Associate Professor of Communication Studies – East Tennessee State University

Associate Professor of Communication Studies – East Tennessee State University

• Institution: East Tennessee State University (ETSU)

• Academic Unit / Department: Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling

• Job Reference / Requisition ID: 1274

• Appointment Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track, Academic Year

• Academic Rank / Level: Associate Professor

• Salary / Remuneration: $67,000 per academic year

• Location: Johnson City, Tennessee, USA

• Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

• Expected Start Date: August 15, 2027

📋 Overview of Role

East Tennessee State University seeks an Associate Professor of Communication Studies with a demonstrated emphasis in Organizational Communication. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate Communication Studies programs, with opportunities to teach graduate courses in Storytelling, while maintaining an active record of teaching, research/creative activity, and service appropriate to the Associate Professor level.

Secondary interests are especially welcomed in Crisis and Risk Communication, Social Media & Digital Communication, Applied Communication, or Political Communication.

🎯 Key Responsibilities & Teaching Scope

• Teach a 3/3 course load, primarily within the undergraduate Communication Studies major and minor programs.

• Teach courses including Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication, and Communicating in Groups.

• Potentially teach Communication Theory, Professional Communication & Technology, Advanced Public Speaking, Speaking for Social Change, and Communication Ethics.

• Develop new courses in Organizational Communication and one or more secondary areas such as crisis communication, digital communication, applied communication, or political communication.

• Serve on undergraduate honors thesis committees and provide regular student office hours.

• Teach through in-person, hybrid, and online formats.

• Participate in community-engaged learning and teaching where appropriate.

• Coordinate the undergraduate internship program and potentially support the Communication Studies Association or general education oral communication courses.

• Advise undergraduate students and contribute to departmental, university, professional, and community service.

• Maintain a program of research and/or creative activity leading to publications, peer-reviewed performances, and/or competitively selected performances.

• Demonstrate scholarship consistent with ETSU's expectations for Associate Professor status.

🎓 Qualifications & Candidate Profile

• Required Education: Ph.D. or terminal degree in Communication Studies or a related field.

• Required Specialization: Demonstrated emphasis in Organizational Communication.

• Teaching: Record of teaching breadth and quality appropriate for the rank of Associate Professor.

• Research / Creative Activity: Record of peer-reviewed publication or performance and/or grant-funded research appropriate for Associate Professor status.

• Service: Record of academic, professional, disciplinary, and/or community service commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor.

• Secondary Areas of Interest: Crisis and Risk Communication; Social Media and Digital Communication; Applied Communication; or Political Communication.

• Preferred Experience: Interest or experience in directing a Communication Studies internship program.

• Preferred Experience: Interest or experience in community-engaged work and/or teaching.

• Additional Expectation: Candidates should demonstrate respect for and value the use of narrative and storytelling in teaching and scholarship.

💼 Remuneration & Benefits

• Salary: $67,000 per year.

• ETSU provides employee benefits; applicants are directed to the university's Human Resources benefits information for details.

• Summer and winter teaching opportunities are optional and dependent on instructional need.

📄 Application Checklist & Required Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) including at least 3 professional references who will submit recommendation letters by October 15, 2026.

2. Cover Letter addressing the job summary and required and preferred qualifications.

3. Evidence of Teaching Excellence, including breadth of teaching experience, course types, instructional levels, and teaching frequency.

4. 1–2-page Research and/or Creative Activity Agenda.

5. 1–2-page document addressing the quality of the applicant's scholarship appropriate for Associate Professor status.

6. 1–2-page Service Statement describing the history and quality of service at previous institutions.

7. Unofficial Transcripts or copies of transcripts for application review.

8. ABD candidates: Documentation showing that the Ph.D. will be conferred before August 15, 2027.

📬 Application Process

• 🔗 Application Link: Apply for Associate Professor – ETSU

• 📧 Contact / Enquiries: Not specified in the posting.

• 📅 Review Begins: October 5, 2026

• 📅 Application Deadline: October 15, 2026

• Note: The closing date may be changed without notice.

🌐 Official Website / Domain: East Tennessee State University – etsu.edu