Instructor, Public Relations

William Paterson University•Wayne, NJ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

William Paterson University invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track position Public Relations Instructor in the Department of Communication, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, beginning August 15, 2026. The position is a 10-month position. The position is renewable annually based on satisfactory job performance, with opportunities for promotion, as well as multi-year contracts after the first five years. William Paterson University is a minority and Hispanic serving institution. The Department of Communication seeks someone with a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for students. Reporting to the Department of Communication Chairperson, this position includes teaching a variety of courses at undergraduate and graduate levels as well as appropriate activities to support student success. The Department of Communication is located in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, which is one of four comprehensive and diverse colleges at William Paterson University. The Department of Communication offers undergraduate degrees in Public Relations, Journalism, Communication and Film, Television, and Audio production. The Department of Communication also offers a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC). This position plays an important role in supporting one of the Communication department’s most professionally oriented areas. The successful candidate will contribute to maintaining consistent, high-quality instruction in a program experiencing both growth and increased visibility. The position will have administrative responsibilities that may offset teaching responsibilities. The Public Relations and IMC areas represent a significant portion of the department’s instructional activity, spanning undergraduate PR courses on the main campus, graduate IMC courses delivered through WPOnline in 7-week sessions year-round, and additional online undergraduate offerings depending on enrollment. The IMC program alone delivers approximately 18 graduate course sections annually, with additional PR sections offered across modalities.

Requirements

Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred in Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field
Professional experience in public relations, integrated marketing, or strategic communication
Ability to teach across modalities, in-class and online, and engage diverse student populations
Commitment to applied, career-oriented teaching

Nice To Haves

Experience teaching in online or accelerated formats (e.g., 7-week courses)
Familiarity with digital media, social platforms, and emerging communication tools
Interest in contributing to a professionally oriented curriculum aligned with industry needs
Teaching experience at the college level, including online instruction

Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communication across main campus and WPOnline formats.
Deliver courses in a variety of modalities, including in-person, online synchronous, and online asynchronous formats.
Courses may include but not limited to Public Relations Principles, Public Relations Writing, Strategic Communication, Social Media Strategy, Integrated Marketing Communication, Branding and Advertising, Crisis Communication, and Digital Content Strategy.
Maintain consistency and quality across multiple course sections, particularly in high-demand areas.
Support curricular alignment with current industry practices and career pathways.
Engage with faculty to ensure efficient organization of courses and coursework consistent with professional standards; develop courses and curriculum.
Support students in their academic endeavors.
Participate in a variety of opportunities within the department, college, and university community including, where required, mentoring students.
Engage in formal and informal processes of departmental assessment of student learning and programming.
Attend department and college meetings as required and engage in activities of the department.
Engage in professional development to stay current and academically prepared in the field.
Perform other teaching or administrative duties as appropriate depending on departmental needs.