Job Summary

Position Title: Assistant Professor, Media and Communication
College: College of Business and Technology
Department: Media and Communication
Programs: Media and Communication (BA/BS) and Brand and Media Strategy (MA)
Appointment: Full-time, 9-month, tenure-track (3/3 teaching load)
Start Date: August 2026

The Department of Media and Communication in the College of Business and Technology at East Tennessee State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Media and Communication with expertise in Public Relations, Social Media Management, and Strategic Communication. This is a nine-month, tenure-track position beginning August 2026.

The successful candidate will support undergraduate and graduate instruction in the Media and Communication (BA/BS) program, specifically in the Public Relations and Social Media Management concentration, and the Brand and Media Strategy (MA) program, with particular emphasis on audience analytics, brand insight and analytics, public relations, and social media strategy. The position includes teaching, research, and service responsibilities consistent with ETSU’s expectations for tenure-track faculty (60% teaching, 20% research, 20% service).

Research

• Maintain an active and productive research agenda in brand communication, audience analytics, media and marketing analytics, or strategic communication
• Publish in peer-reviewed academic journals and professional outlets
• Contribute to scholarly collaboration within the department and college
• Support the research mission of the Brand and Media Strategy graduate program
• Pursue external funding and applied research opportunities when appropriate

Service

• Serve on departmental, college, and university committees
• Participate in graduate faculty responsibilities and tenure and promotion processes
• Support student recruitment and retention initiatives
• Contribute to curriculum development and program assessment
• Build partnerships with business, nonprofit, and community organizations
• Support experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration across the college
• Support the development of the Public Relations and Social Media Management concentration

Teaching (3/3 Load)

• Teach a 3/3 course load (nine credit hours per semester) in undergraduate and graduate Media and Communication courses
• Teach courses such as Brand and Social Media Production (PUBR 3770), Media and Society (MCOM 3070), Media and You (MCOM 1030), Seminar in Mass Communication (MCOM 5040), and other public relations, social media management, and strategic communication courses
• Teach audience analytics and brand insight/analytics at the graduate and undergraduate levels
• Chair and serve on graduate theses and capstone projects
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Commitment to student mentorship and academic advising
• Commitment to service to the department, college, university, and professional community
• Ability to contribute to community-engaged and experiential learning initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in public relations, social media management, and strategic communication
• Demonstrated potential to develop and sustain an independent, high-quality research agenda

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Advertising, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, Media and Communication, Marketing, Mass Communication, or a closely related field from an accredited institution (ABD considered, but Ph.D. must be completed by the time of appointment)
• Evidence of effective teaching or strong potential for teaching excellence

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience at the university level
• Experience teaching both skills-based practical courses and theory courses in public relations, social media, and other related media and communication topics
• Ability to teach audience analytics and brand insight and analytics
• Experience teaching graduate courses and supervising theses or capstone projects
• Professional experience in public relations, social media management, or strategic communication
• Evidence of scholarly publications or conference presentations
• Experience with industry partnerships, applied learning, or community-engaged projects
• Experience with analytics tools, digital media platforms, and brand strategy
• Graduate faculty eligibility

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation - depending on education and experience
• For information on benefits please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.

Application Instructions

• Exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants.
• Required Documents:
  • CV
  • Cover Letter
  • Transcripts 

ETSU is an equal opportunity employer.

University Overview

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution's mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement.

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position's essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.