"Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) of Journalism and Mass Communication- Public Relations 1"

The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma seeks an outstanding candidate to fill a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Public Relations, beginning Spring or Fall 2026.

There are currently two positions open for tenure-track Assistant Professors in Public Relations in this college. To be considered for both positions, please apply for each of the positions listed on Interfolio.

The college prides itself on the outstanding professional preparation of students grounded in personal interactions with faculty and extraordinary opportunities to connect with industry professionals regionally, nationally, and internationally. Undergraduate courses are designed to be experiential, providing students with hands-on experience in developing strategies and plans and creating communications assets for outside clients.

The selected candidate will have a promising research agenda aligned with the OU Research Strategic Framework (https://www.ou.edu/research-norman/strategic-framework) and teach public relations undergraduate and graduate-level classes in the #1 ranked media program in the nation (according to BEA).

The candidate will be expected to help teach core classes in the public relations curriculum, including the following: Public Relations Principles, Public Relations Research, Public Relations Writing, Public Relations Ethics, Contemporary Problems in Public Relations, and Public Relations Campaigns. The candidate will conduct research and teach elective courses in one or more of the following: fundraising/nonprofits; public affairs/government, and/or political campaigns technology/AI/social media/AR/VR, travel/tourism, consumer behavior, environmental/ESG/CSA/CSR; data science, data analytics, and/or data visualization; management/leadership/reputation/image; or other areas of expertise. The candidate is expected to serve as an active member of the Gaylord College and the University of Oklahoma community, will serve on (and ultimately chair) graduate student committees, and actively serve on College committees. The appointment is 40% teaching, 40% research, and 20% service (40-40-20).

Qualifications: The candidate should be ABD or have completed a Ph.D. in Public Relations or a related area, preferably in the field of communication/mass communication at the time of appointment. Professional experience in public relations or a related field is highly desired. The candidate must demonstrate high, evidence-based potential to be successful in all three areas (research, teaching, and service), have a clearly defined research agenda in public relations and/or strategic communication, and should articulate and demonstrate interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Application Instructions: Applications for the search will be reviewed beginning September 1, 2025, and will be accepted until the position is filled. Applicants should provide: 1) a cover letter describing their qualifications, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a one-page research statement, 4) a one-page teaching plan, and 5) names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of at least three references. For specific questions about the position and application process, please contact the search committee chair Dr. Jensen Moore (jensenmoore@ou.edu).

All submissions must go through Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio.com/168362