Assistant Professor of Public Relations

A terminal degree in public relations, communication, or a related field is required for tenure-track appointment.

Appalachian State University's Department of Communication invites applications for a tenure-track position in Public Relations at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 2026. Our program seeks a scholar with an emerging research program and a strong commitment to teaching.

Recent professional experience in the public relations industry or applied digital communication is preferred.

The Department of Communication offers majors in advertising, communication studies, digital journalism, electronic media/broadcasting, and public relations. The department employs more than 40 full-time faculty members dedicated to teaching more than 1,000 communication majors. The department also oversees five award-winning, student-run media outlets: The Appalachian news organization; AppTV, our student-operated television channel; Second Story Media, a communications agency developing campaigns for nonprofits in the community; The Peel Literature and Arts Review, our print and digital literary arts magazine; and 90.5 WASU-FM The App, our student-operated, FCC-licensed college radio station that has been on the air for more than 50 years. Please visit https://communication.appstate.edu for more information.

Duties include teaching three courses per semester, advising students, maintaining an active program of disciplinary research, and participating in departmental, university, and professional service.

ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate's salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.

No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.

A complete application includes a cover letter; curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philosophy; recent teaching evaluations; a sample of refereed scholarship; copies of all official graduate transcripts; and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least three references.Any questions may be directed to Dr. Jiangxue (Ashley) Han, Public Relations Search Committee Chair, at hanj2@appstate.edu.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.