Position Title: Assistant Professor
Employee Classification: LC Faculty TT/TN 9m
College/Division: Arts and Sciences College
Department: 331400-MUSIC
Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants
Location: Las Cruces
Offsite Location (if applicable): Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications
Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0
Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt
Summary: The Department of Music at New Mexico State University is seeking an active and inspirational individual with a strong student-centered dedication to teaching to serve as an Assistant Professor of music beginning in the Fall semester of 2026.
Classification Summary:Situated at the base of the Organ Mountains and as a border community with both Texas and Mexico, NMSU has rich cultural and musical traditions. Our students come from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with many first-generation college students. The NMSU Music Department has an enrollment of over 120 students majoring in music. Over 80 of those major in music education. Our school has a regional reputation for teacher preparation, and we count our graduates as some of the most successful teachers in New Mexico and Texas. NMSU boasts an excellent faculty that values building strong musicians and dedicated teachers. Many of our faculty have public school experience, and we strive to build innovative practitioners to teach tomorrow's music students.
Classification Standard Duties:Teaching - Duties will include teaching elementary music education-focused courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, student teacher evaluations, and overall curriculum development. The successful candidate will be assigned additional duties dependent upon the applicant's areas of expertise and the needs of the department. Applied studio and general music is an especially desirable consideration.
Research - Actively engage with and contribute to evolving education practices, conference attendance/performances, publications, etc...
Service - Help with supervision of the music education area. Oversee student teachers at the elementary level. Help with departmental recruiting.
Outreach - Build and maintain productive relationships with the state's public school programs as part of our land grant mission. Serve as a mentor for our NAfME Chapter (67 students) and be active in our New Mexico Music Educators Association.
Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency- Completed doctorate in music or music education (ABD will be considered)
- Experience teaching with and/or level certification in one or more paradigms such as Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, or Gordon Music Learning Theory
- Three or more years of successful teaching experience in grades K-5
- Possess excellent presentation skills, interpersonal awareness, and organizational skills essential as a mentor and colleague
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- An experienced and pragmatic practitioner with extensive K-5 teaching.
- Applicants with experience in Double Reeds, Guitar, Mariachi, Percussion, Tuba, or Voice
- Collegiate-level teaching
- Experience with organizing and promoting public school teaching development, including Orff-Schulwerk and Kodály certification seminars.
Job Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Department of Music at New Mexico State University is seeking an active and inspirational individual with a strong student-centered dedication to teaching to serve as an Assistant Professor of music beginning in the Fall semester of 2026. Duties will include teaching courses in elementary music education as well as additional music education courses, general music, and applied music. The successful candidate may be assigned additional duties dependent upon the applicant's areas of expertise and the needs of the department. All applications must be submitted electronically. To apply, please submit a letter of interest outlining your qualifications for the position, a curriculum vita, at least three references with full contact information, and a web link to a YouTube channel containing recent performance recordings.
Preferred QualificationsSpecial Requirements of the PositionSubmit application materials, comprising a cover letter of interest, curriculum vitae, statement of educational philosophy, and three references with full contact information. If requested, further materials, such as videos of performances and applied lessons will be required.
Department Contact: Steven Smyth, 575-646-2421,
ssmyth@nmsu.edu Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable
Bargaining Unit Eligibility: Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)
If Not a Standard Work Schedule: Working Conditions and Physical Effort Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.
Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.
Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
