Posted on December 16, 2025
Director, School of Media and Communication
The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Director, School of Media and Communication.
Position Details
Location: Hattiesburg, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001 United States
Division: School of Media and Communication
Position Type: Administrative Faculty
Employment Status: Full Time
Grant Funded: No
Pay Grade: Generic Grade
Posting Close Date: Open Until Filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
Review of applications will begin February 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Please feel free to contact Dr. Marek Steedman to inquire about the position (marek.steedman@usm.edu). A completed application will include: 1) cover letter including a 2-3 page leadership statement describing your approach to leadership and how you are prepared for this position, 2) CV, 3) contact information for 3 references, and 4) academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable until final hiring process). Application materials must be uploaded through the Human Resources site at: https://jobs.usm.edu.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).
Job Summary
The School of Media and Communication at The University of Southern Mississippi invites applicants for our open School Director position. The Director will provide energetic and visionary leadership, as well as principled administrative guidance and advocacy for the mission of the School in teaching, research, and public service/outreach. The Director serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School, reporting to the Dean of Arts and Sciences. The position is full-time, 12-month, tenure track, and begins July 1, 2026. Salary competitive and commensurate with experience.
About the School of Media and Communication
The School of Media and Communication is a strong intellectual community of 22 full-time faculty members on both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses and over 350 undergraduate and graduate students. Academic programs include undergraduate majors in Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Film Studies, Media and Entertainment Arts, and Strategic Communication. Master’s and doctoral degrees in Communication are offered. The School also has a significant presence on campus, incorporating the Student Media Center, including the campus newspaper, radio station, and a TV studio, the USM Speaking Center, a nationally competitive speech and debate team, the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, a dedicated studio for the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative (RDFI), and several student organizations. The School is also fully accredited by the ACEJMC.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Holds responsibility for leadership of the School and representing the School to the College and University administration. In addition, the School Director:
- Oversees and guides strategic planning and analysis of School operations, budget, technology, facilities, and fundraising;
- Guides student recruitment and retention practices, especially for first generation and minority students;
- Engages in program and curriculum development for undergraduate and graduate academic programs;
- Works closely with the Student Media Center, Speaking Center, Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, and other academic support units within the School to enhance co-curricular opportunities;
- Engages in regular attention to faculty recruitment, review, and retention practices; fosters a collegial, and aspirational environment to recruit, engage, and retain faculty, staff, and students of distinction; and promotes faculty governance;
- Ensures continuing compliance with the principles and standards of accrediting bodies; builds relationships with alumni and stakeholders;
- Promotes scholarship productivity and fosters an environment conducive to impactful, externally funded scholarly activities among faculty and students;
- Remains engaged as a member of the university and active in scholarship activities; and
- Other duties as assigned by Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications
An earned terminal degree in Communication or a closely related field; administrative experience that indicates an ability to manage a diverse school with multiple programs; evidence of a distinguished and sustained scholarly record that would qualify the applicant for tenure and the rank of at least associate professor; and evidence of teaching excellence.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Academic Leadership & Governance:
Understanding of higher education structures, shared governance, accreditation standards, and faculty development.
- Media & Communication Disciplines:
Broad knowledge of media studies, communication studies, journalism, strategic communication, digital media, and emerging technologies.
- Research & Scholarship:
Familiarity with R1 expectations for research productivity, grant acquisition, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Budgeting & Resource Management:
Knowledge of fiscal planning, revenue generation, and allocation of resources in an academic unit.
- Communicative Competency:
Awareness of strategies to achieve competency in inclusive communication among diverse stakeholders.
- Strategic Planning:
Ability to develop and implement long-term academic and operational strategies aligned with institutional goals.
- Leadership & Team Building:
Skilled in motivating faculty and staff, fostering collaboration, and resolving conflicts effectively.
- Communication & Advocacy:
Strong written and oral communication skills for representing the school internally and externally.
- Fundraising & External Relations:
Ability to cultivate alumni, industry partnerships, and donors to support programs and scholarships.
- Data-Driven Decision Making:
Competence in using analytics for enrollment management, program assessment, and resource allocation.
- Visionary Thinking:
Capacity to anticipate trends in media and communication and adapt curricula accordingly.
- Adaptability:
Comfort with rapid technological changes and evolving student needs.
- Interpersonal Sensitivity:
Ability to build trust and rapport across diverse stakeholders.
- Innovation Orientation:
Inclination toward creative problem-solving and program development.
- Commitment to Research Excellence:
Strong orientation toward fostering a high-impact research culture consistent with R1 status.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred rank of full professor; experience with Communication Studies, Digital Journalism, Film Studies, Media and Entertainment Arts, and/or Strategic communication programs; experience with assessment and/or accreditation processes; experience with a doctoral-granting program; professional/ industry experience; understand and value both traditional academic scholarship and creative scholarship; and experience with innovative pedagogical practices.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions.
Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.
We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu.
The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. EOE/VETS/DISABILITY.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
The University of Southern Mississippi is committed to the safety and security of the USM community. The annual federal required compliance document which contains policy statements and crime statistics for the University is available on the UPD website at http://www.usm.edu/police/. You may also request a copy by contacting the University Police Department at Bond Hall, 1st Floor West, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 (601) 266- 4986. The policy statements address the University's policies, procedures and programs concerning safety and security, for example, policies for responding to emergency situations and sexual offenses. Three years' of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in or on off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus.