Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication

Job description

Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via , then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions.

Students at University of Arkansas System two-year institutions will also view open positions and apply within Workday by searching for “Find Jobs for Students”.



All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated).

If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application process will be saved as a draft.

You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.
 

Closing Date:

Type of Position:

Faculty - Tenure/Tenure Track

Workstudy Position:

No

Job Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Sponsorship Available:

Yes

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity.

The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies.

Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.

The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the : Request an Accommodation.

Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

Department of Communication

Department's Website:

Summary of Job Duties:

The Department of Communication in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication to start in August 2026.

This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment.



In addition to having a research and teaching focus in areas pertaining to Strategic Communication, the ideal candidate should exhibit strengths in quantitative, qualitative, or rhetorical research methods.

Strong candidates will have research that can contribute to one of the following four of the department’s emphasis areas, including interpersonal communication, mediated communication, organizational and community communication, and rhetoric and public communication.



Competitive applicants will also demonstrate an ability to provide strategic direction and collaboration with our Center for Communication Research, as well as success in working with interdisciplinary research teams, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and engaging regional, state, and national funding agencies.

Duties will include developing classes and teaching effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and providing service to the Department, University, and discipline.



Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment

Evidence of an active research program in strategic communication

Demonstrated Experience and competency in the classroom related to coursework in strategic communication

Preferred Qualifications:

Research commensurate with institutions holding the highest Carnegie classification and with the level of appointment

Evidence of an interdisciplinary research program

Evidence of potential to work in a lab-based setting

Demonstrated ability to conduct externally funded research

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSAs):

Experience publishing in top peer reviewed outlets

Experience teaching lower and upper-level courses in strategic communication

Experience with service at the departmental, university, or disciplinary level

Additional Information:

About the Department: 
The Department of Communication is committed to excellence in scholarship, instruction, and expression of human communication.

We nurture a thriving intellectual community by bridging the humanities and social sciences.

Discovery, learning, and engagement are the hallmarks of this community.

Visit ;

The Department hosts the Center for Communication Research (CCR) which facilitates collaborative, interdisciplinary social research within the University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas region, and broader intellectual community.

The CCR seeks to stimulate and support interdisciplinary collaborations; provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate participation; engage regional, state, and national funding agencies; and acquire and maintain the equipment necessary to support research endeavors.

The CCR manages a research lab space that includes state-of-the-art technology for studying all facets of communication.

Duties will include:
• 40% Teaching
• 40% Research
• 20% Service

Salary Information:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Required Documents to Apply:

Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title)

Optional Documents:

Proof of Veteran Status

Recruitment Contact Information:

Dr. Joe Hatfield, search committee chair,

Special Instructions to Applicants:

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Completed applications received by October 3rd, 2025, will be assured full consideration.

Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position.

For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Joe Hatfield, at

Applicants must submit:
•a curriculum vitae,
• a cover letter/letter of application which addresses research program highlights and future prospects as well as evidence of teaching effectiveness in their cover letters.
• a list of three professional references (name, title, email address, and phone number) willing to provide letters of recommendation if requested during the application process.

Letters of recommendation will be requested only for candidates selected for interviews.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community.

We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment.

Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check.

For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening.

Required checks are identified in the position listing.

A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position.

Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution.

The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy.

Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Required Skill Profession

Postsecondary Teachers