The Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte invites applications for a Lecturer or Assistant Teaching Professor in journalism and public relations beginning August 15, 2024. Required qualifications include a master’s degree (for Lecturer rank) or terminal degree (for Assistant Teaching Professor rank) in journalism, public relations, or a related area of communication. Preferred criteria include education and/or work experience in journalism and public relations. This may include: industry experience in journalism and/or public relations; evidence of successful teaching in journalism and/or public relations; involvement or leadership in one or more relevant professional associations; knowledge and ability to teach media production in a variety of forms (e.g. graphic design, digital media, social media, video production); strong writing and editing skills; and a demonstrated desire to remain current with developments in the digital media ecosystem. The department seeks a committed teacher who can situate themselves within the university’s Strategic Plan (https://strategicplan.charlotte.edu/full-plan-and-glossary), which has a particular focus on engaging a diverse student body that includes many first generation, transfer, military, veteran, working, and non-traditional students. Finalists will be asked to discuss how their teaching practices engage students of different ages, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, identities, and abilities, helping to remove barriers in order to ensure the success of all students regardless of their entry pathway into the university. Successful candidates will teach predominantly in-person undergraduate courses in journalism and public relations and may teach online courses as needed by the department. Journalism courses may include News Writing, Feature Writing, Editing, Visual Design, Digital Media, and topics courses in journalism. Public relations courses may include Principles of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing, Public Relations Ethics, Communication Campaigns, and topics courses in public relations. Successful candidates will teach four classes in the fall semester and four classes in the spring semester and will advise around 20 undergraduate students per year. The successful candidate will also serve on a small number of faculty committees and may be asked to advise a student pre-professional association.The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://www.charlotte.edu/) is a doctoral, research-intensive urban university, located on an expanding modern campus. The second largest of the 16 UNC System campuses, UNC Charlotte is a diverse and inclusive institution, offering more than 30,000 culturally and ethnically varied students a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The University is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement campus and an APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. It supports faculty with excellent family and medical leave policies, junior faculty development awards, internal faculty research grant opportunities, and other research opportunities. Charlotte offers a dynamic space to live, work and connect for faculty, students, alumni, and staff, with its outstanding cultural, recreational, and business amenities. As the 15th largest U.S. city, Charlotte is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live (#20 on the 2021-22 list by U.S. News and World Report).The Department of Communication Studies (https://communication.charlotte.edu/) has 27 full-time faculty with areas of emphasis in health communication; organizational communication; public relations; media and technology studies; and rhetoric, culture, and social change. The department serves approximately 870 majors and minors and 25 master’s students. The department’s primary mission is to provide high-quality instruction to its undergraduate and graduate students, and to contribute significantly to the understanding of communication issues as they affect people’s lives, especially in the Charlotte metropolitan region. Through teaching, scholarship and service the department is committed to serving diverse populations.The Department of Communication Studies is located within the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences. As the largest and most diverse college at UNC Charlotte, the new College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences houses 15 departments, 18 interdisciplinary programs, and 6 applied centers. We offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs with extensive honors and early-entry options. The College plays a pivotal role in delivering on the university’s goals in the areas of research excellence, student success and experience, and community engagement. Through their scholarship and teaching, the College’s 350+ faculty members seek to deepen our understanding of complex problems and lead the university in interdisciplinary collaboration and equity and justice initiatives.The review of applications will begin Nov. 15, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. Applicants must apply electronically at https://jobs.charlotte.edu/, position 5330. Please upload a cover letter responding to the qualifications listed above, a current CV, a teaching philosophy, and contact information for three references. Contact Craig Paddock (craig.paddock@charlotte.edu, search committee chair), or Dr. Dan Grano (dgrano@charlotte.edu, chair of the Department of Communication Studies) with questions.As an EOE/AA employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte encourages applications from all underrepresented groups. The candidate chosen for this position will be subject to a criminal background check and will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest earned degree.
