ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Summary: The School of Communications at Grand Valley State University seeks candidates for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in the Advertising and Public Relations major program, to start in August 2023. The School of Communications, located in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, places a premium on intellectual leadership, creative vision, and commitment to the integration of liberal and professional education. We seek a team member who is excited about the opportunity to collaborate on curriculum development, research, and will enthusiastically orient student groups toward success on national and international stages.

Required Qualifications & Education:

• Master’s degree in Advertising, Public Relations, Communications or related field. ABDs are welcome to apply.
• Evidence of current or potential teaching effectiveness at the university level; evidence of excellence in professional practice Strong communication and interpersonal skills, such as the ability to interact with others with respect, empathy, and cultural humility.
• Creativity and flexibility.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access. This could include experience with inclusive pedagogies; research relating to marginalized populations or social inequality; engagement with community-based social justice work; and other forms of DEI-infused teaching, scholarship and service.

Preferred Qualifications & Education

• Ph.D. in Advertising, Public Relations, Communications or related field.
• Active involvement in professional and/or academic associations.

Responsibilities: Faculty members in the School of Communications at GVSU teach a 3/3 load, advise students, engage in a reasonable amount of scholarly and/or creative work, and provide service to the Advertising and Public Relations program, the School of Communications and the university by working on committees or taking on other administrative duties. The successful candidate will teach courses in advertising and/or public relations, with a preference for someone to teach courses in digital technology, data analytics, and social media.

Salary/Benefits: The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The university offers an excellent comprehensive package that includes health/vision/dental plans, life insurance, retirement, sick/leave disability, tuition waiver, adoption resources, wellness coaching, and free access to campus fitness facilities. Family and child care options on and off-campus are also available. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit Benefits and Wellness - Grand Valley State University.

Major Program: The GVSU Advertising and Public Relations program (www.gvsu.edu/soc/apr) is one of four undergraduate programs in the School of Communications (SoC) which also houses a MS in Communications. The Advertising and Public Relations program allows students to choose a 4-course emphasis in either Advertising or Public Relations. The program also has thriving and award-winning PRSSA and Ad Club Chapters.

School of Communications: The SoC is founded upon the principles of integrating liberal and professional education, and theory to practice. The unit prepares students to be intellectually aware and professionally prepared, housing undergraduate majors in Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Studies, Health Communication, and Multimedia Journalism, and one graduate program. With over 700 undergraduate students, 120 minors, and nearly 50 graduate students, the SoC is one of the largest in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The SoC encourages students to take advantage of several experiential and high-impact learning practices, such as internships, media practica, and academic competitions. 

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS): CLAS is the largest college at Grand Valley, offering over 50 bachelor degrees and a growing number of advanced degrees in the natural and mathematical sciences, the fine arts and humanities, and the social sciences. CLAS is a student-centered learning community that engages in critical inquiry, extending knowledge to enrich and enliven individual and public life. Our faculty are active teacher-scholars committed to equitable, inclusive, career-connected, and community-engaged liberal arts and sciences education. There are many opportunities for collaboration within CLAS and across a broad group of partners on and off campus. We are interested in attracting a cohort of new faculty committed to these core values as we seek to foster a community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive together.

Campus/University: Grand Valley University (GVSU) is a public comprehensive institution located in West Michigan with campuses in Allendale, downtown Grand Rapids, and Holland, plus centers in Detroit, Muskegon and Traverse City. The University attracts more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities, and has been nationally recognized for innovativeness and its contribution to students’ social mobility. The greater Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a population of around one million people, is affordable, and offers rich cultural amenities. Grand Valley is located within easy driving distance of Chicago, Detroit, Lake Michigan beaches, and many other superb summer and winter recreational venues. Information can be found at Community Resources - Human Resources - Grand Valley State University. Grand Valley is highly rated for safety, sustainability, and veteran and LGBTQ friendliness, and is committed to supporting employees and their families in work-life balance. The university seeks to create an inclusive and diverse environment for faculty and students while promoting enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and service. More information can be found at Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).

How to Apply: A complete application must include: (1) a cover letter addressing qualifications and your motivation to teach at GVSU. This should include and describe ongoing and anticipated activities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research/creative activity, and service, (2) curriculum vitae, (3)* two or more examples of recent scholarly and/or professional work, (4)** evidence of effective teaching, (5)*** teaching philosophy with particular attention to engaging and supporting a diverse student body, (6) contact information of three professional references, and (7) graduate transcripts (unofficial issued to students are acceptable to initial application process).

*Upload to Research Interest on the application form
**Upload to Teaching Evaluations on the application form
***Upload to Teaching Statement on the application form

The online application will allow applicants to attach these documents electronically. Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. If you need assistance, call Human Resources at 616-331-2215.  Email questions about the position to Dr. Adrienne Wallace, wallacad@gvsu.edu

Application Deadline: The review process will begin November 1, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University. Interviews will be conducted in early 2023 for a position to start August 6, 2023.

Grand Valley State University has a COVID-19 Vaccine policy that requires all faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated. New hires will be expected to adhere to the policy unless they are eligible for allowable exemptions or postponement. We will require proper documentation upon hire. Up-to-date information can be found on our Lakers Together website.

Grand Valley State University does not discriminate against students, faculty or staff in any of its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities. Grand Valley State University is guided by values for inclusiveness and community which are integral to our mission to educate students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies, and to enrich the community through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service. The University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. It encourages diversity and provides equal opportunity in education, employment, all of its programs, and the use of its facilities. Members of the University community, including candidates for employment or admissions, and visitors or guests, have the right to be free from acts of harassment and discrimination, which are prohibited if they discriminate or harass on the basis of age, color, disability, familial status, height, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, veteran or active duty military status or weight. In addition, Grand Valley is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to ensure that none of its education programs and activities discriminate on the basis of sex/gender. Sex includes sex stereotypes, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy or parenting status. The Office for Title IX and Institutional Equity serves as a resource for the GVSU community and assists individuals who may have been impacted by discrimination or harassment in connecting with resources, imposes measures that protect or support access to programs and activities, and oversees the university’s grievance process for allegations of discrimination and harassment. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, 4015 Zumberge Hall, titleix@gvsu.edu, (616) 331-9530.

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.