Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Public Relations & Digital Content Creation

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Public Relations & Digital Content Creation at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

Wayne State University is seeking a full-time, Tenure Track Assistant Professor with an emphasis in Public Relations and Digital Content Creation to join the Department of Communication starting August 18, 2027.

The ideal candidate will have (a) teaching and research expertise in public relations and strategic communication, and (b) experience creating digital content for multimedia communication, such as brand storytelling. Preference will be given to individuals who have additional professional experience in public relations and strategic communication.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an active and strong research agenda centered on digital public relations, marketing communication, social media, organizational communication, and/or measurement and analytic techniques.

Responsibilities include teaching core courses within our new undergraduate Digital Content Production major, including COM 1610 (Fundamentals of New Media Production), COM 2260 (Digital Writing and Research Methods), COM 2280 (Visual Communication & Content Creation), COM 4210 (Data Analysis and Research), COM 5140 (Social Media for Strategic Communication), and graduate level courses such as COM 6140 (PR Theory), and COM 6250 (Organizational Communication), COM 7140 (PR Campaigns and Issues Management).

Responsibilities also include mentoring and advising graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in public relations and strategic communication, mass communication, journalism, digital media and content creation. The candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute to curriculum development initiatives at undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Department of Communication is diverse and dynamic, featuring programs in communication studies, media arts and studies, film, journalism, and public relations. The Department’s facilities include a broadcast-quality video studio, specialized student computer labs, and digital film/video editing suites.

Our students experience the benefit of a world-class education in an applied context. The department has 26 full-time faculty and more than 20 part-time faculty with strong backgrounds in both scholarly and professional approaches to communication. We offer 24 graduate assistantships and 3 fellowships each year.

As a university, we have a responsibility to uphold diversity as a value, and demonstrate commitment, through our policies and actions. Through our everyday activities and interactions, creative and scholarly practices, curricular design and teaching, and service and community engagement, we seek to create an inclusive institutional atmosphere that recognizes and celebrates the inherent value of a diverse campus community.

We are a university of access and opportunity, and we have a responsibility to demonstrate a commitment to our mission of providing access to an excellent and affordable college education. We are here to make our students’ lives and futures better. Financial aid avenues that help support this commitment are the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Wayne State Guarantee (a tuition-free program open to all Pell Grant-eligible Michigan residents, as well as most families who earn less than $70,000) for first time students, and Michigan Reconnect for transfer pathways. In addition, the Detroit Promise award ensures any eligible Detroit-resident student graduating from a high school in the city will have a tuition-free path to a bachelor's degree.

The Department of Communication is one of four departments in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; the other constituent units are the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History, and Design, the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, and the Department of Music. It is home to today’s aspiring artists, performers, scholars, dancers, debaters, entrepreneurs and communication professionals who all represent the college’s legacy of excellence in our respective fields. From debate to dance, jazz to journalism, and fashion design to center stage, our students create captivating performances, inspire artistic and academic excellence, and conduct innovative research on behalf of our Detroit community.

Wayne State University is a Carnegie Tier 1 Research (R1) university enrolling more than 24,000 students in 350 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the University’s 13 schools and colleges. Wayne State’s immediate neighbors in our Midtown Cultural Center include the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Opera Theatre. The vibrant Midtown and Downtown areas are also home to active theatres, galleries, professional sports stadiums, and entertainment venues ranging from Detroit Artist Market and the Fox and Fisher Theatres.

Qualifications:

A terminal degree (PhD) in Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or related discipline is required.

Experience with visual content creation, audio podcasting, broadcasting, and post-production is also required.

Candidates should be able to engage students in the technical use of multimedia tools and guide them through all aspects of content production from pre-production through post-production/editing.

At least two years of university teaching experience is required as is an active record of research at the national level.

Candidates should demonstrate clear evidence of the potential for establishing a national reputation through an active program of peer-reviewed scholarship and interest in applying for extramural funds. They should also possess an interest in working with students from diverse backgrounds and a willingness to mentor graduate students.

APPLICATIONS: A letter of application, curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching effectiveness, one representative research publication, portfolio or links to professional work samples, and a list of five references (including names, addresses and contact information) must be submitted through Wayne Talent.

Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2026. The search committee will begin reviewing applications on January 2, 2027.

Inquiries about the position may be directed to search committee chair:

Stephanie Tong, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Communication

stephanie.tong@wayne.edu

Preferred qualifications:

Professional experience producing strategic communication video, audio, or social media content is preferred. Experience of research collaboration across disciplines or with community/external partners is also desirable.

School/College/Division:

H04 - Fine & Performing Arts

Primary department:

H0406 - Communication

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Academic/Faculty

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary

Working conditions:

This position must be filled pursuant to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, and as such may be filled by a qualified bargaining unit member, should one apply.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.