"Assistant Professor, Communication"

Position Details

The Department of Communication within the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Tampa seeks a full-time, tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Communication to begin August 15, 2026.

The University of Tampa is a medium-sized, comprehensive, residentially-based private institution of more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University is ideally situated on a beautiful 110-acre campus next to the Hillsborough River, adjacent to Tampa's dynamic central business district, which is a growing, vibrant, diverse metropolitan area. UTampa reflects this vibrancy; with 30 consecutive years of enrollment growth UTampa boasts 260 student organizations, a multicultural student body from 50 states and more than 100 countries, and "Top Tier" ranking in U.S. News and World Report.

Teaching load is 3 courses (12 credit hours) per semester over two 15-week semesters per academic year. The department seeks a candidate with a Ph.D. in Communication or a related field (terminal degree earned by August 15, 2026) with a strong background in strategic communication and knowledge in the fields of advertising and public relations. Expertise in areas such as science communication, or a related area within strategic communication, is desired along with a willingness to strengthen our curriculum. Past teaching experience and professional experience are preferred. The candidate is expected to teach courses across the Advertising and Public Relations program, including but not limited to Communication Media Ethics, Strategic Social Media, and Research Methods. This also includes updating existing courses and proposing new ones when needed.

The University of Tampa's Department of Communication houses four vibrant majors: Advertising and Public Relations; Communication and Media Studies; Communication and Speech Studies; and Journalism. In addition, the department offers two graduate programs: the Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media and the Master of Arts in Professional Communication. The candidate may have opportunities to teach in the graduate programs from the department and advise graduate students.

The Advertising & Public Relations undergraduate program is the largest major in the Department of Communication. The program blends advertising, public relations, social media, and marketing knowledge with creative vision and cutting-edge technologies, to prepare students for professional careers and academic opportunities in strategic communication. Core courses provide foundations in social/digital media, advertising, marketing, and public relations, including skills in market research, creative strategies, media writing, multimedia design, and production. Students work individually and collaboratively with real clients to produce campaigns that engage diverse audiences and meet communication goals across a wide range of platforms. Students also explore communication ethics and critical perspectives on media and culture. Electives are chosen based on individual student interests and may include concentrations or interdisciplinary offerings.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching, maintain an active record of scholarship, participate in academic advising, and engage in service to the department, college, university, and broader community. We welcome innovative pedagogies and creative research agendas and traditions of scholarship.

Required Attachments:
All required documents listed below should be uploaded the attachment box at the bottom of the "My Experience" page of the application before continuing through the application.

1. Cover letter
2. Current curriculum vitae
3. Contact information for three professional references

Additional materials may be requested later. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.