Founded in 1917, Providence College (PC) is a premier Catholic liberal arts institution steadfastly committed to academic excellence through a dynamic core curriculum, a distinctive Development of Western Civilization Program, and abundant experiential learning opportunities. The only U.S. higher education institution administered by the Dominican Friars, PC is committed to providing a variety of opportunities for intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth in a supportive environment.
Providence College believes that cultural and intellectual pluralism is essential to the excellence of its academic programs, and strives to foster an academic culture and campus community reflecting the global environment in which we live and work. The approximately 105-acre campus is situated in Rhode Island’s capital city and is close to the many cultural and educational offerings of Rhode Island’s “renaissance city.” Additionally, Providence is located an hour from Boston and just a few hours from New York City. For years, Providence College has been recognized in the U.S. News & World Report “Regional Universities – North Category” and has been commended by several other ranking publications. Overview Providence College invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level, beginning August 1, 2027, with scholarly expertise at the intersection of Communication and Public and Community Service Studies and to be jointly appointed within these departments. We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in Communication, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, or a related discipline who also have demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in executing, community engaged research and/or participatory action research. Outstanding candidates will promote a leading vision for community-engaged research that foregrounds cutting edge developments in the media environment, bringing innovative approaches to real-world challenges, and working with community partners on critical concerns. Engaged academics with an interest in applying theories of communication to their communities, using social media, digital imaging, artistic platforms, video and blogging channels, and similar contemporary resources to support organizational initiatives, are encouraged to apply. We also welcome scholars whose research and pedagogy contribute to interdisciplinary curricular pathways with campus partners in Black Studies, Business and Innovation, Health Sciences, Women’s and Gender Studies, and other areas. The Communication department at Providence College, housed in the School of Arts & Sciences, takes an interdisciplinary approach to the field, emphasizing visual, rhetorical, interpersonal, and mass mediated modes of Communication through theoretical and practical engagement, the study of media history, and the contemporary application of communication skills across a variety of technological platforms. The Public and Community Service department addresses fundamental building blocks of community, the public good, and service in a democratic society, grounding the study of these concepts in experience, stories, data, and formal analysis. Salary: $70,000-$80,000 Duties and Responsibilities The normal teaching load will be three courses per semester, with class sizes of 12 to 25 students. Core assignments each year may include Introduction to Civic and Community Engagement , Introduction to Communication, Approaches to Communication Research, Media and Society, Community Engaged Research, Communication for Social Change, and upper-level electives. We seek scholars who are enthusiastic about the opportunity to design new courses in areas which reflect their interests and expertise. Education and Experience We seek candidates with a Ph.D. in Communication, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, or a related discipline who also have demonstrated knowledge of, and experience in executing, community engaged research and/or participatory action research. Candidates should have an active research program, evidenced by a record of scholarship published and/or nearing completion. Our faculty are scholars with active research agendas who provide mentorship for junior colleagues. Additional support for research includes College-sponsored grants, grant writing assistance, conference funds, individual discretionary funds, access to library resources, and undergraduate research assistants. Supplemental Information Apply online at https://careers.providence.edu where you will submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae , names and contact information for three references, a statement of teaching philosophy to include evidence of commitment to innovative and inclusive teaching, and one or more samples of scholarly writing. For additional information, please contact Dr. Andrea McDonnell, search committee chair and Chair of the Department of Communication, at amcdonn3@providence.edu . For full consideration, your completed application should be submitted (see above) no later than October 18, 2026. Review of applications will commence as they are received, and will continue until the position is filled.