Assistant Professor, Media Studies in Global Sound, Audio, and Storytelling

Position Details

Position Type Faculty, Tenure Track Classification Title Assistant Professor Position's Functional Title Assistant Professor, Media Studies in Global Sound, Audio, and Storytelling Position Start Date 08/16/2021 Position End Date (if temporary) Position Summary

Governors State University (University Park, IL) is a minority-majority institution inviting applications for a tenure track position as an Assistant Professor of Media Studies in Global Sound, Audio, and Storytelling to begin in the Fall Semester 2021.

We seek a hybrid practitioner-scholar who will build on the Media Studies program by developing our global sound practices and sound studies, broadly construed. Serving as the Assistant Professor of Media Studies in Global Sound, Audio, and Storytelling, the ideal candidate will have a professional emphasis on sound and audio, including production and associated pre-production and production workflows that challenge traditional borders between creative and critical practice. This position will include recruiting, onboarding, and coaching student documentarians/sound /audio storytellers in creative and scholarly approaches to global social change, and leveraging the social, economic, and ecological concerns of marginalized cultures into mainstream spaces through sound and voice. Depending on the candidate, there is the potential to shape a campus-community internet radio station’s start-up. In this capacity, the successful candidate will develop, lead, and manage the planning, production, and presentation of live/taped radio programming, implement radio station policies and procedures, and supervise student producers and creatives.

We seek a colleague whose experience, teaching, and research interests complement our curriculum. Candidates will be expected to teach courses in the Global Media and Information Flow concentration, including but not limited to International Media Flow, Western Media Systems, Media Globalization, Latin America Media Systems, Audio Production, Advanced Audio Design and Production, and Media Storytelling. We are especially interested in candidates who contribute to our department and the academic community’s diversity through excellence in teaching, service, and research. The candidate will also remain active in a professional capacity by contributing to our community engagement efforts through the Center for Community Media. The Center is a unique emerging community media collaborative combining GSU’s Media Studies program, professional production expertise, and community storytellers to serve the information needs of our campus and community.

The position requires mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, ongoing committee and service assignments, and actively engaging in ongoing creative work and scholarship in one’s specialty area. Additional teaching responsibilities in the major or affiliated Communication, Media, and Performance graduate program will vary based on the area(s) of expertise. We also expect our new Assistant Professor of Media Studies to develop new courses to enhance our B.A. and M.A. curriculums.

The Program

Launched in 2014, the Media Studies program at Governors State University offers an undergraduate (B.A.) degree with concentrations in Media Industry and Production, Global Media and Information Flow, and Social Networking and Participatory Culture. The program prepares students to plan, manage, and produce media in a global, multicultural environment. It includes instruction in television and transmedia production, studio and independent field production, social media and emerging media cultures, regional media industry including public media, global and non-western media systems, all informed by a substantive study in the liberal arts. Students gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art studios, work with professional production equipment, emerging technologies, and industry-standard software. The Media Studies program is an inclusive learning environment that promotes creativity and scholarship in multiple media forms, mirroring the wide range of cultural, artistic, and scholarly interests in the south Chicago and Southland regions. Students enjoy training and education in media theory, criticism, writing, content creation, and production. We pride ourselves in offering a curriculum that balances theory and practice. We also provide a range of in-house and industry internship opportunities.

Governors State University is the only regional public comprehensive university in Chicago’s south suburban area, serving more than 5,500 students annually. Since its founding in 1969, GSU has offered accessible, high-value educational opportunities to a culturally diverse student body of first-generation students, returning adults, and veterans. With the lowest undergraduate tuition in Illinois, GSU offers accredited programs that have earned high praise from national accrediting agencies. In 2014, GSU accepted its inaugural class of first-year students as it transitioned from an upper-division and graduate institution into a regional comprehensive university with a state-of-the-art general education program. New faculty at GSU must demonstrate enthusiasm and ability to work with students at all levels, from first-year to graduate.

Through its strategic planning, GSU emphasizes excellence, access, and innovation. Students benefit from the university’s academic quality, range of convenient class times, increasingly numerous hybrid and online offerings, and outstanding educational value. Our innovative lower-division program uses high-impact practices to foster student engagement with ethics, citizenship, and innovative thinking. Every first-year class is taught by a full-time faculty member to ensure that students have a strong foundation for their studies. GSU is a national leader in the successful transfer of community college students to universities and is leading through the Kresge-supported Dual Degree Program, with features such as tuition lock-in at GSU for academically eligible community college students who commit to earn an Associate Degree and attend college full-time. GSU offers a wide variety of master’s programs and several applied doctoral degrees in health, counseling fields, and Interdisciplinary Leadership.

GSU’s 750-acre campus encompasses the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park yet is conveniently located within easy reach of Chicago and surrounding communities with a wealth of cultural and natural attractions. The highly diverse region GSU serves has a number of high-performing schools and engaged communities as well as struggling urban, suburban, and rural communities. GSU serves as a public square, working to foster educational opportunities for all populations.

It is the policy of Governors State University, in its role as educator, employer, and purchaser of goods and services, to provide equal opportunity and affirmative action. Discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status is strictly prohibited.

Salary and benefits package are commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Ph.D., M.F.A., or another appropriate terminal degree in Audio Arts, Media Arts, Communication, or related discipline. A.B.D. candidates will be considered; all degree requirements must be completed by August 16, 2021.
2. College-level teaching experience in audio production-related courses.
3. Familiarity with contemporary trends in radio and sound design.
4. Working knowledge of both analog and digital processes such as sound design and post production mixing for short and long-form audio documentaries, audio podcasts/radio programs and soundtracks for visual media including film, television and webcasts on current advanced digital production platforms such as Pro-tools, Audition, etc.
5. Active record of creative work and/or scholarship (which may include sound art festivals, films and television, podcasting, or radio) addressing matters pertaining to the rich tapestry of global including indigenous experience, and/or experience of the natural environment.
6. Comfortable with live and studio environments.
7. Experience in the areas of sound recording and recording studio management, and familiarity with a broad range of audio software and hardware platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Experience with non-traditional, first-generation, and/or traditionally underserved student populations.
2. Familiarity with international co-producing, broadly conceived.
3. Ability to consult with the studio supervisor on the maintenance and upgrading of equipment and facilities related to sound technology.
4. Familiarity with F.C.C. policies and regulations governing Education Broadband Service, radio programming, and program content standards.
5. Full-time experience in multimedia storytelling within the past two years with some experience in radio and/or podcasting.
6. Demonstrated interest in developing community-based public media relevant to our local communities.
7. Professional involvement and recognition as demonstrated by industry memberships and awards.
8. Experience producing Spanish-language and/or indigenous language content.

Posting Date 11/24/2020 Closing Date Open Until Filled Yes Posting Number FA0376P Type of Search External Quicklink for Posting https://employment.govst.edu/postings/5517 Employee ID Department Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, professional credits, links to three samples of creative/radio work, and a list of professional references with contact information by December 1, 2020, to receive full consideration although applications will be accepted until the position is filled. References will only be contacted prior to candidate interviews.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * What is the highest level of education attained?
   • GED
   • High School Diploma
   • Associates Degree
   • Bachelors Degree
   • Masters Degree
   • Doctorate Degree
   • ABD
2. * What academic discipline did you earn your degree(s) in?
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
3. * Do you have experience teaching at the college/university level?
   • yes
   • no
4. * Do you have experience in developing and/or teaching online (web-based) courses?
   • No
   • No but interested and able to do so
   • Yes I have taught online courses
   • Yes I have developed online courses
   • Yes, I have developed and taught online courses

Required Documents
Required Documents

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Transcripts
4. Teaching Philosophy
5. List of References

Optional Documents

1. Other
2. Other2
3. Other3
4. Other4
5. Letter of Recommendation