Open Rank Professors in Strategic Communication

Title: Open Rank Professors in Strategic Communication

Description:

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University seeks two open-rank, tenure-eligible professors in strategic communication to teach and conduct research in areas critical to the school’s and industry’s growth.

The Cronkite School is a global leader in mass communications education that requires its strategic media students—whether they seek to become brand storytellers, PR professionals, digital marketers or entrepreneurs—to pursue foundational coursework in strategic communication. Courses may include strategic communications research, audience strategy, strategic writing, audience analytics, paid/organic social media, SEO, crisis communication, and sports campaigns. Since both professors will teach within these core courses, knowledge across the discipline—and a passion for nurturing students’ learning—is required. The ideal candidate also has professional experience in strategic communication (public relations, digital marketing, integrated communications, audience analytics and media measurement, social media, crisis communication and/or related areas), and the ability to teach related skills courses as well as conceptual, theoretical and methodological material at the undergraduate and graduate level, in on-campus and/or online modalities. Candidates should have a robust portfolio of their own strategic communication work, and an ability to motivate and help students develop their own.

Candidates must demonstrate a strong research agenda that advances knowledge within strategic communication, and demonstrate the capacity to generate funding and contribute research commensurate with an R1 research institution. The Cronkite School seeks candidates with research interests across strategic communication, but is especially interested in scholarship in the following areas:

• Audience engagement
• Audience measurement, analytics, customer journey and/or brand data
• Brand communication
• Public relations
• Crisis communication
• Political communication

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 9-month appointment with an open tenure or tenure-track academic rank of “assistant professor,” “associate professor” or “professor.” The start date for this position is August 2024. Applicants must have a relevant terminal degree at the time of appointment.

Essential Duties

• Teach two courses in the Fall semester, and two courses in the Spring semester.
• Foster a learning culture that inspires strategic communication students with relevant content, tools and techniques.
• Conduct impactful research in keeping with the rigors of an R1 institution, and advance a relevant research agenda.
• Engage in service to students and the Cronkite School, including student mentorship, committee work and guest speaking.
• Serve as a disciplinary thought leader, proactively staying abreast of new strategic communication techniques and technology updates; curating exemplars of superior research and professional work; and highlighting superb student work.
• Collaborate with school leadership and faculty to develop curricula.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Candidates must have a doctoral degree in journalism, mass communication, media studies, or other relevant discipline at the time of appointment, or a terminal degree in another field with a record of published scholarship related to the focus of the position.

Desired Qualifications

• At least five years’ experience in public relations, digital marketing, corporate communication, or strategic communication
• A research and/or teaching agenda focused on one or more core areas of strategic communication, including but not limited to: audience strategy, corporate social advocacy and responsibility, strategic writing, audience analytics and engagement, crisis or risk communication, paid/organic social media, SEO, sports campaigns, or international/intercultural public relations
• Experience teaching in both immersion (face-to-face classroom) and online environments
• Ability to teach both skills and conceptual courses in public relations and strategic communication at the undergraduate and master’s level
• Ability to teach courses in mass communication theory and methods at the doctoral level
• Record of scholarly publications and evidence of an active research agenda

About the Cronkite School

The Cronkite School is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier mass communications programs. Rooted in the time-honored values that characterize its namesake—accuracy, responsibility, integrity—the school fosters excellence and ethics among students as they master the professional skills they need to succeed in the digital media world of today and tomorrow.

 Located on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus in the heart of the nation’s fifth-largest city, the School has 70 full-time faculty members, more than 100 full-time professional staff and annual resources of more than $40 million. The Cronkite faculty is made up of award-winning professional journalists, strategic communications specialists and world-class media scholars. Cronkite professors include five Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, digital media thought leaders, top TV producers and correspondents, major metropolitan newspaper editors and strategic communications experts.

More than 2,500 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students are enrolled at Cronkite, in person and online, preparing for careers in journalism, strategic media and related communications fields. Of the undergraduate residential student population, more than 60% come from out-of-state and more than 37% are students of color. The retention rate consistently exceeds 90%, and Cronkite students regularly lead the country in national competitions.

About Arizona State University

ASU is one of the largest and most innovative public research universities in the country, undertaking a bold reinvention of higher education as a New American University. With four campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, it serves more than 127,000 students on campus and online. For the past six years, it has been ranked No. 1 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

 In the last decade, ASU has developed numerous new programs and units that bridge disciplinary boundaries to enable the exploration and discovery of new knowledge, while developing practical solutions to serve Arizona and the world at large. The university has strong and simultaneous commitments to educational access, excellence, and impact, and assumes significant responsibility for the cultural, social and economic vitality of its surrounding communities.

Application Instructions

Submission materials must include:

1. A cover letter stating qualifications
2. Curriculum vitae or resume
3. Contact information (name, address, email, telephone number) for three professional references
4. A inclusion statement that addresses their experience and commitment to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion over the course of their careers and outlines how they would advance inclusivity goals at the Cronkite School. The statement should be no longer than 500 words.

The applicant’s name should appear in each uploaded file name. Cover letters may be addressed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Fran Matera. Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair at: matera@asu.edu

 Application deadline is September 1, 2023. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Applicants must apply online at: http://apply.interfolio.com/125249

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement. A background check is required for employment. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

(See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf  You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements - Arizona State University is a federal contractor and subject to federal regulations which may require you to produce a record of a COVID-19 vaccination. For questions about medical or religious accommodations, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s webpage.