Assistant/Associate Professor of Journalism

 "Greater Happens HERE"

Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Journalism

State Role Title: Assistant Professor

Hiring Range: up to a MAX of $60,000.00, commensurate with Education and Experience

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Virginia State University

Location: Virginia State University

Agency Website: www.VSU.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Virginia State University and the Department of Mass Communications invites applicants for our Public Relations/Strategic Communications term faculty position (VSUFO667), at the rank of assistant or associate professor. The anticipated start date for the position is FALL 2026.

Successful candidates will be engaged in scholarship that advances the field of public relations. As a faculty member, successful candidates will teach in-person, hybrid, and online courses in the fall and spring semesters, advise undergraduate students, participate in department and university committees, and will serve as the Faculty Advisor for BSU’s PRSSA chapter.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, master’s or terminal degree in public relations or closely related discipline by August 2026. Applicants with significant professional experience with a bachelor’s degree may be considered.

• The ability to teach undergraduate courses in Public Relations/Strategic Communications.



*Virginia State University requires that faculty be appropriately credentialed to teach assigned courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. VSU demonstrates compliance with its Faculty Credentialing Policy #2301 for all applicable education, experience, licensure and certification requirements in the selection and hiring of its faculty.

Additional Considerations

Preferred Qualifications:

Teaching
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of public higher education, including support for access, equity, and student success.
• Evidence of effective engagement with a diverse student body through inclusive pedagogies, mentoring, or advising.
• Use of innovative, high-impact teaching practices in public relations courses, such as experiential-learning, service-learning, or project-based approaches.

Research
• Record of peer-reviewed scholarship in public relations that advances the discipline.
• Evidence of interdisciplinary collaborations extending PR scholarship into related fields.
• Active participation in scholarly associations (e.g., ICA , NCA , AEJMC ) through conference presentations, leadership roles, or editorial service.

Practice
• Demonstrated involvement in PRSSA and/or PRSA .
• Relevant credentials or demonstrated knowledge of emerging communication platforms and tools (e.g., Hubspot, Hootsuite, Meltwater, APR , etc.).
• Professional experience in public relations or a closely related field.


Applicants with the following will receive special consideration:

• Professional industry experience and connections related to social media, content strategy, digital media, digital communication, interactive media, or related fields.

• Proficiency with relevant industry standard software, such as the Adobe Creative Suite of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, After Effects and Premiere, and Figma.

• Experience in interactive media design, writing for online, mobile, and game platforms, social media content strategy, immersive or 360 video storytelling, strategic storytelling, audience research and analysis, or other areas within interactive media.

• Knowledge of online content and media strategy for current and emerging technologies, theory and history of digital and interactive media, search engine optimization (SEO), generative AI, personal branding, and interactive media career preparation.

• Experience teaching interactive media-related courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• Ability to develop courses to match changing media industries, advise students on internships and career paths, and other student and industry-focused initiatives.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

You must include:
1. A current resume/c.v.
2. A letter of interest in your application
3. Three (3) letters of recommendation
4. Official transcripts will be required before hire.

Virginia State University is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons and applicants, without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, genetic information, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex (including pregnancy) or veteran status. VSU encourages and invites minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY: Virginia State University only accepts applications for this position through the on-line state Recruitment Management System (PageUp). Faxed, e-mailed, and mailed applications and/or attachments will not be accepted. The application must be detailed and fully completed. All employment and periods of unemployment (if applicable) must be listed within the application; either on an attached resume or manually listed in the “Relevant Work History” section. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and preferred qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided on the application, therefore, it is essential to fully complete each section of the application and provide descriptive information. Submitting an incomplete state application, or a state application lacking in detail, may result in your non-selection. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration.

The selected candidate will be subject to an extensive and complete background check, which may include fingerprinting. The candidate may be required to complete a Statement of Economic Interest as a condition of employment, if applicable.

Employment-based visa sponsorship at Virginia State University (VSU) is not guaranteed and will be evaluated carefully on a case-by-case basis. Federal law does not require employers to provide immigration sponsorship, and VSU is not obligated to offer it. Employment at VSU does not permit an individual to work in the United States unless the appropriate employment authorization has been obtained and verified in accordance with federal immigration compliance requirements.

• Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
  Immediate vesting | Portable | Investment choice
• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
  Defined benefit pension | Lifetime monthly income
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)
• 403(b) (TIAA)
• Comprehensive medical & dental plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid annual and sick leave
• Paid state and federal holidays
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Contact Information

Name: Dominique M. Fisher

Phone: 804-524-5075

Email: dfisher@vsu.edu

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.