Tenure-Track: Strategic Communication & PR Professor

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Strategic Communication/Public Relations within the School of Communication Studies. Start date August 2027.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate PR courses and graduate-level strategic communication, while developing a robust research program. We seek an innovative scholar with teaching excellence and professional or applied expertise, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate curricula

Qualifications

• Professional experience in public relations, strategic communication, corporate communication, nonprofit communication, public affairs, agency practice, or related field.
• Experience teaching public relations writing, research methods, campaigns, theory, capstone, digital/social media, analytics, or related courses.
• Expertise in digital and social media, emerging communication technologies, artificial intelligence, analytics, or other evolving areas of public relations practice and research.
• Experience pursuing external research funding or demonstrated potential to develop externally funded research.
• Experiential, client-based, community-engaged, or applied teaching and scholarship.

Responsibilities

• teach a variety of public relations courses at the undergraduate level, including but not limited to, public relations writing, theory, research methods, and/or capstone courses.
• teach strategic communication courses at the graduate level.
• incorporate experiential, project-based, client-based, and/or community-engaged learning where appropriate.
• maintain an active research program that contributes to the scholarly study of public relations and strategic communication.
• publish scholarly work in appropriate peer-reviewed outlets and present research at professional and scholarly conferences.
• pursue interdisciplinary research and external funding opportunities as appropriate to the candidate's research agenda.
• mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students.
• contribute to the School's student professional development activities, including opportunities associated with PRSSA and Bluestone Communications, our student-run public relations firm.
• participate in appropriate School, College, University, professional, and community service.

Skills

Professional experience in public-rel

Teaching excellence

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Digital and social media analytics

External funding potential

Education

PhD in Communication or related field

ABD near completion (by Aug 2027)

Job description

James Madison University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Strategic Communication/Public Relations within the School of Communication Studies. Start date August 2027.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate PR courses and graduate-level strategic communication, while developing a robust research program. We seek an innovative scholar with teaching excellence and professional or applied expertise, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate curricula