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Position Summary

The Department of Advertising + Public Relations in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University invites applications for a tenure-system assistant professor position in Public Relations or Advertising. We seek a scholar whose research either complements existing areas of departmental expertise or brings new perspectives and innovative directions to our program.

Qualified applicants should have a Ph.D. in Communication, Mass Communication, Mass Media, Information and Media, Advertising, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, or a related field. In addition, applicants should demonstrate strong qualitative or quantitative methodological expertise and possess a clearly defined, active research trajectory that reflects a consistent, empirical approach to studying communication in areas relevant to public relations. Applicants should also display evidence of, or potential for external funding; the ability to teach core and elective courses in public relations; and a commitment to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Ideally, candidates will have a research focus that complements and strengthens the department’s existing expertise in psychological, social, and cultural approaches to public relations. However, we also welcome applicants whose innovative research expands the department’s scholarly reach and opens new avenues for inquiry in advertising and public relations. We also encourage applications from scholars whose work explores the intersection of health communication and public relations, including its implications for communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, and media effects.

Example areas of existing expertise include (in alphabetical order):

Advocacy and Activism Communication; Corporate Social Responsibility / Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG); Crisis Communication; Inclusive Excellence in Communication; Digital and Social Media Strategy; Environmental Communication; Ethics; Health Communication; Issue Advocacy; International and Multicultural Communication; Message Processes and Effects; Misinformation and Disinformation; Political Communication; Public Relations (including measurement and evaluation); Public Relations and Advertising History; Science Communication; Strategic Communication.

Candidates will be evaluated based on the minimum requirements and desired qualifications, using a holistic review approach across different stages of the candidate review process.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Mass Communication, Communication, Information and Media, Public Relations, Strategic Communication or related field.

Minimum Requirements

+ Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Communication, Information and Media, Public Relations, Strategic Communication or related field.

+ Solid expertise and active research program with a well-defined empirical approach to studying communication in areas relevant to public relations.

+ Evidence of, or potential for external funding.

+ Ability to teach core and elective courses in public relations.

+ Commitment to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Desired Qualifications

Research that complements and strengthens the department’s existing expertise in psychological, social, and cultural approaches to public relations. See above for desired areas of research.

+ Evidence of, or potential for a national/international reputation

+ Industry experience

+ Experience teaching across platforms and mentoring graduate students

+ Experience in entrepreneurship

+ Interdisciplinary collaboration

+ Outreach and engagement in local communities

Required Application Materials

Applicants should submit electronically:

+ A cover letter of no more than five pages summarizing qualifications for the position, including a description of research agenda and teaching philosophy.

+ A curriculum vitae.

+ The names and contact information of three references.

Special Instructions

To apply, please refer to posting #1056502 and complete an electronic submission at the Michigan State University Employment Opportunities website https://careers.msu.edu/. Please direct inquiries to the chair of the search committee, Juan Mundel ([email protected]). The search committee will begin its evaluation of applicants Oct. 16, 2025.

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the information, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether the candidate is fit for the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/16/2025

Website

https://comartsci.msu.edu/departments/advertising-public-relations

Department Statement

The Michigan State University Department of Advertising and Public Relations (ADPR) is a leader in education, research, and outreach. For more than 60 years, ADPR has set the global pace in research excellence and achievement while maintaining an award-winning undergraduate program; these remain the Department’s core values. ADPR comprises tenure stream and fixed-term (professors of practice) faculty who continue to re-envision the worlds of advertising research, education, and practice. Our faculty have diverse research and teaching interests, including AI/big data; public relations; CSR; digital strategy; health, science, and the environment; social impact; political communication; advertising and media psychology; and analytics, among others.

The Department is home to nearly 2,000 undergraduate students in three majors (B.S. in Advertising Management, B.A. in Advertising Creative, and B.A. in Public Relations), 20 M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations students, and 20 doctoral students, part of the joint Ph.D. program in Information and Media. The Department has recently launched a student-led and run advertising agency, 42pointSeven.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.