Assistant Professor in Political Communication and AI

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Political Communication and AI

School/Department Name: College of Social Sciences / Communication Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule . Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2027

Application Deadline: October 16, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Communication Studies at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor of Political Communication and AI beginning in August 2026. We seek a teacher-scholar whose research and teaching examines the intersections of political communication, artificial intelligence, democratic life, and public discourse through social scientific, interpretive, rhetorical, and/or critical paradigmatic perspectives and research methods. Areas of specialization may include, but are not limited to, AI and political communication, misinformation and disinformation, political polarization, platform governance, digital campaigning, civic engagement, algorithmic publics, public advocacy, political rhetoric, public opinion, and the ethical, social, and democratic implications of emerging communication technologies. In addition to developing and/or updating graduate and undergraduate courses in political communication, rhetoric, and digital media, this colleague will teach courses in communication theory and research methods, as well as general education offerings. The ideal candidate will lead the department in establishing robust local and national governmental, policy, and technological partnerships, as well as internship programs related to civic and public sectors.

The Department of Communication Studies at San José State University is a vibrant and diverse academic unit offering B.A. and M.A. degrees. We are committed to critical, innovative, and justice-oriented approaches to teaching, scholarship, and public engagement. The department values interdisciplinary research, inclusive teaching practices, and collaborations with Silicon Valley communities. Faculty and students actively engage in impactful research, contributing to scholarly conversations at regional, national, and international levels. We also retain a long history of offering high-impact educational opportunities, including student research, community-engaged learning/service-learning, study abroad, our robust internship program, and our senior seminar (“capstone”) course. The department’s Teaching Associate (TA) program provides graduate students with hands-on teaching experience, preparing them for careers in academia and beyond. All of these support our mission to educate students to effectively participate in diverse local and global communities. Our faculty span a range of expertise and benefit from access to a wide array of resources, including research support, the University Grants Academy, collaborative spaces, professional development opportunities through faculty learning communities, and channels for research collaboration with students such as our very own COMM+ Lab and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. In addition, as a department we are highly active in college and University-wide initiatives—including the Veterans Advisory Council; Project Rebound; the Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation; the Humanities Program; Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Academic Senate, and the Trans-Teach In. Our faculty are regularly sought out for leadership roles across campus, reflecting both our commitment and influence in shaping the broader community.

The Department of Communication Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Communication Studies and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines .

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies, or a closely related field (completed by time of appointment)