Assistant/Associate Professor of Commercial Music and Founding Director of the Commercial Music Program

University Overview: 

MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) is a private, liberal arts university with a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and adult education programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  Located in the Kansas City metropolitan area, MNU seeks to educate students to serve with purpose within the educational context of the liberal arts, and a Christian, Wesleyan-holiness theological perspective.  MNU has an enrollment of approximately 1300 students with over half considered traditional undergraduate students.  For more information about MNU, see our website: www.mnu.edu.

Position Description:

MidAmerica Nazarene University invites applications for a full-time faculty position serving as the Founding Director of the Commercial Music Program within the Department of Arts & Humanities. This position will provide leadership for the B.A. in Commercial Music, which includes tracks in Music Production and Technology, Music Entrepreneurship, Music Production and Technology, Jazz Studies, and Performance.

We seek an experienced and versatile music professional who can contribute broadly to the Commercial Music curriculum (music production and technology, recording arts, music promotion, arts management, performance, songwriting and related fields) while developing the program’s connections with professional musicians, churches, production companies, arts organizations, studios, and other community partners.

In addition to teaching expectations in the Commercial Music curriculum, other teaching opportunities may include music theory, music history, General Education music courses, applied lessons in the candidate's area of expertise, improvisation, and other music courses. MNU is particularly interested in candidates who are qualified to teach broadly across the music curriculum and who can contribute to the continued development of the Commercial Music program.

Program Leadership and Recruitment

In addition to teaching, a significant component of this position will be providing leadership for the launch and development of the new B.A. in Commercial Music. The successful candidate will help establish the program’s identity, curriculum, professional partnerships, and student opportunities while providing vision and leadership for its continued growth. They will be expected to cultivate relationships with prospective students, regional music professionals, church musicians, private studio teachers, classroom music educators, arts organizations, and other industry partners.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Characteristics

• A mature and actively lived Christian faith, demonstrated by regular participation in a local church, the practice of personal and corporate spiritual disciplines, and a commitment to following Jesus Christ in daily life and professional relationships.
• Ability to integrate Christian faith and values into teaching, performance, professional practice, and relationships with students and colleagues.
• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Commercial Music, Music Production or Technology, or a related field.
• Significant professional experience in multiple areas of the music industry, including two or more of the following:
  • Music Production and Music Technology
  • Recording Arts / Live Music Production / Audio Engineer
  • Music Entrepreneurship or Arts Management
  • Songwriting and/or Commercial Music Performance
  • Electronic Music and Composition
• Experience in recruiting and connecting with prospective students, including relationships with regional music professionals, church musicians, private studio teachers, classroom music educators, and other potential students and partners.
• Teaching expertise in one or more areas including Music Production and Technology, Music Entrepreneurship/business, and/or Music Performance.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty colleagues, music professionals, and community partners.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships, internships, and professional networking opportunities that provide meaningful experiential learning for students.
• Commitment to student development and to the mission of MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Preferred Qualifications and Characteristics

• Graduate degree in Music, Commercial Music, Music Production or Technology, or a related field.
• Established professional networking connections within the music industry and demonstrated experience developing partnerships and opportunities for emerging musicians.
• Experience working with music businesses, recording studios, live production, arts organizations, churches, or other professional music environments.
• Demonstrated experience developing or leading academic programs, ensembles, community music initiatives, internships, or other experiential learning opportunities.
• Ability to teach broadly across the music curriculum and contribute to courses outside the candidate's primary area of specialization.

Teaching and Professional Responsibilities

This is a 10-month faculty position with a 27-load-credit annual assignment. Teaching responsibilities will be determined according to the candidate's expertise and departmental needs and may include courses in Music Entrepreneurship/Business, Music Production, Music Technology, and Music Performance. Additional teaching opportunities may include songwriting, music theory, music history, General Education music courses, applied lessons in the candidate's performance area, and other music courses within the candidate's qualifications. The department is particularly interested in candidates that can teach into the music core curriculum of the music unit.

The position is intended for a faculty member who can teach broadly across the music curriculum while providing leadership for the B.A. in Commercial Music and contributing to student recruitment, professional networking, community engagement, internship development, and program development.

A portion of the annual load will be dedicated to recruiting and community engagement, with an increased emphasis during the first year on building the program's visibility, developing community and industry partnerships, establishing internship opportunities, and generating student recruitment activity. In subsequent years, the recruiting and community engagement assignment is anticipated to align more closely with the standard assignment for other music faculty.

Position Reports to:

Chair, Department of Arts & Humanities, in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Application:Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for the position, please attach the following documentation to your application.

• CV
• Cover letter of interest
• Statement of Christian faith, including personal faith history and vision for integrating faith and learning (approx. 1-2 pages).
• 3-5 References
• (Optional as applicable) List of links to performances, productions, or pertinent commercial music work

Questions about the application process may be addressed to Abigail Harris, HR Generalist, athr@mnu.edu.Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Luke Johnson atLdjohnson@mnu.edu

Statement of Faith: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an intentionally Christian Community and desires that all employees in positions of leadership reflect a foundational Christian position in word, attitude and action. While there is no predetermined length or format for the Personal Statement of Faith, the norm is a one or two-page narrative document describing the applicant’s central Christian beliefs, significant formative influences in the applicant’s Christian experience (e.g., religious experiences of conversion or the affirmation of one’s faith, one’s family and/or home life, spiritual aspirations), and ways in which the applicant’s faith is being demonstrated in daily patterns and practices.

MidAmerica is very much interested in reviewing applications from qualified members of traditionally underrepresented groups in America, including women and racial and ethnic minorities. MidAmerica Nazarene University policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, or disability in the recruitment and admission of students and in the operation of all university programs, activities, and services.   Any concerns regarding discrimination on the basis of gender or disability should be addressed to the Associate Academic Vice President, university coordinator of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, in the Academic Offices in Lunn Hall, (913) 971-3573.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.

*Christian faith and employment at MidAmerica Nazarene University: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. It reserves the right to prefer employees based on religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964). Preferred candidates demonstrate a strong commitment to the Christian faith, active participation in a local church, and a philosophy of Christian higher education consistent with the Wesleyan tradition.

Read the university’s full Non-Discrimination/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement atwww.mnu.edu/employment.