Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Public Relations & Strategic Communication at InsideHigherEd

Job Title: Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Public Relations & Strategic Communication
Location: UWG Recruiting Location
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 291120
About Us

Since 1906, the University of West Georgia (UWG) has been home to those who seek a transformative college experience. UWG is a leading residential, doctoral comprehensive university that offers a broad undergraduate and graduate curriculum based on a liberal arts foundation.Nestled among the pines on a picturesque 645 acres is the University of West Georgia- a hidden gem approximately 40 miles west of Atlanta. Serving approximately 14,400+ students, and offering more than 100 programs, UWG is committed to advancing innovative academic programs and a student-centered business model. Perennially ranked by U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Review, and Colleges of Distinction as a top national university, West Georgia offers 86 fields of study, including business, computing, nursing, education, STEM, communication and digital media, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. UWG generates a regional economic impact of more than $650 million annually and provides a safe, quality, and affordable university experience that connects students to post-graduate career and leadership opportunities. UWG has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its institutional commitment to community engagement through teaching, research and creative activities, and public service. West Georgia is one of only 119 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the elective classification in 2020 and is among only 359 institutions nationally. Dedicated to creating a first-choice university for students, alumni, employees, and communities, UWG seeks employees who will advance and support the University's mission of fulfilling the talent needs of western Georgia and the Atlanta metropolitan area, while contributing to the social, cultural, and economic development of the region and state.

Living in Carrollton, "The City of Dreams," offers the advantages of city life with a small-town vibe. This progressive community with Southern flair offers plenty of shopping, restaurants, nightlife opportunities, and cultural events. Named a City of Excellence in Georgia and listed as one of the 50 Best Small Southern Towns, Carrollton is the cultural, educational, health care, and commercial center for the west Georgia region.

At the heart of Carrollton is its historic downtown and Adamson Square lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants. Each season offers unique local events and opportunities for year-round recreation. Outdoor activities abound through award-winning spaces, including an 18-mile paved walking and biking Greenbelt trail that encircles the city and passes through the UWG campus.

The city embraces the University's students, faculty, and staff, and welcomes the diversity UWG brings to the community.

Invested in education with highly rated city and county K-12 systems, both city and county public school graduation rates are 90% and above and rank among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Department Information

School Information

The School of Communication, Film, and Media (SCFM) at the University of West Georgia is a previous recipient of the University System of Georgia¿s Regents¿ Award for Teaching Excellence and is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). We are committed to invested teaching, experiential learning opportunities, and connectedness between students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Our award-winning faculty are a diverse group of communication, film, and media professionals and scholars whose primary mission is to provide students with the best educational experience while preparing them to succeed in the field.

SCFM is home to Nexus degrees in Digital Entertainment, Esports, and Game Development and Film & Television Production, undergraduate degrees in Film & Video Production and Mass Communications, certificates in Communication in the Workplace and Health Communication, and a graduate degree in Digital and Social Media Communication. Mass Communications majors may choose from one of four concentrations: 1) Journalism, 2) Digital Media & Entertainment, 3) Film & Video Production, and 4) Public Relations, and all students have access to our cutting-edge experiential learning labs, which include bluestone Public Relations Firm, The West Georgian, WOLF Radio, WOLF Sports Network, and WUTV, as well as SCFM Productions, which produces video-marketing content for internal and external clients. Located less than an hour west of Atlanta, a top-10 U.S. media market, the School partners with a mix of professionals to offer networking, professional development, and internship opportunities.

Job Summary

The School of Communication, Film, and Media at the University of West Georgia invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Public Relations & Strategic Communication to begin August 1, 2026.

The successful candidate should be able to teach undergraduate and graduate courses related to public relations and strategic communication. Courses will include primarily principles of public relations, writing across media, public relations writing, public relations cases, public relations management, public relations campaigns. Ability to teach analytics and evaluation, digital strategy and promotions, media law, research methods, storytelling, or theory at the undergraduate or graduate level as well as photojournalism at the undergraduate level is a plus. Additionally, the successful candidate may be assigned to teach core courses as well as courses that support other program areas, e.g., introduction to mass communications, media ethics, diversity and mass media, and/or special topics.

The successful candidate will be expected to engage in teaching, professional growth and development activity (e.g., research/scholarship, creative activity, and/or professional practice), and service at the School, University, and/or system levels.

Required Qualifications

Requires a terminal degree (Ph.D.) in the discipline, e.g., communication, digital media, mass communication, public relations, strategic communication, or a closely related field; at least three years of professional experience; and scholarship and service commensurate with rank.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commitment to the collaborative process within our School, as well as with other academic programs and/or the community.
• Ongoing commitment to culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts.
• Proven ability to contribute to shared governance and decision-making processes at the school, college, or university level.
• Demonstrated leadership in academic or professional settings, including chairing committees, coordinating program initiatives, or managing curricular projects.
• Active involvement in professional and academic associations (minimum two years).
• Expertise with Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and other related software.
• Experience mentoring students and leading student organizations.
• Experience teaching in-person, hybrid, and online formats
  o In addition to the above, to be considered for associate rank.
  o Background in program assessment and curriculum development.
  o Experience in program administration or leadership roles (e.g., program director, area coordinator, or equivalent) with a record of effective collaboration across faculty, staff, and students.
  o Minimum of two published peer-reviewed scholarly works.
  o Active involvement in professional and academic associations (minimum four years).
  o Demonstrated experience with grant submissions and fund development.

Proposed Salary

Competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications, pending funding availability.

Required Documents to Attach

Required Documents to Attach

• Letter of Application

• Curriculum Vitae

• Digital Portfolio or Link to a Portfolio Website, if available

• Contact Information for three references will be required for finalists

Only complete applications will be considered.

UWG embraces cultural awareness and respectful engagement, recognizing the valuable contributions of each member of our faculty, staff, and student body. Therefore, applicants should describe in their letter of application how their teaching contributes to respectful engagement across cultures.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of West Georgia as determined by the University of West Georgia in its sole discretion; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials, reference checks; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of West Georgia is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity, and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University of West Georgia to recruit, hire, train, promote, and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, ADEA, ADA, E.O. 11246, and Rev. Proc. 75-50)

Other Information

The mission of the University of West Georgia is to enable students, faculty, and staff to realize their full potential through academic engagement, supportive services, professional development, and a caring, student-centered community. The institutional mission and daily operation of the University of West Georgia are guided by our values that support our vision to be the best place to work, learn, and succeed: ACHIEVEMENT, CARING, COLLABORATION, INCLUSIVENESS, INNOVATION, INTEGRITY, SUSTAINABILITY, and WISDOM.

Other Information

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, submit all materials by November 15, 2025.

Contact Information
Questions may be addressed to the SCFM Dean's Office at [email protected].