"Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professor in Communication Studies"

Position:

The College of Liberal Arts is seeking highly motivated individuals to join the communication department at WKU.

All faculty positions are full-time assignments, effective for the year of 2026 Spring (February 11) or the 2026 Fall (August 16) semester. These positions are full-time assignments appointed on a 3-year contract at the first instance and are renewable upon successful reappointment review.

A tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor is a full time, 10-month employee who teaches 24 credits per academic year. (6-credit course release per academic year is available in the first three years of appointment for grant proposal development and other substantial research initiatives). The course release may be available by applications on competitive basis after the initial three years of appointment. Start-up grant (up to 80,000 RMB) will be provided to launch student-engaging research programs. Successful candidates will engage in high-quality teaching, impactful research, academic advising, student learning support, and service contributions to the university and the broader professional community. Tenure-track faculty must demonstrate a strong record of publication in reputable, peer-reviewed journals that are widely respected within the field.

Teaching assignments and related responsibilities may include days, evenings, and weekends, depending on institutional needs. Interest or experience in using advanced instructional technologies to improve the teaching/learning process is highly desirable. All faculty may be required to teach General Education courses as needed. Opportunities are also available to teach disciplinary support courses. Candidates with an interest in teaching across disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Communication Studies or related field is required; ABD can be considered with completion prior to the effective date of employment. English fluency is required. Candidates should be able to teach a full range of undergraduate and postgraduate Communication courses related to Public Relations and Digital Media, including, but not limited to: Communication & Digital Technology, Strategic Communication, Crisis Communication, Organisational Theory & Culture, Media Relations and Publicity, Public Relations Writing, Research Methods in Communication, and other upper level Communication electives. A minimum of two years of teaching experience in a college or university setting is preferred. Candidates with doctorate degrees from reputable universities (Carnegie R1 institutions or comparable research institutions with strong academic reputation in the fields) are encouraged to apply.

Tenure-track candidates should possess a strong track record of publication and be ready to lead their research groups independently. Tenure-track candidates are expected to plan and conduct research and develop extramurally funded research programs involving students, which is essential for tenure and promotion. Tenure track candidates are also expected to publish peer-reviewed journal articles in impactful journals in Communication or closely related fields. In addition to teaching and student-engaging research duties, candidates are also expected to contribute to the growth of the programs, including but not limited to curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment/advisement, senior project supervision, internship opportunities, research experiences for undergraduates (REU), etc.

Faculty positions at WKU offer:

Annual salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience with the range from USD $62,000-$70,000 for Assistant Professor and USD $68,000-$75,000 for Associate Professor. Salary of extraordinary candidates shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. The University will provide start-up grants to support tenure-track faculty to start their research programs. A well-rounded healthcare coverage, housing options and subsidy up to $3,000, home traveling up to $6,000 (2 international round-trip airfares), a reimbursement to cover relocation expenses up to $1,000 and shuttle bus to campus for work. The university provides financial assistance for academic travel. WKU tuition waiver up to 50% for spouse/dependent children of faculty for undergraduate programs. The opportunity to teach high-quality students. About 50% of graduates have been admitted to graduate schools at the World’s Top 50 Universities, and about 60% of graduates at the World’s Top 100 Universitie.

Application Information:

Applicants are REQUIRED to apply online. To receive full consideration by the search committee, candidates need to submit the following documents via Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/176566)

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled. Candidates should send cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, a research statement describing research interests, past accomplishments in research, and future research plans, unofficial transcripts, 3 most representative peer-reviewed academic publications and the email contact information of three professional references, include references/names of potential referees from a current or recent direct supervisor. Three current letters of recommendation (within the last 3 months) will be required before advancement. Official transcripts for all degrees are required before appointment.

Background Screening:

Wenzhou-Kean University conducts background screenings on all candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings.