Assistant Professor

East Carolina University, in Greenville, North Carolina, is about 1.5 hours from the state capital of Raleigh, four hours to Charlotte, and 1.5 hours from Atlantic Ocean beaches. ECU is one of the largest institutions in the UNC System with more than 27,000 undergraduate, graduate, medical, and dental students (https://facts.ecu.edu/). ECU is a leader in Distance Education (https://online.ecu.edu).

The School of Communication (https://communication.ecu.edu) is housed in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. We enroll nearly 800 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. We offer a Bachelor of Science in Communication, and students can concentrate their studies in Communication and Media, Journalism, or Public Relations. We offer a Master of Arts and, for undergraduates, an Accelerated Master of Arts in Communication, with a concentration in Strategic Communication.

The School of Communication invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor to contribute to the areas of strategic communication and media. This is a nine-month, full-time faculty position starting date of Fall 2026. The successful candidate will maintain a 3:3 teaching load.

Primary responsibilities include: (1) teaching existing graduate and undergraduate courses in strategic communication, emerging and new media, social media and/or media literacy; (2) contributing to the core curriculum for the unit; (3) collaborating with faculty on curriculum development for the graduate program and at the undergraduate level; (4) pursuing a program of research as a teacher-scholar, leading to publication; and (5) engaging in service at the university and to the profession and community.

This position is contingent upon available funding.

A Ph.D. in Communication is required, and the degree must be conferred and received from an appropriately accredited institution. ABD candidates with exceptional research, teaching and professional experience may also be initially appointed with the probationary term rank of Assistant Professor and must have the terminal degree conferred prior to their first reappointment. Candidates should be able to demonstrate success in research and teaching in strategic communication and/or emerging and new media. Candidates should also be willing and qualified to teach both online and face-to-face settings.

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The School desires candidates with knowledge of trends in Strategic Communication, and Emerging and New Media research or practical experience in data-driven strategy, quantitative research, AI, message design, video-editing, and/or social/new media. Also preferred is experience in teaching courses in Strategic Communication and Emerging and New Media, and in course and syllabus design and development.

To be considered for the position, candidates must submit an online profile to the University jobs site, and with it upload (1) a current CV, (2) cover letter, (3) list of references with contact information, and (4) combined statement of research agenda and teaching philosophy (1-3 pages). Applicants, if they choose, may also provide a link to work samples. The candidate of choice will be required to submit an original official doctoral transcript.

Proper documents of identity, employability, and official transcripts are required upon offer of employment. If selected as a candidate of choice, three Letters of Recommendation will be required. An automatic email will be sent to the individuals entered by the applicant in the references section of the PeopleAdmin applicant tracking system. Letters of Recommendation submitted via the applicant tracking system will be verified and considered toward meeting this requirement.

For any questions regarding the position email the search committee chair Dr. Adrienne Muldrow at muldrowa18@ecu.edu.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

East Carolina University is committed to workforce success and cultivating a culture of care for our employees. ECU prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race/ethnicity, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, and veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or disability.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act ( ADAAA) should contact the ADA Coordinator at (252) 737-1018 (Voice/ TTY) or ADA-Coordinator@ecu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. ECU participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Department for People Operations, Success, and Opportunity at (252) 328-9847 or toll free at 1-866-489-1740 or send an email to employment@ecu.edu. Our office is available to provide assistance Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 EST.