"Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Relations and Communication"

Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Relations and Communication

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: Doctoral

Date Available: August 1, 2025

Status: Review start date is February 15, 2025, but all applications will continue to be received and reviewed until the position is filled.

SUMMARY

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), a private Christian institution located in West Palm Beach, Florida, seeks an Assistant/Associate Professor of Public Relations and Communication. Preference will be given to those candidates who have professional experience in Public Relations and are active in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The Public Relations program recently was awarded Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) by PRSA and offers a growing student chapter (PRSSA) on campus. This program of study is located in the College of the Arts, which includes Cinema, Communication, Dance, Gaming, Graphic Design, Journalism, Music, Preparatory Department, Public Relations, Sports Broadcasting, Theatre, and Visual Art. The typical teaching load is four courses each semester and this position reports to the Chair of the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations. Rank will be commensurate with credentials and experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• According to expertise, primary focus in Public Relations coursework and secondary focus in Communication coursework.
• Courses taught may include Foundations of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing, Strategies, and Campaigns, Social Media Management and Strategy, Advertising, and Persuasion, as well as lower- and upper-level Communication classes.
• Participate in university service, faculty development programs, and student advising.
• Develop and deliver interdisciplinary courses.
• Contribute to scholarly and/or proprietary activity.
• Integrate Christian faith and pedagogy.
• Oversee experiential learning projects with external organizations, such as internships and senior capstone campaign.

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D. in Public Relations or Communication with a concentration in Public Relations, required. Doctoral Candidates who are ABD will be considered, but all degree requirements must be completed by Summer 2026.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3+ years of teaching experience at the university level.
• 3+ years professional experience in Public Relations.
• Knowledge of Public Relations as an academic discipline and a professional practice.
• Proven success in online course development and instruction, as evidenced by student and administration evaluations.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES:

• Possesses the interpersonal and professional skills necessary to work effectively with a diverse community of students and colleagues.
• Demonstrates a commitment to creating, fostering, and sustaining a culture that celebrates collaboration in and out of the classroom.
• Exhibits a strong attention to detail and clear, effective oral and written communication skills.
• Engages productively in consensus building and creative problem solving.
• Demonstrates professionalism, initiative, and a strong work ethic.
• Possesses the ability to bring the inspiration and enthusiasm to advance growth and creative momentum of the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations.

The successful candidate will possess the soft skills and hard standards to work effectively with an increasingly diverse array of students and colleagues and will have a demonstrated commitment to creating, fostering and sustaining a culture that celebrates collaboration in and out of the classroom. This person will excel in attention to detail, effective oral and written communication, consensus building, creative problem solving, professionalism, and intrinsic work ethic. The self-motivated person will bring the inspiration and enthusiasm required to advance creative momentum.

The Institution

Founded in 1968, Palm Beach Atlantic University is an interdenominational Christian institution with over 4,200 students, from all 50 states and more than 80 countries, across 100 academic programs. PBA’s programs are framed by a Christian worldview that is guided by accomplished experts and delivered in the breathtaking setting of West Palm Beach, Florida. PBA’s graduates launch lives of character, meaning, and accomplishment to make a difference in their careers and communities. From its presence in the academic curriculum, to weekly chapel, to service learning and mission trips, the Christ-centered foundation shapes the student experience and prepares them with the kind of ethical, principled outlook that today’s employers value.

The University upholds a commitment to academic excellence, where the life of the mind molds both character and intellect, integrating core values into its academic programs. With a notable 20 Fulbright recipients who have received 21 awards in the last 8 years, 3 Faculty Fulbright Scholar Awards in the last 2 years, and 5 Gilman Award winners in the last 4 years, PBA demonstrates its dedication to academic excellence. Alumni regularly secure acceptance to prestigious graduate programs, fellowships, and service organizations.

Palm Beach Atlantic University’s offerings are proven and respected by top employers and elite graduate institutions. Its programs offer distinctive, elevated learning opportunities. In addition, PBA’s six Centers of Excellence deepen students’ knowledge and skills and add dimension to the learning experience through distinctive programming, travel, internship, and networking opportunities. Through PBA’s unique Workship Program, students improve communities locally, around South Florida and in countries across the globe by building homes for those in need, assisting with natural disaster recovery efforts, tutoring and mentoring students in after school programs, and packing meals for families living in underserved communities. To date, PBA students have volunteered 4 million hours of service through Workship.

For more information about the university go to www.pba.edu

Location

Living in West Palm Beach, Florida, residents are surrounded by the unparalleled opportunities of South Florida. In addition to the natural beauty of its location on the Intracoastal Waterway, PBA offers endless professional opportunities, world-class cultural outlets, and exceptional shopping districts just minutes from campus.

One can find outdoor recreation at the Everglades, Lake Trail or MacArthur Beach State Park and more than 50 miles of pristine beaches nearby. Residents can also play a round of golf at any of the area’s more than 160 golf courses, catch the pro sports action of the NFL’s Dolphins, NBA’s Heat, MLB’s Marlins and NHL’s Panthers or take in a concert at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. West Palm Beach is also home to an eclectic and appetizing food scene, with cuisines representing everything from Caribbean and Cuban to Asian, German and Portuguese. With nearly 20 churches of various denominations located just minutes from the PBA campus, employees have an outstanding opportunity to become involved in a local faith community.

West Palm Beach is a city of 100,000+ residents located within Palm Beach County, which has 1.5 million residents. Located along Florida’s Atlantic Ocean coast, West Palm Beach offers appealing weather and year-round access to smooth-sand beaches and some of the nation’s most enticing waterways and is located a short drive to some of Florida's fabulous cities: Fort Lauderdale is 1 hour away; Miami is 1.5 hours; Key Largo is 2 hours, and Orlando is 2.5 hours away. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is located less than three miles from PBA’s campus and was ranked #1 in the U.S. for shortest overall wait times at TSA checkpoints. West Palm Beach is also a stop on the Brightline passenger high-speed rail system that connects Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.