Assistant Educator/Assistant Teaching Professor of Filmmaking

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

Seeking a creative filmmaker who loves hands-on production, lives for set days, and wants to break the mold with students who are hungry to make real work that matters. If your perfect week includes building a lighting plan on Monday, scouting and storyboarding on Tuesday, rehearsing blocking and safety on Wednesday, loading a truck on Thursday, and calling "roll camera" on Friday-you'll feel right at home here! We're looking for an educator-filmmaker who thrives in the organized chaos of production, who can wire a dimmer board before coffee, explain why we're flagging spill at noon, and still make time to help a sophomore dial in a clean over-the-shoulder by three. You're not just a cinematographer or a colorist or a mentor-you're the connective tissue that turns curious students into confident crews.

Our students build films with real deadlines, real stakeholders, and real expectations, and they need a guide who can translate creative vision into safe, repeatable, professional practice. Your classroom is a soundstage, a location, a grip truck, a color bay, a hallway with mixed color temperatures that you turn into magic. You love teaching the why behind the how: why we key from the far side, why we protect the line of action, why the best coverage is planned in pre-production, and why a good gaffer is worth their weight in gold. This role is perfect for a builder someone who can translate aesthetic goals into grip & gaff solutions; someone who turns "we have three hours and a window" into a cinematic win.

The Assistant Teaching Professor/Assistant Educator of Filmmaking is a full-time non-tenure track faculty position that will teach, advise, mentor and recruit undergraduate digital arts students with a focus in filmmaking. The academic appointment for this position will be effective August 2, 2026.

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 teaching and service, as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Our new colleague will teach courses in Cinematography I, II, and III, Color correction and grading for Film and additional Camera Classes. This position will support large-scale student productions, mentor student directors and DPs, and collaborate on interdisciplinary studio courses with animation and acting for camera.

Required Education and Experience:

• Graduate level degree or Equivalent Experience in the Field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

• BFA in Filmmaking or related field, or significant industry experience.
• Professional experience in the field.
• Professional experience with cinematography, grip, and lighting for film production.
• 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 filmmaking.
• Ability to use and teach industry standard software.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with production workflows, including pre-production planning, set operations, and collaboration with other departments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of filmmaking experience.
• Strong working knowledge of grip and gaff equipment, lighting design, and on-set safety practices.
• Proficiency in camera systems, lensing, and color correction/grading (e.g., DaVinci Resolve) to support visual storytelling.
• Experience mentoring or teaching student directors, cinematographers, and crews on large-scale productions.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines such as animation, acting for camera, and audio production.
• Record of professional film work or creative projects screened, published, or distributed at regional, national, or international levels.
• Commitment to applied learning and preparing students for professional careers in film/media industries.

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 Robert Thomas, Filmmaking Program Coordinator, Chair, Filmmaking Search Committee, robert.thomas@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: