Assistant Professor Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is home to major research universities, medical schools, and liberal arts colleges that regularly recruit international faculty. The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois system, and Loyola University Chicago are among the most active employers. Chicago anchors most hiring activity, with additional positions across Champaign-Urbana, Evanston, and smaller college towns throughout the state.
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Get Access To All JobsThe School of Theatre and Dance of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a full-time Teaching-Track Assistant Professor faculty position of Theatre/Lighting Technologies starting August 2026.
The successful candidate will have significant professional theatre experience in lighting technology and/or lighting supervision/production electrics in theatre. The candidate will also have the scholarly background to instruct students in best practices regarding lighting for live performance. They will have expertise in a variety of equipment, including EOS family consoles, moving lights, and LEDs, and the software currently in use. Familiarity with the GrandMA 3 console is a plus. The candidate will teach courses in lighting technology and perform significant service to the School as the Lighting Supervisor for the Theatre productions, including Main Stage productions, student projects, and various solo evening events, as well as provide mentorship to students in rehearsals and one-on-one meetings. This faculty member will attend theatre technical rehearsals on evenings and weekends, production meetings, and respond to production needs as they arise. They will work with student, staff, and faculty stakeholders to ensure timely progress and perform other duties as assigned.
In addition to expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate and graduate education.
The School of Theatre and Dance at Columbia College Chicago houses majors in Acting for Stage and Screen (BA and BFA), Musical Theatre (BA and BFA), Comedy Writing and Performance (BA and BFA), Dance (BA), and Theatre Arts: Production and Practice (BA) with concentrations in Theatre Design & Technology, Directing, Stage Management, and Theatre Arts. With over 700 students, the School of Theatre and Dance’s mission is to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive education in the practices and processes of creating theatre, dance, and live performance. The School of Theatre and Dance stages approximately 50 productions a year.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Teach at the undergraduate level in areas assigned by the School Director.
- Serve as Lighting Supervisor for the Theatre productions.
- Mentor student production electricians for main stage productions, student directing projects, and other productions.
- Supervise the student electrics crew and practicum students in lighting in the Electrics Shop and in the theatres.
- Purchase and upkeep of the Electrics equipment for all production and classroom needs.
- Engage with the broader scholarly and professional communities.
- Supervise and advise and mentor students.
- Contribute to the development, planning, and implementation of a high-quality curriculum.
- Commit to continuing professional development.
- Provide service to the college, profession and community.
- Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.
Columbia College Chicago actively promotes access to an expansive array of social and cultural theories, practices and perspectives that are vitally important to the successful delivery of a contemporary creative curriculum and the college’s mission to educate students who will author the culture of their times. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.
We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work contributes to a rich educational experience consistent with our mission.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- MFA or other terminal degree in Lighting for Performance or related theatre field. Candidates with a post-secondary degree and significant professional experience at the highest level will also be considered.
Desired Qualifications
- Professional experience and college teaching experience are highly desirable.
Application
To apply for this position, submit the following materials online:
- A letter outlining the applicant’s background, qualifications, and vision for the position.
- A curriculum vitae.
- A statement of teaching philosophy.
- Contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the applicant.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, please apply by April 15.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.
Position Minimum Annual Salary: $62,000.00
Position Maximum Annual Salary: $64,000.00
The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget.
About the College
Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit college for creatives serving over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Located in downtown Chicago’s South Loop, the College is centered in one of the world's most lively urban cultural areas. Its many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty and passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a sincere commitment to bringing diverse voices and experiences into proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice.
At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.
We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.
Additional Information
- Position subject to a background screening.
- This is a non-union position.
- This position is overtime exempt.
Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago
Job
Faculty
Schedule
Full-time
Shift
Day Job
Job Type
Standard
Job Level
Individual Contributor
Travel
No
The School of Theatre and Dance of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a full-time Teaching-Track Assistant Professor faculty position of Theatre/Lighting Technologies starting August 2026.
The successful candidate will have significant professional theatre experience in lighting technology and/or lighting supervision/production electrics in theatre. The candidate will also have the scholarly background to instruct students in best practices regarding lighting for live performance. They will have expertise in a variety of equipment, including EOS family consoles, moving lights, and LEDs, and the software currently in use. Familiarity with the GrandMA 3 console is a plus. The candidate will teach courses in lighting technology and perform significant service to the School as the Lighting Supervisor for the Theatre productions, including Main Stage productions, student projects, and various solo evening events, as well as provide mentorship to students in rehearsals and one-on-one meetings. This faculty member will attend theatre technical rehearsals on evenings and weekends, production meetings, and respond to production needs as they arise. They will work with student, staff, and faculty stakeholders to ensure timely progress and perform other duties as assigned.
