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

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 teachingexamines the intersections of political communication, artificial intelligence, democratic life, and public discourse through socialscientific, interpretive, rhetorical, and/or critical paradigmaticperspectives 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, algorithmicpublics, public advocacy, political rhetoric, public opinion, andthe ethical, social, and democratic implications of emergingcommunication technologies.

In addition to developing and/orupdating graduate and undergraduate courses in politicalcommunication, rhetoric, and digital media, this colleague willteach courses in communication theory and research methods, as wellas general education offerings. The ideal candidate will lead the department in establishing robust local and national governmental,policy, and technological partnerships, as well as internshipprograms 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. andM.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 inimpactful research, contributing to scholarly conversations atregional, national, and international levels. We also retain a long history of offering high-impact educational opportunities,including student research, community-engagedlearning/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 toeducate students to effectively participate in diverse local andglobal communities. Our faculty span a range of expertise and benefit from access to a wide array of resources, includingresearch support, the University Grants Academy, collaborativespaces, 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 arehighly 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 inclusiveteaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student successas inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty.

We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holisticstudent success, and support scholarship of…