Associate or Full Professor of Communication & Media & Department Chair

Hiring Department

The Department of Communication & Media, University of Missouri - St. Louis

Job Description

The Department of Communication and Media seeks a Department Chair who is a tenured Associate or Full Professor of communication or media. The successful applicant would serve at least one three-year term as Department Chair beginning in August 2023. They must conduct high-quality research in either communication and/or media. The successful candidate will also teach core courses in the department’s emphasis areas of Interpersonal Communication, Mass Communication, Strategic Communication, or Digital Media Production, as well as advanced courses in their area of expertise. To learn more about the department’s offerings, click here: https://www.umsl.edu/~comm/comm-ba/index.html

PROFILE of the POSITION

The Department seeks an outstanding collaborator, educator, and researcher with demonstrated leadership experience to further advance excellence in the areas of teaching, research, and service. This person will fit into our culture if they value listening, acting with integrity, and being transparent; are dedicated to supporting our Inclusive Excellence goals (https://www.umsl.edu/stratplan/inclusion.html); if they see future possibilities; and if they enjoy balancing and pursuing many priorities in the name of program growth and quality.

Responsibilities:
* Serve as a strong and caring leader, role model, and advocate for the Department
* Foster a welcoming and inclusive department culture for faculty, staff, and students
* Develop a shared vision and strategic plan that aligns stakeholders' strengths, program enhancements and strategic faculty hires
* Lead program innovations and curricula development strategies to ensure exceptional on-campus and online teaching and learning experiences
* Secure departmental resources needed to do its work and accomplish objectives
* Manage day-to-day operations, including personnel and resource management
* Provide effective mentorship to enhance teaching and scholarly accomplishment, secure external funding, and promotion and tenure for faculty
* Strengthen existing and develop new campus and community partnerships
* Recruit and retain diverse Tenure Track and Non-Tenure Track faculty with records of excellence in teaching and research
* Work collaboratively with the Graduate Program Director to strengthen and promote innovation within the existing MA program

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
* Doctorate or terminal degree in applicable research field
* Academic accomplishments that merit an appointment at the rank of an Associate Professor or Full Professor
* Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity in all activities
* Record of successful teaching, formal or informal mentoring, and research activity
* Past administrative/academic leadership experience or evidence of potential for such

Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience with fiscal and budget management
* Administrative experience with online degree programs or courses

Application Materials

We anticipate the appointment will be made for the Fall of 2023 with a targeted August 2023 start. Review of applications will begin in January 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applicant material should be received by December 31, 2022.

Candidates should include:

* Cover letter outlining leadership qualifications, teaching, research, andmentoring

* Diversity statement addressing how you incorporate issues of DEI into yourteaching, research, and/or service

* Curriculum vitae

Later in the search process, names and contact information for three references may be requested. Finalists will be notified before references are contacted.

Inquiries and nominations can be sent to reinhartam@umsystem.edu

Other Information

PROFILE of the DEPARTMENT/REGION

The Department–the fifth largest in the College of Arts and Sciences– is comprised of a diverse group of 10 talented full-time faculty. The Department is committed to and actively incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion in its programs and curriculum as it strives to prepare professionals who are culturally aware and responsive. We aspire to appreciate each other’s strengths, and are all committed to transforming the lives of our students. Our diverse classrooms are places where recent high school graduates, transfer students, adults returning to school, athletes, parents, international students,

and first generation college students can all learn from each other. Our graduates make up the fabric of the St. Louis workforce with over 75,000 alumni, where they are valued for their work ethic and talent.

UMSL was ranked 107th for top public universities, 75th in the social mobility ranking, and #1 for affordability in the state of Missouri. UMSL is located in St. Louis, a city with world-class museums, parks, a zoo, and a botanical garden. It boasts professional baseball, hockey, and soccer teams, as well as a vibrant theater and performing arts community. For a major city, the cost of living is low and traffic is minimal. The region's rich history is evident in its beautiful architecture, and also in its social issues, which provide meaningful contexts for one’s research and community outreach. St. Louis has an international airport, direct trains to Kansas City and Chicago, and a variety of other cities within a 4 to 6 hour drive. Outdoor recreation opportunities are easily accessible, and the foothills of the Ozark mountains and the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are nearby.

Benefit Eligibility

The University of Missouri - St. Louis offers benefit-eligible employees a wide variety of benefits including: health, dental and vision coverage effective on the first day of employment, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents and employee and dependent life insurance. For more information about our benefits, please visit:

https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits

Diversity Commitment

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• EEO is the Law English Version
• EEO is the Law Spanish Version
• EEO is the Law Chinese Version