Asst. Prof. Emerging Media Arts: Storytelling
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NEThis is a Full Time Job
Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Emerging Media Arts: Storytelling to join our unique program.
We are seeking a visionary creative practitioner and educator to join our faculty in a position that bridges screenwriting with emerging technologies and platforms. Whether your scholarship or creative activity examines the pressing issues of our time, produces narratives of lasting significance, generates immersive audience experiences, or contributes to the evolution of narrative form, we invite you to submit your work for consideration. We value storytelling as both intellectual inquiry and artistic practice, recognizing that meaningful stories can change the world.
The successful candidate will have professional experience in screenwriting for film, television/streaming, or episodic narrative, and have familiarity with at least one of the following: writing for theatre, games, XR, immersive or interactive experiences, world-building, transmedia, or Alternate Reality Games (ARGs). You have a compelling vision for the evolving future of storytelling, and you’re eager to guide students in shaping that future.
Key Responsibilities
Teaching courses in areas such as screenwriting and storytelling.
Contributing to undergraduate and graduate curriculum development.
Mentoring undergraduate capstone projects.
Continuing to gain juried recognition of your work.
Mentoring students as they develop their unique creative voices.
Connecting students to internships and professional networks.
Supporting students in developing pathways toward professional opportunities, career directions, and future graduate study.
Contributing positively to a community and culture of storytellers and makers.
Engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations across campus.
Participating in department, college, and university service.
Minimum Qualifications
BA or BFA in screenwriting or a related discipline.
A portfolio of nationally recognized storytelling work represented by having multiple writing credits (screen, games, plays); optioned, published, or produced works.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional growth in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Preferred Qualifications
MFA or terminal degree in screenwriting or a related discipline.
Professional experience in episodic screenwriting.
Two years of teaching at the university level, beyond the teaching assistant level, or equivalent experience in a non-traditional setting.
Connections to industry partners.
Active creative research agenda.
Salary/Benefits
Nebraska offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience. Faculty status with opportunities for promotion in rank and sabbatical opportunities for continued learning and professional development are additional key benefits.
Additional Information
Lincoln, Nebraska, is a vibrant college community that features a dynamic downtown area, the state capital, and a growing tech industry, alongside a variety of restaurants, coffee houses, movie theaters, clubs, bike trails, and urban residences. The city is known for its excellent public schools, low cost of living, and high quality of life. It is home to a rich cultural scene, including the Lied Center for Performing Arts, the Sheldon Museum of Art, the International Quilt Museum, the Nebraska State Museum, and the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Additionally, the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, part of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, serves as an interdisciplinary center and creative research facility, focusing on areas such as filmmaking, interactive storytelling, and innovation. Established with a $57 million investment from the Johnny Carson Foundation, the center aims to bring together world-class faculty and students to explore inclusive storytelling that addresses human-scale challenges.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
Job Code: F_250081
The search committee will begin formal review of applications on March 2, 2026, and will continue until an appointment is made. Interested applicants must apply online and complete the faculty information form, and upload the following required documents:
A letter of interest addressing your qualifications specific to this job description.
Artist statement.
Teaching statement – OPTIONAL (1-2 pages).
A current Curriculum Vitae.
A link to an online portfolio of writing work – to include one full-length short screenplay and excerpts from at least one full-length feature film, or episodic work, or game, or other form of storytelling.
The names and contact details of three professional references.
If submitting a teaching statement, please combine it with the artist statement for upload. Website:
