Texas Tech University is hiring: Asst Professor of Practice - Public Relations i

Position Description

Asst Professor of Practice - Public Relations

The Department of Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, Assistant Professor of Practice to begin September 1, 2026 (official on-duty date is mid-August 2026).

About the College

The College of Media & Communication (CoMC) at Texas Tech University serves approximately 2,400 students across its six undergraduate- and five graduate-degree programs. CoMC offers a student-centered learning environment with high standards for teaching and engaged learning, while benefiting from the resources of an R1 research university. College metrics for undergraduate student retention and graduation rates are near the top at Texas Tech across many categories, and CoMC graduate-student enrollment is at record-high levels. In addition to traditional spaces for offices, classrooms, and computer labs, the College\'s 120,000-sf building includes an esports lab, student-run agency suite, a commercial-range FM radio station, 2,000 square feet for student organizations and graduate-student offices, and several multimedia production spaces equipped with industry-grade equipment and software. At 13,000 square feet within the building, the CoMC Center for Communication Research (CCR) is the country\'s premier academic research facility for the study of communication, cognitive and affective processing of information, and media effects. The CCR\'s labs and equipment can be used for audience testing, content analysis, experimental surveys, eye-tracking, focus groups, psychophysiological measurements, and robotics/AI integration. The College has rebuilt its research infrastructure and made strategic hires resulting in all-time highs in external funding applications and grant awards. Further strengthening the University\'s stable budget environment, state taxpayers in 2023 approved a $3.9 billion research endowment, the Texas University Fund (TUF), that brings $44 million annually to Texas Tech to support faculty research and scholarly/creative activities. Interdisciplinary research strengths across the College\'s departments include computational communication, sports communication/media, organizational/corporate communication, and crisis/risk/health communication. Faculty affiliates of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic & International Communication engage in teaching, research and community outreach related to Hispanic and international/intercultural communication. The College continues an upward trajectory in alignment with the University\'s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, its $1.2 billion comprehensive campaign, and its charted path toward membership eligibility by 2035 in the Association of American Universities (AAU). In addition to Hispanic and international communication, research strengths among college faculty include strategic, science/health, gaming/AI, leadership, interpersonal/organizational, and political communication as well as social scientific research methods. The college\'s Center for Communication Research offers state-of-the-art facilities for studying audience responses to media messages. The Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic and International Communication studies and offers programs in Hispanic and international/intercultural communication.

About the Department/School/Area

The Department of Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management (PRSC) is home to more than 440 undergraduate students and 16 full-time faculty members. The department trains students to manage integrated communication programs, campaigns, and resources to effectively and ethically advocate for the organizations and causes that students are passionate about.

Major/Essential Functions

At Texas Tech University, the Professor of Practice title is used to recruit individuals with exceptional backgrounds and achievements in academic, business, government, or other professional practice. Primary responsibilities normally will be to teach in an area of expertise, mentor students in professional and career preparation, and liaise with professional contacts and entities on behalf of the department or program. Applicants should have experience working with a breadth of student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

As a faculty member in the Department of Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management, you will be expected to:

• Contribute to the teaching mission of the department\'s undergraduate program and the college\'s professional master\'s programs.
• Mentor undergraduate students.
• Advise student organizations.
• Develop a record of professional excellence.
• Maintain professional currency in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field.
• Provide service to the department, college, university, and profession.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

• A master\'s degree in public relations, strategic communication, or a related field, or a combination of work experience and the required number of graduate-level credit hours (18) to teach undergraduate courses in the state of Texas.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field.
• Demonstrated commitment to maintaining professional currency.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in applied strategic communication settings.
• A record of successful experience teaching at the university level in public relations or a closely related field in strategic communication.
• Experience teaching across a variety of modalities (face-to-face, online, hybrid).
• Experience mentoring undergraduate student organizations such as PRSSA or related organizations that advance public relations and strategic communication.
• Experience advising student teams participating in the Bateman Case Study Competition.
• Potential for establishing industry-academic partnerships.
• A record of community-engaged outreach.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• Cover Letter.
• Teaching Statement.
• Statement of Professional Excellence and Currency.
• Work samples or link to online portfolio.
• Other documents directly related to required qualifications.
• Candidates who are invited for Zoom interviews will be asked for the names of three references. References will not be contacted without notifying the candidate.

The application deadline is October 13, 2025.

Job Details

Job Type: Full Time

Pay Basis: Monthly

Pay Statement: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.

Travel Required: None

Grant Funded?: No

Job Group: Assistant Professor

EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade: 800

Applications must be received by: 10/13/2025