Assistant Professor, Integrated Strategic Communication

University of Kentucky•Lexington, KY

65d

About The Position

The Department of Integrated Strategic Communication in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026. The university's regular-title series typically carries a two-course per semester teaching load and emphasizes excellence in teaching, research and service. This position anticipates having an initial distribution of effort of 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% service. Successful candidates should demonstrate qualitative and/or quantitative methodological expertise, strong theoretical grounding, and possess a clearly defined, active research trajectory in strategic communication, advertising, and/or public relations. Candidates should be qualified and eager to teach graduate-level seminars and online graduate certificate courses in integrated strategic communication as well as mentor graduate students. The candidate should also be qualified to teach undergraduate courses in one or more of the following areas: account management, audience insights, data analytics, sales promotion and sponsorship, digital advertising, and/or direct response marketing strategy. Additional consideration will be given to qualified applicants prepared to actively engage in our sports promotion curriculum. The Department of Integrated Strategic Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, a minor, and a graduate certificate in Integrated Strategic Communication. The department has 700 majors, 15 full-time faculty, an award-winning National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) Team, and is home to student organizations such as the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the American Advertising Federation's student Ad Club. The department has full national accreditation by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). For information, visit https://ci.uky.edu/isc/ The College of Communication and Information is composed of two schools (School of Information Science and School of Journalism and Media), two departments (Department of Communication and Department of Integrated Strategic Communication), and interdisciplinary master's and PhD programs. Nearly 100 full-time faculty lead 2,300 undergraduate majors and 350 graduate students while also teaching in the university's core curriculum and serving students pursuing minors and certificates in the college. The college also houses University of Kentucky's independent student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel, and the championship-winning Intercollegiate Debate program. Located in the vibrant city of Lexington, the University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant institution that plays a critical leadership role in economic development, human well-being, and educating Kentuckians and beyond. The campus is home to 35,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty members, and nearly 14,000 staff members. The university is one of just eight in the country with a major academic health center and a full spectrum of academic colleges and professional schools on one contiguous campus. As such, the University of Kentucky is an incubator for interdisciplinary research. These collaborations allow researchers to address the rapidly changing needs of a global society. As a leader among employers, the University of Kentucky offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more details, please visit www.uky.edu/HR/benefits. The City of Lexington is a great place to live, work, and study. It recently appeared on USA Today's list of the top cities to live in. With a population of roughly 320,000, Lexington offers the warmth and lower cost of living of a small city, along with many of the amenities enjoyed in a larger city, including the arts, cultural events, and a thriving dining scene. Application materials should include (1) a letter of application that briefly summarizes background, qualifications, and interest in the position (attach as Cover Letter); (2) a curriculum vita; (3) examples of research activities (attach as Specific Request 1); 4) evidence of teaching excellence (attach as Specific Request 2); and (5) contact information for three references when prompted in the application. For full consideration, apply by January 5, 2026; application review will continue until the position is filled.Questions regarding the position may be directed to Search Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Hyun Ju Jeong and Dr. Mengtian 'Montina' Jiang at [email protected].

Requirements

Candidates must have an earned Ph.D. in Strategic Communication, Communication, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, or related field, by the start date.
Candidates should demonstrate qualitative and/or quantitative methodological expertise, strong theoretical grounding, and possess a clearly defined, active research trajectory in strategic communication, advertising, and/or public relations.

Nice To Haves

A record of, or potential for, extramural funding is desirable but not required.
Additional consideration will be given to qualified applicants prepared to actively engage in our sports promotion curriculum.

Responsibilities

The university's regular-title series typically carries a two-course per semester teaching load and emphasizes excellence in teaching, research and service.
Serve as an academic advisor to undergraduate and graduate students
Participate in the department's and graduate program's governance and service.
Propose and teach undergraduate and graduate courses that take advantage of their research expertise as well as professional experience in the field.
Teach graduate-level seminars and online graduate certificate courses in integrated strategic communication as well as mentor graduate students.
Teach undergraduate courses in one or more of the following areas: account management, audience insights, data analytics, sales promotion and sponsorship, digital advertising, and/or direct response marketing strategy.

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