Posting on July 15, 2026
Assistant Professor
Position Announcement:
The Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor in public relations. The faculty start date for this position will be August 1, 2026.
Position Description:
The ideal candidate must have a strong record of teaching and research in public relations and the ability to teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses across our curriculum, such as Introduction to Public Relations, Public Relations Management, Public Relations Communications, Crisis Communication, and Public Relations Campaigns. Mentoring graduate students is also expected.
Academic Rank/Salary:
Assistant Professor. Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary competitive.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in mass communication, public relations, communication, or a closely related field. ABD candidates will be considered.
- Subject matter expertise in public relations and/or related
- Record of teaching effectiveness in courses related to public relations and/or other communication-related areas.
Preferred Qualifications:
- An active research agenda and a proven strong research record/potential in public relations that includes publication of peer-reviewed articles in leading scholarly journals in public relations, communication, mass communication, media, journalism, and/or related fields.
- We welcome all research methods.
- Some industry background is also a plus, as is expertise in grants writing and seeking external funding, including via interdisciplinary collaboration.
Application Deadline:
Screening of applications will begin on September 12, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should go to https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/433795 and submit the following:
- a cover letter
- a curriculum vita
- the names, emails, and phone numbers of three references
- up to two academic writing samples/publications
Questions regarding the search should be directed to Dr. Michael Cacciatore, the search committee chair, at mcacciat@uga.edu.
About the Department of Advertising and Public Relations
The Department of Advertising and Public Relations is a Top Five Outstanding Education Program ranked by PRWeek in 2024 and 2025. We have a dedicated team of award-winning teachers and internationally and nationally recognized scholars. As a hub for interdisciplinary research and professional development, AdPR houses the Brain, Body, and Media (BBAM) Lab, the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems, the Center for Health and Risk Communication, the Crisis Communication Think Tank, and the SEE Suite for Social Media Engagement & Evaluation. AdPR is the proud home of Talking Dog, a student-led full-service advertising and public relations agency that fosters growth for both clients and members through next-generation perspectives. AdPR offers two undergraduate certificate programs, the Public Affairs Communications Certificate program in collaboration with the School of Public and International Affairs and the Strategic Health and Risk Communications Certificate program in collaboration with the College of Public Health. AdPR also offers diverse study abroad and field study programs in New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Japan, and Cannes, France.
About the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015. The college offers M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. degrees, and it offers undergraduate degrees in advertising, entertainment and media studies, journalism, and public relations. The college hosts student chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the American Advertising Federation (AdClub), the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Women in Media, the Online News Association, the National Press Photographers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Association for Women in Sports Media.
Learn more about the Department of Advertising and Public Relations and the Grady College at www.grady.uga.edu.
About Georgia
Georgia is well known for its quality of life, and for outdoor, urban, cultural and arts activities (www.exploregeorgia.org). Athens, the home of UGA, is consistently rated as one the nation’s best college towns and is a vibrant, diverse place to live (www.visitathensga.com). The University of Georgia is a land/sea grant institution located approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, in close proximity to major media outlets, global agencies, national and international government and nonprofit organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and the world’s busiest international airport. More information about UGA is available at www.uga.edu.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).