Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Boston, Massachusetts
Syracuse, New York
Boston, Massachusetts
Seaside, California
Seaside, California
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Posted: 13-Sep-23
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 520791
Department/Organization
207201 - Advertising and Public Relations
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
Primary duties will include teaching strategy, management, leadership, campaigns, content production, and writing courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, engaging in a research program that results in published articles in outstanding scholarly publications and performing service as assigned by the Department, College, and University.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Advertising and Public Relations, housed in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) at The University of Alabama, invites applications for a nine-month tenure-track faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor beginning in August 2024. C&IS launched the Alabama Science Communication Initiative (ASCI) in Spring 2023; the individual recruited for this position will contribute to developing a robust research agenda in science communication and will assist with ASCI’s efforts to develop innovative research, educational programs, and outreach to address grand challenges in science communication. The ideal candidate should have a publication record with a research agenda focused in one of the following areas:
• Science communication with connections to strategic communication, public relations, and/or advertising.
• Public relations and/or advertising with an emphasis in science communication, science and technology issues, misinformation/disinformation, public engagement, science literacy, and/or environmental and social justice issues.
The ability to teach courses in advertising and/or public relations strategy, management, leadership, campaigns, multimedia content production and strategy, writing for digital and social media, and/or other courses related to public relations, advertising, and/or digital and social media is desirable. Applicants must display an ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team.
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations and the College of Communication & Information Sciences house a growing community of faculty, staff, and students with research and professional interests that intersect with science communication. The department faculty engage in a variety of successful cross-campus collaborations and editorial leadership roles, including directorships in multiple communication-oriented labs and the Institute for Communication & Information Research within the college’s Office for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity, and support from college and university leaders exists for developing new research agendas and educational offerings.
The advertising and public relations undergraduate programs are ACEJMC-accredited. Advertising majors have four options: a general major or a concentration in brand management, advertising creative, or integrated channel planning. Public Relations majors have the option of a general or digital communication concentration. The graduate program awards a Master of Arts in advertising and public relations. The two-year residential program offers an individualized track and more specialized concentrations in advertising creative and media strategy. The graduate program also offers distance-learning concentrations in digital communication and marketing communication management.
Home to the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, the department is consistently noted by PRWeek magazine as one of the top five programs in the country. Students gain extensive practical experience prior to graduation through multiple outlets, including work with industry clients such as NASCAR, the Country Music Association, McLaren Automotive, Twitch, and Tervis. The department is also home to the award-winning Minerva advertising portfolio program and the award-winning student-run Capstone Agency.
Review of applications will begin October 12, 2023, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Matthew VanDyke at vandyke@apr.ua.edu.
Minimum Qualifications
• Doctorate in Advertising, Public Relations, Science Communication, Risk Communication, Mass Communication, Communication, or closely related field completed by start date of appointment. ABDs will be considered.
• Scholarly activity in flagship journals, university presses, or other ranked publication outlets consistent with departmental expectations for the rank of assistant professor.
• Record of teaching effectiveness, with experience in teaching relevant undergraduate and/or graduate courses.
• Potential for publishing science communication research that also contributes to the public relations and/or advertising literature's.
Preferred Qualifications
• Evidence of or potential for attracting extramural funding. • Potential for and interest in leading multidisciplinary research and/or grant teams. • A research and extramural funding record, or the potential for funding in the future, that integrates science communication with public relations and/or advertising literature's. • A record of research and extramural funding, or the potential for funding in the future, that connects to water issues, transportation issues, health/life issues, or information and communication technology issues.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, go to https://facultyjobs.ua.edu and provide the following: 1) Cover letter highlighting how your research, teaching, and service/leadership prepared you to contribute to the development of a larger agenda for advancing science communication. 2) CV. 3) Names and contact information for three references.
About the Division/College/School
The College of Communication and Information Sciences is home to state-of-the-art media and research facilities like the Digital Media Center and the Institute for Communication and Information Research. The College's students and programs have won several regional and national awards in multiple areas ranging from forensics and debate to being named PRWeek's Most Outstanding Education Program. The College offers bachelor’s degrees in advertising, communication studies, creative media, news media and public relations; master’s degrees in advertising and public relations, book arts, communication studies, journalism and media studies, and library and information studies; and a multidisciplinary doctoral degree in communication and information sciences. With an award-winning faculty and staff and commitment to innovative scholarship and teaching, the College of Communication and Information Sciences is dedicated to realizing the potential of communication and information to make everyone’s world a better place.
About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.
A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.
As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.
It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.
With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf
