Executive Director/Professor of Practice

Posting Details

Posting Details



Job # 076266 Job Title Executive Director/Professor of Practice Location Washington, DC Pay Range Commensurate with Experience FLSA Status Exempt Hours Job Type Full-time Rank Professor of Practice Campus Washington, DC Unionized Position Code Not Applicable Job Description
The Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University seek a seasoned leader to launch and lead a new center in Washington, D.C.

The new Syracuse University Center for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., will focus on strengthening trust in journalism and democracy. The Center will engage evidence-based, non-partisan research and student learning to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society. The Center will harness the benefits of research, convening and facilitation, and inclusive engagement of experts and communities to reduce political polarization and advance civil discourse and engaged citizenship.

The ideal Executive Director candidate is a passionate, accomplished media leader with Washington experience who cares deeply about democracy and journalism. Holding a faculty position with the rank of Professor of Practice, this person will have the opportunity to shape both the careers of our students and the future of democracy, journalism and civil discourse through the work of the Center. We seek an innovative, purpose-driven leader motivated to impact the University’s long-term presence in Washington, D.C.

The Executive Director will oversee all the operations of the Washington, D.C., office and will be in charged with of realizing the vision and strategic planning for a successful launch in the fall 2022 semester and beyond. They will also manage a staff, collaborate with a Maxwell faculty member that serves as research director, and engage a range of Center stakeholders.

The Newhouse School has a long tradition of students in Washington, D.C., including a summer broadcast journalism graduate bureau, the fall Public Diplomacy and Global Communications program and the annual Toner Award for Political Reporting banquet in the spring. The Newhouse School now seeks to expand its footprint in our nation’s capital to a year-round venture that will include unique undergraduate and graduate learning experiences, including working in a newsroom setting and/or classes that complement internship and job opportunities.

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is Syracuse University’s home for innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research across the social sciences, public policy, public administration and international relations. As the leading graduate school of public affairs in the United States, Maxwell also offers highly regarded professional degrees alongside advanced scholarly degrees in the social sciences. Its top-ranked master’s degrees in public administration and international relations provide campus-based cohort learning experiences. For nearly 30 years, Maxwell has offered research opportunities, academic programming and a range of experiential learning opportunities. In addition to undergraduate programs, they offer an Executive Masters in International Relations with their partner, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where they are co-located.

This position will report to the Dean of the Newhouse School. Qualifications
The University seeks candidates with:

- A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in journalism, media, or public affairs and managing a team; experience in Washington, D.C., is preferred.
- Exposure to working in a start-up environment, or demonstrated success in leading a new program or high-profile initiative in a previous role.
- Familiarity with managing budgets.
- Experience in digital and social media.
- Proven passion for working with students, either as a professor, guest lecturer or mentor.
- Demonstrated experience or passion for engaged citizenship, politics, media literacy, misinformation, advancing civil discourse or related area.
- Committed to creating new relationships and experienced in developing partnerships outside of their organization.
- A bachelor’s degree. Job Specific Qualifications Responsibilities
The Executive Director will:

- Work closely with relevant department chairs, associate deans and deans to ensure that innovative and engaging curricula are delivered to all Newhouse and Maxwell students during their time at the Center.
- Develop and engage contacts to recruit potential faculty and guest speakers for participation in research projects, panels and broader Center discussions. Cultivate relationships with top journalists, public officials, public relations executives and other key actors in the greater Washington, D.C. region.
- Collaborate with key Center and University stakeholders to develop and pioneer thought leadership activities that engage faculty, students, staff and external communities.
- Organize and run a speaker series/symposia to bring in notable industry professionals and engage with SU, Maxwell, and Newhouse alumni in the D.C. area.
- Teach journalism classes within their area of expertise—ideally one undergraduate course a year—and mentor students.
- Collaborate with University, Newhouse and Maxwell leadership to coordinate alumni events and engage in fundraising for the D.C. office, as well as the Newhouse School at large.
- Be the liaison for the D.C. Public Diplomacy program that is operated with the Maxwell School.
- Coordinate and serve as faculty lead for the annual Toner Awards program.
- Be a proud spokesperson and representative for the D.C. program and the Center.

# HEJ Physical Requirements
Not Applicable Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable Application Instructions
Widely regarded as the nation’s leading school of communications, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University is home to approximately 2,000 undergraduates, 200 residential master’s degree students, 200 online master’s degree students and 15 doctoral degree students. They are among the best in the country, having secured a place in the class through a highly competitive admissions process. The typical admitted first-year student has a 3.8 GPA and an SAT score in the 1300s.

In January 2020, the S.I. Newhouse Foundation announced a $75 million gift to the Newhouse School, the largest donation to Syracuse University in its 150-year history and one of the largest ever to any communications school.

To learn more about the Newhouse School, visit https://newhouse.syr.edu.

Applicants should submit a cover letter of interest which includes two important areas:
1) Teaching – The Newhouse School prides itself on the high quality of education it provides and its ability to get students job-ready Day One. Please describe your teaching interests and philosophy of how students best learn. Please also identify the ways in which your professional experience will translate into the classroom.
2) Diversity and Inclusion – Please describe how your past experience has prepared you to contribute to the School’s and the University’s strategic commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in higher education.

In addition to the cover letter, applications should include:
• Resume/vitae
• List of three references with knowledge of your work, including name, title, address
and email/phone contact information for each reference.

Applications will be reviewed as they arrive with priority consideration given to those received by May 15, 2022 . However, the School will continue to consider applications after that date. This position is open until filled. About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu. About the Syracuse area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal. EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities. Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members. Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity. Quick Link https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/92285 Job Posting Date 04/06/2022 Application Deadline Open Until Filled Yes Priority Consideration 05/15/2022 Job Category Faculty Message to Applicants