Assistant Professor of Mass Media

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• Title:
  
  Assistant Professor of Mass Media
• Tenure Status:
  Tenure Track
• Rank:
  Assistant Professor
• Position Number: 087741
• VISA Sponsorship:
  Available; all candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.
• Department:
  Communication, Appalachian State University
• Location:
  
  Boone, NC
• Starting Month:
  August 2026
• Type of Position:
  Full Time, 1.0 year, 9 months/year
• Proposed Date of Hire: 08/01/2026
• Salary:
  Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience

The Department of Communication offers majors in advertising, communication studies, digital journalism, electronic media/broadcasting, and public relations. The department employs more than 40 full-time faculty members who teach over 1,000 communication majors and oversee five student‑run media outlets:
The Appalachian news organization;
AppTV, a student‑operated television channel;
Second Story Media, a communications agency developing campaigns for nonprofits;
The Peel Literature and Arts Review, a print and digital literary arts magazine; and 90.5 WASU
-FM The App, a student‑operated, FCC‑licensed college radio station that has been on the air for more than 50 years. For more information, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu
.

A terminal degree in mass communication or a related field is required for tenure‑track appointment. A strong commitment to teaching Media & Society and other media courses at the undergraduate level, along with a related emerging research program, is desired.

• Teach three courses per semester.
• Advising students.
• Maintain an active research program relevant to the discipline.
• Participate in departmental, university, and professional service.
• Potential to teach courses related to ethical communication and core courses in the Department of Communication.

ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered. Evidence of a successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one‑year fixed‑term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor.

The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full‑time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one‑year fixed‑term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of Assistant Professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.

No ABD consideration:
Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position.

Special Faculty Hires:
Continued employment may be contingent on items such as the availability of funding, enrollment levels, or other contingencies established by the institution.

• Evaluation of applications begins: 12/15/2025
• Closing Date:
  Open Until Filled
• Search Chair:
  Matthew Richards, Email: richardsms
• Posting Number: FA00538P

• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• List of References with Contact Information
• Transcript — Graduate (Unofficial) – no password protected documents
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Evidence of Teaching
• Research Sample

• Personal statement or additional scholarly work (optional)