(15/10/2021) Job Market: The University of Alabama – Assistant Professor in Digital Communication and Diversity

How do consumers from racial or ethnic minority groups respond (attitudes, purchasing behavior, boycotts) when corporations advertise or participate in social awareness campaigns on digital communication media platforms? How do marginalized publics leverage the power of digital media, as a form of activism, to advance their organizational aims? If these sorts or similar questions interest you as a scholar, then The Department of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Alabama might be the perfect spot for you to make as your tenure-track home!

The Department of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Alabama invites applications for a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in the area of Digital Communication for the 2022-2023 academic year. The successful candidate must have research expertise and demonstrated teaching potential in the area of Digital Communication. We particularly welcome candidates who conduct research in one or more of the following areas via a digital communication lens: multicultural advertising, activism, critical public relations, diversity, ethnicity, identity, inequality, or race—as we seek to strengthen our cutting-edge research, teaching, and practice in this burgeoning area of digital communication.  Since we are committed to creating the most intellectually diverse, inclusive, and equitable academic unit that we can, we especially encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Additionally, while we embrace all epistemological and methodological approaches and forms of scholarly inquiry, those with the ability to conduct and teach qualitative methods are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates must demonstrate strong potential to establish and maintain an independent scholarly research program, recognized within either the public relations or advertising disciplines. Additionally, the department seeks candidates whose scholarly activity will contribute to our graduate emphases and recruitment efforts and whose teaching and/or professional experience and leadership-focused thinking can provide our undergraduate students with the theoretical understanding and practical experience and skills necessary to engage with the practices of digital communication across multiple platforms.

UA is a student-centered research university. Thus, candidates must have prior teaching experience and be able to demonstrate their ability to successfully engage students in the classroom. Applicants must display an ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team.

The University of Alabama is the state’s flagship public university and offers a full course of academic programs and social life to its nearly 40,000 students. It is located in Tuscaloosa, a diverse city with a population of more than 115,000 and offers an excellent quality of life with many cultural, outdoor activities, and multicultural resources and opportunities, as well as a very reasonable cost of living. To apply go to https://facultyjobs.ua.edu and complete the following.

• Provide a cover letter
• provide a CV
• provide a statement which articulates teaching, research, and industry experience (if applicable) in the field of digital communication (no more than 4 pages)
• provide names and contact information for three references

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, review of applications will begin October 15, 2021. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Kenon Brown at brown@apr.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women and individuals from historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Advertising, Public Relations, Mass Communication, Communication, or closely related field completed by start date of appointment.
• Clearly articulated research and teaching agendas in the field of digital communication.
• Record of teaching effectiveness, with experience in teaching relevant undergraduate courses.
• Strong potential for scholarly activity in advertising or public relations flagship journals, academic or university presses, or other ranked publication outlets showing potential to lead to tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• We particularly welcome candidates who research in one or more of the following areas via a digital communication lens: multicultural advertising, activism, critical public relations, race, culture, social justice, social class, or diversity.
• Knowledge regarding industry-standard approaches to digital communication (e.g., analytics, SEO, content creation).
• Evidence of or potential of attracting extramural funding.
• One year or more of consulting, industry, or other relevant professional experience in areas including but not limited to public relations, advertising, marketing, or digital media/social media.
• Ability to conduct and teach qualitative methods.