In addition to expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate and graduate education.
The School of Theatre and Dance at Columbia College Chicago houses majors in Acting for Stage and Screen (BA and BFA), Musical Theatre (BA and BFA), Comedy Writing and Performance (BA and BFA), Dance (BA), and Theatre Arts: Production and Practice (BA) with concentrations in Theatre Design & Technology, Directing, Stage Management, and Theatre Arts. With over 700 students, the School of Theatre and Dance’s mission is to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive education in the practices and processes of creating theatre, dance, and live performance. The School of Theatre and Dance stages approximately 50 productions a year.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Teach at the undergraduate level in areas assigned by the School Director.
- Serve as Lighting Supervisor for the Theatre productions.
- Mentor student production electricians for main stage productions, student directing projects, and other productions.
- Supervise the student electrics crew and practicum students in lighting in the Electrics Shop and in the theatres.
- Purchase and upkeep of the Electrics equipment for all production and classroom needs.
- Engage with the broader scholarly and professional communities.
- Supervise and advise and mentor students.
- Contribute to the development, planning, and implementation of a high-quality curriculum.
- Commit to continuing professional development.
- Provide service to the college, profession and community.
- Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.
Columbia College Chicago actively promotes access to an expansive array of social and cultural theories, practices and perspectives that are vitally important to the successful delivery of a contemporary creative curriculum and the college’s mission to educate students who will author the culture of their times. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.
We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work contributes to a rich educational experience consistent with our mission.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- MFA or other terminal degree in Lighting for Performance or related theatre field. Candidates with a post-secondary degree and significant professional experience at the highest level will also be considered.
Desired Qualifications
- Professional experience and college teaching experience are highly desirable.
Application
To apply for this position, submit the following materials online:
- A letter outlining the applicant’s background, qualifications, and vision for the position.
- A curriculum vitae.
- A statement of teaching philosophy.
- Contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the applicant.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, please apply by April 15.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.
Position Minimum Annual Salary: $62,000.00
Position Maximum Annual Salary: $64,000.00
The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget.
About the College
Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit college for creatives serving over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Located in downtown Chicago’s South Loop, the College is centered in one of the world's most lively urban cultural areas. Its many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty and passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a sincere commitment to bringing diverse voices and experiences into proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice.
At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.
We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.
Additional Information
- Position subject to a background screening.
- This is a non-union position.
- This position is overtime exempt.
Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago
Job
Faculty
Schedule
Full-time
Shift
Day Job
Job Type
Standard
Job Level
Individual Contributor
Travel
No
Assistant Professor Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Assistant Professor Jobs in IllinoisAssistant Professor Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which universities and institutions sponsor visas for assistant professors in Illinois?
The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois Chicago, and Loyola University Chicago are among the most active sponsors. Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, and Rush University Medical Center also regularly hire international faculty. Larger research-intensive institutions tend to have dedicated immigration support offices that manage sponsorship in-house.
What visa types are most common for assistant professor roles in Illinois?
The H-1B is the most common visa for tenure-track and long-term assistant professor positions, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a doctoral degree. The O-1A is an option for candidates with strong publication records, awards, or citation counts demonstrating extraordinary ability. Many international faculty also enter on J-1 exchange visitor status initially, particularly through postdoctoral or visiting scholar programs, before transitioning to H-1B or employment-based green card sponsorship.
Which cities in Illinois have the most assistant professor visa sponsorship jobs?
Chicago accounts for the majority of assistant professor sponsorship opportunities in Illinois, given the concentration of research universities, medical schools, and professional graduate programs in the metro area. Champaign-Urbana is the next most significant location, anchored by the University of Illinois flagship campus. Evanston, home to Northwestern University, also generates consistent faculty openings. Smaller liberal arts colleges in cities like Bloomington-Normal and Galesburg contribute additional hiring activity.
How to find assistant professor visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search for assistant professor positions in Illinois without sorting through roles that don't support international candidates. You can filter by state and job category to surface openings at Illinois universities and research institutions. Checking listings regularly is worthwhile, as faculty searches often open in the fall and close on rolling timelines throughout the academic year.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for assistant professors seeking visa sponsorship?
Illinois universities sponsoring H-1B workers must pay the Department of Labor prevailing wage for the relevant faculty rank and discipline, which is determined by the institution's own wage data or external surveys. Institutions with strong international research partnerships, particularly in STEM, medicine, and the social sciences, tend to have well-established sponsorship processes. Faculty candidates should confirm early in the hiring process whether the institution supports H-1B cap-exempt status, as many universities qualify under the cap-exempt provision for higher education employers.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored assistant professor jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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