Trinity University is hiring: Assistant Professor of Communication - Advertising

Assistant Professor of Communication - Advertising and Emerging Media

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.

Trinity University is a secular, independent, private institution, founded in 1869. Trinity offers high-quality science, liberal arts, and pre-professional programs as represented by the four schools (STEM, Arts & Humanities, Social Science and Civic Engagement, and Business) to approximately 2,500 undergraduate students from the U.S. and more than 45 countries.

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.

Embracing the liberal arts and sciences mission of the university, the Department of Communication stresses an integrated, non-sequenced approach to its curriculum. Students in Communication at Trinity build their major upon three core areas: Mass Media, Media Texts, and Media Audiences.

Background

Both the Department of Communication and the University as a whole 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

• Develop and teach courses in advertising, engaging with recent trends and practices,
• Teach one of the core courses for the major: either COMM 1301 (Mass Media), a media industries course; or COMM 2302 (Media Texts), a course on media interpretation and criticism; or COMM 3403 (Media Audiences), a course on understanding the relationship between media and 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, and
• 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: Ph.D. in communication or related field. Must be completed prior to August 2026 start date.

Experience: 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.

Trinity University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.