Assistant Professor, Public Relations, Advertising + Public Relations at The University of Alabama

Eyun-Jung Ki, ki@apr.ua.edu

The Department of Advertising and Public Relations, housed in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) at The University of Alabama, invites applications for a nine-month tenure-track faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor in public relations beginning in August 2025.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in corporate social responsibility, corporate social advocacy, public interest communications, crisis communication, and/or other related areas. Candidates applying for this position should be able to teach some of the following courses: public relations writing, public relations campaigns, public relations management, introduction to audience analysis, introduction to channels and messaging, and specialized courses in the candidate’s areas of interest.

About the Department of Advertising & Public Relations

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations houses a growing community of faculty, staff, and students with various research and professional interests. The department faculty engage in a variety of successful cross-campus collaborations and leadership roles, including directorships in multiple communication-oriented labs and the Institute for Communication & Information Research within the college’s Office for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity.

The advertising and public relations undergraduate programs are ACEJMC-accredited. Advertising majors have four options: a general major or a concentration in brand management, advertising creative, or integrated channel planning. Public Relations majors have the option of a general or digital communication concentration. The graduate program awards a Master of Arts in advertising and public relations. The two-year residential program offers an individualized track and more specialized advertising, creative, and media strategy concentrations. The graduate program also provides distance-learning concentrations in digital communication and marketing communication management.

Home to the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, the department has been listed by PRWeek magazine as one of the top five programs in the country. Students gain extensive practical experience before graduation through multiple outlets, including work with industry clients such as NASCAR, the Country Music Association, McLaren Automotive, Twitch, and Tervis. The department is also home to the award-winning Minerva advertising portfolio program.

Minimum qualifications:

• Doctorate in Public Relations, Advertising, Mass Communication, Communication, or closely related field completed by start date of appointment. ABDs will be considered.
• Scholarly activity in journals, university presses, or other publication outlets consistent with departmental expectations for the rank of assistant professor.
• Record of teaching effectiveness, including courses in advertising, public relations, and/or other communication-related fields.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of or potential for attracting extramural funding.
• Potential for and interest in leading multidisciplinary research and/or grant teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity of thought, experiences and backgrounds.

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2024, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

To apply, go to http://careers.ua.edu/cw/en-us/job/524220 and provide the following:

1. Cover letter highlighting how your research, teaching, and service/leadership have prepared you to contribute to the development of a larger agenda for advancing public relations
2. CV
3. Names and contact information for three references
4. Evidence of teaching effectiveness

Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Eyun-Jung Ki at ki@apr.ua.edu.

This institution does not offer benefits to domestic partners.

This institution offers benefits to spouses.

This institution provides the following trans-affirming healthcare coverage:

• Trans masculine confirming surgeries
• Trans feminine confirming surgeries
• Transgender and gender expansive competent mental health support
• Hormone replacement therapy

This institution provides the following support:

• Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) competent mental health support for non-TGE parents
• Dependents have the same access to the healthcare described above