Director - Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance

SUMMARY

The Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) is a highly regarded performing arts department housed within the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts in Nacogdoches, Texas. Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), the school provides rigorous production and academic training for students pursuing careers in performance, choreography, design, and education.

The school was officially renamed to the Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance in January 2026. This change honored late alumnus and beloved faculty member Denard Haden, who was widely celebrated for his creative vision and innovative choreography. The renaming was made possible by a transformative monetary gift from his niece, 1959 SFA alumna Priscilla “Prissy” Abshier Sliva.

The school offers diverse undergraduate degrees, concentrations, and minors across both disciplines:

• Theatre Degrees:
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): Highly specialized paths in Acting & Directing, Musical Theatre, or Design, Technology, & Management.
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA): A generalist track or a track with an EC-12 Teaching Certification.
• Dance Degrees:
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): Focused closely on Performance and Choreography.
  • Bachelor of Science (BS): Offers concentrations in Performance & Choreography as well as Dance Education (Grades 6-12 teaching certification).

Students learn through a hands-on, "learn by doing" approach. The school hosts over 15 annual events, including mainstage musicals, classical/contemporary plays, and dance concerts where students can perform as early as their first semester.

Beyond local productions, SFA actively participates in the American College Dance Association (ACDA) and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). They also run unique experiential programs, such as a high school summer workshop, UIL One-Act Play contests, and a biennial study abroad trip to Ireland.

Operating out of the newly expanded and renovated Griffith Fine Arts Building, students have access to professional-grade creative spaces:

• The Flexible Theatre: an adaptable venue that serves as the primary performance space for the school, the “Flex” seats 249, though can scale upward as needed. Directors and student designers can rearrange the room into multiple stage and seating configurations (such as thrust, arena, or environmental staging) to match the creative vision of each production.
• Denard Haden Performance Hall & Dance Studio: Large, light-filled spaces equipped with professional Marley floors, specialized equipment for aerial dance, and studio capabilities.
• Black Box Theatre: A flexible, 90-seat theatre designed for intimate, student-driven, and contemporary showcase productions.
• Costume Facilities: Extensive spaces that feature a full-sized costume shop, a fitting room, a state-of-the-art dye room, and dedicated wig/hat storage.
• Dance Conditioning Room: A specialized fitness and recovery area tailored to helping dancers maintain their physical health.
• Turner Auditorium: An 800- seat space used for performances by many of the programs of the Micky Elliot College of Fine Arts. It offers extensive support facilities for high-quality productions and is equipped with the latest equipment and technology.

Qualifications

• Strong record of research or creative work is required.
• Rank of professor at previous institution is preferred.
• Meets qualifications to hold rank of professor at SFA is preferred.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is a full-time, twelve-month faculty position responsible for serving as the chief executive of an academic department or academic school (referred to as academic unit or unit) while exemplifying those faculty qualities most valued by the academic community: teaching excellence; scholarly and creative activities; and a commitment to university and community service. Responsible for setting the tone of the unit through daily interactions with colleagues and departmental staff; and making and implementing decisions in the context of collegiality and regular communication. The chair/director is an administrator, the quality of whose performance has a fundamental impact on the success of the institution in attaining its specific goals. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the dean.

QUALIFICATIONS

Terminal degree in the field of the academic department or academic school, allowing the individual to teach within the department, is required.

Sufficient experience to warrant a tenured appointment in one of the disciplines within the department or school is required. Strong record of research and other scholarly achievements is required. Experience in academic administration is preferred.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Establishes and maintains a climate conducive to the pursuit of knowledge.
2. Provides leadership in the establishment of a visionary direction and the maintenance of standards for the academic unit, consistent with college and university missions.
3. Serves as the principal advocate for the unit and as an advocate for the college and university missions.
4. Ensures quality through evaluation, modification, and development of academic programs.
5. Responds to the needs of students, faculty, administration, the public, and others.
6. Develops and manages course schedules for each semester/ parts of term .
7. Assigns and manages faculty workload.
8. Manages and allocates fiscal and physical resources of the unit.
9. Establishes, maintains, and communicates effective personnel management procedures and processes.
10. Promotes the academic unit externally.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

1. Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, university policies and procedures.
2. Ability to receive a tenured appointment in one of the disciplines within the department or school.
3. Ability to establish and maintain a good rapport with university faculty and staff, students, and the general public.
4. Ability to work collaboratively and build strategic relations with colleagues, coworkers, and constituents.
5. Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
6. Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
7. Ability to develop objectives, evaluate effectiveness, and assess needs.
8. Ability to manage a budget and work within the constraints of that budget.
9. Ability to develop, interpret, and evaluate policies and procedures.
10. Ability to supervise and train others.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Safety Statement

Stephen F. Austin State University recognizes the potential for accidents in performing job-related tasks. SFA promotes a safe working environment. Employees will be responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently. Employee evaluations will include safe job performance.

This is a security-sensitive position subject to criminal record check.

This is an IT-sensitive position subject to Computer and Network Security policy.

Sponsorship Statement

In accordance with USCIS regulations, successful applicants must be legally able to accept work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

This position is eligible for participation in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP), subject to the position being full-time and at least 4 1/2 months in length, or the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) retirement plan, subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

For resources regarding retirement and benefits, navigate to the University of Texas System Employee Benefit page.

Additional benefits for SFA employees are detailed on the SFA Benefits page.