Communications Specialist, Farnham Writers' Center

Colby College•Colby, KS

31d

About The Position

The Communications Specialist is a 12-month academic staff member within the Farnham Writers’ Center (FWC) who assists with advancing Colby College’s campus-wide Effective Communication initiative. This role supports written, oral, and multimodal communication as foundational skills for academic success and professional expression. The Communications Specialist provides instruction in communication focused courses within the Writing Department and leads campus-wide programming designed to strengthen oral and multimodal communication across disciplines. Under the FWC Director’s guidance, the Specialist will develop training for FWC tutors and collaborate with faculty and campus partners to integrate effective communication practices into curricular and co-curricular contexts. This is a staff position with instructional, programmatic, and campus engagement responsibilities that reports to the FWC Director.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Communications or a related field (e.g., rhetoric and communication, public speaking) preferred. A master's degree with significant relevant experience (4+ years) may be considered.
Experience teaching college-level courses in oral communication, rhetoric, or related fields.
Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating workshops or training programs.
Experience working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students across disciplines.
Strong foundation in oral and multimodal communication theory and practice.
Ability to translate communication theory into applied instructional programming.
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of writing center studies or writing studies preferred.
Demonstrated interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in human-AI communication preferred.

Responsibilities

Deliver undergraduate communication courses within the Writing Department, typically two (2) courses during the first year and three (3) courses per academic year thereafter, as assigned.
Design and update course materials in alignment with departmental and institutional learning objectives.
Provide guidance and support to students preparing for presentations, public speaking engagements, and multimodal communication projects.
Collaborate with the FWC Director to design and facilitate training programs for Farnham Writers’ Center tutors, particularly in supporting oral and multimodal communication.
Contribute to the development and enhancement of communication support services offered through the FWC.
Assess and refine programming to ensure effectiveness and alignment with institutional goals.
Develop and facilitate workshops for students and faculty that promote effective communication practices across academic disciplines and professional settings.
Partner with campus units to strengthen oral communication resources and integrate communication development into curricular and co-curricular initiatives.
Support strategic initiatives related to communication, emerging technologies, and evolving instructional modalities.
Maintain instructional and program records in accordance with institutional policies.
Participate in relevant departmental and campus meetings.