Robertson School - Media Production

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The mission of the College of Humanities and Sciences is to serve as the intellectual heart and soul of our institution and wider community. The College of Humanities and Sciences:

• Prepares lifelong learners to participate actively as engaged and responsible citizens
• Propels scientific research and scholarship to improve the human condition, cure and treat diseases, and promote healthy environments
• Grounds us in our history, critically examines our present human condition and empowers students to create more equitable local and global communities
• Provides communities with a passionate and creative workforce that serves as a powerful engine for economic development and innovative solutions to problems

As the intellectual lifeblood of VCU and our community, the College of Humanities and Sciences seeks to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others-locally, globally and throughout time. Most importantly, our educational and research environment addresses an array of technological, health-related and societal problems, as well as providing profound insights and reflections of what it means to be human and humane..

Chief Purpose of this position: The Robertson School of Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-eligible faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2025.

This is an exciting time to be at VCU and a great opportunity to join our forward-thinking school. VCU is one of the nation’s premier urban, public research universities. With 28,594 students, it is one of the largest universities in Virginia. The Robertson School is accredited by ACEJMC and has approximately 720 students. The School’s focus is to help students get good media jobs upon graduation. It attracts a diverse student body, and about 50% of our students are racially and ethnically diverse and/or members of other diverse groups. The candidate should reflect the School’s commitment to teaching excellence, community engagement and cultural diversity.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD and an academic scholarship track record. The successful candidate will have a scholarship focus in AI and the media and will have demonstrated a commitment to innovative developments in the business of media production.

Position Responsibilities: This new faculty member will primarily teach undergraduate media production courses with a special focus on motion graphics, animation and digital moving content. They must be able to teach Premiere Pro, Audition, After Effects and Photoshop. They should have a strong interest in growing experiential experiences for undergraduates and will represent media production perspectives and initiatives in the school’s Media & AI Lab. Applicants will have a research agenda and activities that lead to publications in refereed journals, books and conference presentations and other scholarly pursuits.

Required Qualifications: Candidates must have: (1) a PhD in mass communication or in a related field; (2) an academic scholarship track record and/or professional experience in audio/video recording and/or editing of commercial content; (3) a strong interest in innovative developments in the business of media production, including AI; (4) a proven track record of inspiring, guiding and mentoring others to reach their full potential; and (5) high expectations for students. Successful college teaching experience is highly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications: Preferred candidates will have a successful record of working with diverse and underserved populations and a demonstrated potential to do so at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Please submit the following application materials: (1) A letter of application; (2) A current curriculum vitae including the names and contact information of three references; (3) A statement on Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (see https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/prospective/ for details); (4) One PDF file or links to three non-returnable samples of teaching materials along with your teaching evaluations from the last two years, and three non-returnable samples of scholarly and/or professional work related to AI; and (5) a link to your professional reel. Review of applicants will begin mid January. The position remains open until filled. For additional information, contact Scott Sherman at sfsherman@vcu.edu or visit the School’s website at http://robertson.vcu.edu.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Required Documents:
•Cover Letter/Letter of Application
•Curriculum Vitae including three references
•Statement on Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
•Teaching and professional materials

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Eligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 9
Department: Robertson School

Contact Information:
Scott Sherman
sfsherman@vcu.edu