital production projects using our mocap volume and will mentor students preparing for careers in voice and performance for games, animation reference acting, and film/TV stunt coordination. This position also creates opportunities for new partnerships, industry collaborations, and grant-funded interdisciplinary work.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

• MFA in Acting or related field (must have completed terminal degree by time of application).
• Professional experience in the field.
• Willingness to accommodate a variety of learning styles and strategies in instructional delivery and learning activities, including online and blended learning, flexible teaching methods, and applied learning approaches.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in acting for digital arts
• Ability to use and teach industry standard software
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience with performance capture, motion capture acting, or virtual production.
• 3+ years professional experience in the field.
• Training or certification in stage combat, stunt work, or physical performance for camera.
• Experience teaching or coaching acting techniques for animation, games, or film/TV.
• Familiarity with voiceover and vocal performance for games, animation, or digital media.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary digital projects (film, animation, game design, or immersive media).
• Record of creative scholarship or professional credits in performance for digital or screen-based media.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor students pursuing careers in digital performance industries.
• Experience with performance capture software.

Additional Information:

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application
Teaching Philosophy
Portfolio of Creative and/or Scholarly Work (URL): include up to 15 examples of your artistic, creative, or scholarly achievements and 15 examples of student work.
Course Syllabi or Sample Syllabus

For more information, contact Kayla Shebshayevich, Acting for Digital Arts Program Coordinator, Chair, Acting for Digital Arts Search Committee, kayla.shebshayevich@wichita.edu

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position – Frequent 60-90%; Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators – Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement: