Assistant Professor of Cinema and Media

The Department of Cinema and Media at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time tenure track faculty position in Cinema and Media in the College of Arts and Sciences beginning Fall 2026. This is an open-field search for candidates with training in the humanistic study of media and expertise in one or more of the following areas: the history and theory of media transition from film to video to digital, streaming and video sharing platforms, media industry studies, gaming, and digital media and the public sphere. This candidate will have the opportunity to help redesign the department’s foundational media studies course (CIME 211 What is Media?), offer courses in their areas of expertise, and teach courses in cinema and media at all levels of the curriculum. Our department welcomes a diverse set of methodologies and perspectives.

About

Founded in 1833, Oberlin is a private four-year, highly selective national liberal arts college that is also home to an outstanding Conservatory of Music. Together, the two divisions enroll approximately 2900 students. The College views a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational environment as contributing to the excellence of its academic program and was the first college in the US to admit Black Students and women. Among liberal arts colleges, Oberlin is a national leader in successfully placing graduates into PhD programs.

Oberlin is situated on the outskirts of Cleveland, combining a cozy small-town atmosphere with the cultural amenities of a major city. The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cinematheque, Karamu House, several educational institutions, and scores of restaurants, bars, music venues, and theaters add to the cultural and educational opportunities of the region.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will teach the standard load (4.5 courses per year) in media studies at all levels of the curriculum. The incumbent will also be expected to engage in sustained scholarly research and/or other creative work appropriate to the position and participate in the full range of faculty responsibilities, including academic advising, mentoring undergraduate research, and service on committees. The Department and the College actively support new faculty with mentoring and professional development opportunities, including a paid pre-tenure leave for those on the standard six- year tenure track, startup support, and internal grants for conference travel and research.

One of the first programs of its kind at a liberal arts college, the Cinema and Media Department at Oberlin College introduces students to the craft, history, and cultural meaning of cinema, television, and digital media. Students work with faculty mentors and with their peers to make nonfiction, animation, experimental, and live-action fiction films (digital and celluloid) of professional quality. They also study the history and theory of cinema and media within a campus community that prizes public engagement with pressing questions of history and contemporary culture, learning better to navigate the complexities of the 21st-century media landscape. The Cinema and Media Department resides above the historic Apollo Theatre (1913), and includes sound stages, green screens, animation rooms, editing suites, and classrooms.

Qualifications

Among the qualifications required for appointment is the Ph.D. degree (in hand or expected by first semester of academic year 2026). Candidates must demonstrate commitment to and potential excellence in undergraduate teaching. Oberlin is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the distinctiveness and excellence of our academic community through their research, teaching, and service. The incumbent will bring understanding of or experience working with underrepresented and diverse academic populations. Oberlin recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran’s status, and/or other protected status as required by law.

Compensation

Within the range established for this position, salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a competitive benefits package.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All application materials must be submitted electronically through Oberlin College and Conservatory’s online application process at:

1) A cover letter describing your teaching, scholarship, mentorship, and service, detailing how you
contribute to an inclusive learning environment;
2) A Curriculum Vitae;
3) An unofficial graduate
transcript;
4) Statement(s) on your teaching philosophy and expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion;
5) A research statement;
6) a writing sample; and
7) Letters of Reference from three recommenders.

By providing three letters of reference, you agree that we may contact your letter writers via the applicant tracking system.

Review of applications will begin on October 10, 2025, and will continue until the position isfilled. Completed applications received by the October 10 deadline will be guaranteed fullconsideration.

Questions about the position can be addressed to: gpingree@oberlin.edu or Geoff Pingree,
Chair of the Department of Cinema and Media.