Trinity University is hiring: Assistant Professor of Communication - Advertising

Overview

Job Family Group: Faculty

Time Type: Full time

Department/Office: Communication

Exemption Status: Exempt

Job Description: The Trinity University Department of Communication seeks a Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Communication to begin Fall 2026. This individual will teach 5 undergraduate classes per year with primary teaching responsibilities in advertising as well as the department's core communication courses. We seek a student-centered scholar with expertise in advertising and emerging media with clear commitment to and experience engaging with real-world issues.

The Department of Communication is part of the School of Social Science & Civic Engagement, home to six academic departments and four interdisciplinary programs. The School has a long record of involvement in interdisciplinary research and teaching, both within the School and across the University. It prizes experiential learning opportunities for Trinity students, including research with faculty, consulting for local civic organizations, and teaching in San Antonio schools. Trinity University is a secular, independent, private institution founded in 1869. It offers high-quality science, liberal arts, and pre-professional programs across four schools to approximately 2,500 undergraduate students from the U.S. and more than 45 countries. The Richardson Communications Center houses the department, which provides hands-on opportunities such as the KRTU radio station and Tiger TV.

Both the Department of Communication and the University value and safeguard academic freedom for faculty members in their teaching and scholarship. Trinity is guided by a set of core values and is committed to implementing practices in pursuit of an inclusive campus for all students, faculty, and staff to feel welcomed and engaged in a community of learning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Candidates would be expected to:

• Develop and teach courses in advertising, engaging with recent trends and practices
• Teach one of the core courses for the major: COMM 1301 (Mass Media) or COMM 2302 (Media Texts) or COMM 3403 (Media Audiences)
• Teach COMM 3461 Principles of Advertising, covering traditional and emerging media
• Contribute to teaching the First Year Experience or other courses in Pathways, the university's interdisciplinary general education program
• Maintain a productive research agenda focused on advertising and/or emerging media
• Engage in service to the department, the university, and the greater San Antonio community

Appointment Details

This position will be a nine-month appointment starting August 2026.

Qualifications

Education

Required: Ph.D. in communication or related field. Must be completed prior to August 2026 start date.

Experience

Required: Research in advertising and/or emerging media.

Preferred: The ideal candidate will possess expertise in one or more of the following:

• Historic and contemporary advertising trends and practices
• Social media and influencer cultures
• Digital ethnographies
• Algorithmic media and persuasion
• Behavioral analytics
• Generative artificial intelligence
• Branding and promotional culture
• Advertising and climate change

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

The ideal candidate will demonstrate: Potential for teaching excellence, a passion for mentoring and working with undergraduate students, and an active research plan. Preference given to applicants with clear commitment to and experience engaging with real-world issues.

How to Apply

For internal applicants, please apply through Workday using the Jobs Hub application, see instructions provided here.

For external applicants, when starting the application, select "Apply Manually." Only complete fields with a red asterisk, which are required. Please create your Workday application account using a personal email address, as you will need to maintain access to this account throughout the pre-hire process, if selected.

For all applicants, you do not need to complete the Work Experience, Education, Certifications, or Languages fields – these details will be provided in your curriculum vitae.

In the Application Documents field, please upload the following, each as a separate pdf file (maximum of five files):

• Letter of application and curriculum vitae (include names and contact information for three professional references)
• Graduate institution transcript(s)
• Sample of written work
• Statement of teaching philosophy (include teaching evaluations if available)
• Intentional inclusion statement — 1-2 page reflection on contributing to an environment where people feel welcomed, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential, with examples related to teaching, research, and professional activities

Application Deadline: November 14, 2025

Contact Information

Dr. Melissa McMullen, search committee chair, Department of Communication, mmcmulle@trinity.edu

Please ensure that all required documents are uploaded prior to submitting an application. For revisions or help submitting an application, contact Human Resources at 210-999-7507 or email humanresources@trinity.edu.