Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Richmond, Virginia
Medford, Massachusetts
Los Angeles, California
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Raleigh, North Carolina
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Los Angeles, California
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Chicago, IL, US, 60604
Posted: 01-Sep-23
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 520706
Department/Organization
207201 - Advertising and Public Relations
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
Primary duties will include teaching digital communication, specializing in strategy, analysis and/or content production, at the graduate and undergraduate level, engaging in a research program that results in published articles in outstanding scholarly publications and performing service as assigned by the Department, College, and University.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations, housed in the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama, invites applications for a nine-month tenure track-assistant professor in digital communication specializing in strategy, analysis and/or content production, to begin in August 2024.
This area has been identified as a high-impact, strategically relevant domain with significant potential to enhance the national and international reputation of the unit and college via cutting-edge research, external funding, and high-demand courses, engaging with and leveraging existing faculty expertise across these contributions. The ideal candidate will develop a robust research agenda around the application of digital technology to advertising and/or public relations contexts, with a focus on one or more areas among strategy, analysis, and/or content production. This includes but is not limited to the intersection of advertising and PR with topics such as the following:
• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Cybersecurity and/or data privacy
• Biometrics
• Extended reality (VR/AR/MR)
• E-gaming and/or video games
• Smart/connected devices
• Social media monitoring
• Data mining
• Web 3.0
• Computer vision
• User-facing bots
• Large language models
• Image and video generation
• Blockchain, ad verification, and/or smart contracts
• Software development
• Emerging content production tools and platforms
• Multicultural digital communication strategy and/or design
Applicants must display an ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The successful hire will teach two courses each fall and spring semester, which may include undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. courses.
Minimum Qualifications
● Doctorate in a communication-related field (e.g., advertising, public relations, marketing, communication, psychology, sociology) completed by the appointment start date. ABDs at the time of application 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.
● Potential for publishing digital communication strategy/analysis/content creation research that advances the department’s profile within the advertising and/or public relations discipline
Preferred Qualifications
● Potential for and interest in leading collaborative research and/or grant teams that include but not are limited to fellow faculty and students in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations. ● Potential to attract extramural funding related to the intersection of digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production with advertising and/or public relations. ● Potential to develop and teach courses connecting advertising and/or public relations with the applicant's topical expertise in digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production. ● Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, go to https://careers.ua.edu/faculty and provide the following: 1. Cover letter highlighting how your research, teaching and service and/or leadership prepare you to contribute as a faculty leader in digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production 2. Curriculum vitae 3. Names and contact information for three references Applications submitted by October 13, 2023 will receive full consideration. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Brian C. Britt, at britt@apr.ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations and the College of Communication & Information Sciences house a growing community of faculty, staff, and students with research and professional interests that intersect with digital communication. The department faculty engage in a variety of successful cross-campus collaborations and editorial leadership roles, including directorships in multiple digital communication-oriented labs and the Institute for Communication & Information Research within the college’s Office for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity, and support from college and university leaders exists for developing new research agendas and educational offerings.
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 concentrations in advertising creative and media strategy. The graduate program also offers distance-learning concentrations in digital communication and marketing communication management.
Home to the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, the department is consistently noted by PRWeek magazine as one of the top five programs in the country. Students gain extensive practical experience prior to 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 and the award-winning student-run Capstone Agency.
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations is one of four academic units in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. The college has approximately 100 full-time faculty members serving over 3,000 students across bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral degree programs, including approximately 80 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program in which the Department of Advertising & Public Relations actively participates. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. Housed within the Office for Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity are the Public Opinion Lab, equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an interactive VR/theater lab, among others. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to the Center for Public Television, Alabama Public Radio, and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.
About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.
A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.
As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.
It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.
With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf