Posting on July 15, 2026
Assistant Professor, Public Relations
Department of Mass Communication
College of Fine Arts and Communication
COFAC-4006
Towson University:
Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University fosters a climate that is grounded in respect to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.
Position:
The College of Fine Arts and Communication invites applications for a tenure-track, nine-month Assistant Professor in Public Relations in the Department of Mass Communication. Preferred start date August 2027.
Qualifications:
Ph.D. in public relations, strategic communication, mass communication, or a related field. ABD applicants will be considered, but appointment will be at the Instructor rank, and all doctorate degree requirements must be completed by February 1, 2028. Demonstrated success or potential to teach public relations courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. Demonstrated potential to develop a strong body of scholarship. Applicants whose teaching draws from professional experiences in strategic public relations or related fields are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities:
Research-active faculty teach six classes over a nine-month academic year with undergraduate classes averaging 20 students and graduate classes averaging about 15 students. Undergraduate teaching may include Public Relations Writing, Corporate Communication Management, Strategic Public Relations Campaigns, Principles of Strategic Public Relations, Social Media and Strategic Communication, and other public relations courses. Graduate teaching may include Practice of Public Relations and Organizational Communication, Social Media Content Strategies, Qualitative/Quantitative Research Methods in Communication, Social Media Analytics, Crisis Communication, Media Relations or others in the applicant’s areas of scholarship and expertise. Applicants whose innovative research expands the department’s scholarly reach and opens new avenues for curriculum development in public relations, sports communication, and related fields are welcome. Applications from scholars whose work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, sports sponsorships, sustainability, and strategic communication, including its implications for society, health, technologies, consumer outcomes, and/or media effects are encouraged to apply.
The Department:
The department (https://www.towson.edu/cofac/departments/mass-communication/) offers an undergraduate major in Mass Communication with tracks in Advertising, Strategic Public Relations, and Digital and Broadcast Journalism. At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Science in Communication Management. The department annually enrolls over 400 majors served by 21 full-time faculty and over 20 part-time faculty, and will be housed in the new, state-of-the-art Smith Hall in 2027.
Application Process:
Review of applications begins on September 14, 2026, and continues until the position is filled. Please direct inquiries to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Hyang-Sook Kim, hkim@towson.edu.
For initial applications, submit:
- A cover letter summarizing qualifications for the position
- Curriculum vitae
- An unofficial copy of graduate transcripts
- The names and contact information of three references.
Candidates who advance to the next stage of the process will be required to submit:
- A teaching effectiveness portfolio that includes a teaching philosophy, potential or demonstrated evidence of teaching effectiveness that will support TU and the department’s mission and identity.
- A research statement
- Three letters of recommendation (sent under separate covers)
- Official transcripts are required prior to hire.
Click here to apply. Please note that the search number for which you are applying is COFAC-4006.
Please be sure to visit the Applicant Data Form to complete a voluntary on-line form. All data collected are for internal, state, and/or federal reporting and will not be used for other purposes.
Salary and Benefits:
Targeted salary range: $67,000 - $70,000.
TU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent health, life and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, click here for regular faculty/regular lecturer or here for contingent lecturer. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.
Background Check:
A Criminal Background Investigation is required for the hired candidate and the results may impact employment.
COVID-19 Statement:
The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up- to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.