Associate/Full Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication - Public Relations

Public Value; Norman (OK); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. seeks a tenured Associate/Full Professor in Public Relations at the University of Oklahoma starting Fall 2027. The ideal candidate will teach and develop courses focused on public relations with a strong research background.

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate public relations classes, conducting impactful research, and contributing to the College and University community through committee work and leadership. A collaborative approach in cross-disciplinary settings is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to teach undergraduate and graduate-level public relations courses.
• Strong research agenda in public relations/strategic communication.
• Experience in securing external research funding.

Responsibilities

• Teach core public relations classes and develop new electives.
• Conduct research aligned with OU Research Strategic Framework.
• Participate actively in departmental and university committees.

Skills

Research funding pursuit

Public relations knowledge

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Curriculum development

Education

PhD in Public Relations or related field

Job description

The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma seeks an outstanding candidate for a tenured Associate/Full Professor position in Public Relations, beginning Fall 2027.

The college prides itself on the outstanding professional preparation of students grounded in personal interactions with faculty and extraordinary opportunities to connect with industry professionals regionally, nationally, and internationally. Courses are designed to be experiential, providing students with hands‑on experience in developing strategies and plans and creating communications assets for outside clients.

The selected candidate will have a robust research agenda in public relations/strategic communication, aligned with the OU Research Strategic Framework (https://www.ou.edu/research-norman/strategic-framework) and will teach public relations undergraduate and graduate‑level classes in the #1 media program in the nation, according to BEA 2025 and 2026 rankings.

The candidate will be expected to help teach core classes in the public relations curriculum, including the following: Public Relations Writing, Public Relations Ethics, Public Relations Research, Public Relations Campaigns, and Contemporary Problems in Public Relations. The candidate should conduct research and teach elective courses in one or more of the following: nonprofit PR, fundraising and event planning; public affairs/government/political campaigns, technology/AI/digital media/AR/VR, travel/tourism/hospitality, cross‑cultural strategic communication, environmental/ESG/CSA/CSR, PR management/leadership, entertainment/fashion/lifestyle PR, or other areas of expertise.

The ability to work in cross‑disciplinary settings and build connections with researchers across campus through OU trans‑disciplinary Institutes and Centers to support the OU Strategic Plan and the ambitious goals of the OU Project 200, as well as with area professionals, businesses, and alumni, is expected. Proven ability to pursue external research funding is required. As a senior faculty member, the candidate will also be a leader and active member of the Gaylord College and the University of Oklahoma community and will chair graduate student committees and serve on various college and university committees. The rank of a successful candidate will be selected depending on qualifications and experience, and will be hired with a 40% teaching, 40% research, and 20% service load.