Assistant Professor in Political Communication and AI

Position Rank and Title

Assistant Professor, Political Communication and AI

College of Social Sciences / Communication Studies

Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

August 17, 2027

October 16, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

The Department of Communication Studies at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor of Political Communication and AI beginning in August 2026. We seek a teacher‑scholar whose research and teaching examines the intersections of political communication, artificial intelligence, democratic life, and public discourse through social scientific, interpretive, rhetorical, and/or critical paradigmatic perspectives and research methods.

Areas of specialization may include, but are not limited to, AI and political communication, misinformation and disinformation, political polarization, platform governance, digital campaigning, civic engagement, algorithmic publics, public advocacy, political rhetoric, public opinion, and the ethical, social, and democratic implications of emerging communication technologies. In addition to developing and/or updating graduate and undergraduate courses in political communication, rhetoric, and digital media, this colleague will teach courses in communication theory and research methods, as well as general education offerings.

The ideal candidate will lead the department in establishing robust local and national governmental, policy, and technological partnerships, as well as internship programs related to civic and public sectors.

The Department of Communication Studies at San José State University is a vibrant and diverse academic unit offering B.A. and M.A. degrees. We are committed to critical, innovative, and justice‑oriented approaches to teaching, scholarship, and public engagement. The department values interdisciplinary research, inclusive teaching practices, and collaborations with Silicon Valley communities. Faculty and students actively engage in impactful research, contributing to scholarly conversations at regional, national, and international levels.

We also retain a long history of offering high‑impact educational opportunities, including student research, community‑engaged learning/service‑learning, study abroad, our robust internship program, and our senior seminar (“capstone”) course. The department’s Teaching Associate (TA) program provides graduate students with hands‑on teaching experience, preparing them for careers in academia and beyond. All of these support our mission to educate students to effectively participate in diverse local and global communities.

Our faculty span a range of expertise and benefit from access to a wide array of resources, including research support, the University Grants Academy, collaborative spaces, professional development opportunities through faculty learning communities, and channels for research collaboration with students such as our very own COMM+ Lab and the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. In addition, as a department we are highly active in college and University‑wide initiatives—including the Veterans Advisory Council;
Project Rebound; the Center for Faculty Excellence and Teaching Innovation; the Humanities Program;
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Academic Senate, and the Trans‑Teach In. Our faculty are regularly sought out for leadership roles across campus, reflecting both our commitment and influence in shaping the broader community.

The Department of Communication Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally‑sustaining,…