Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Strategic Communication Job at PRSA Central

The Department of Journalism and Media Studies at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, is seeking a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor starting in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will teach in the field of strategic communication, including public relations and advertising.

The successful applicant will have responsibilities in the area of teaching, research, student advising, and service to the department, university, industry, and community. The position carries a course load of 9 credit hours per semester and may involve teaching classes like Introduction to Public Relations, Public Relations Storytelling, Social Media Management and Analytics, Advertising Copywriting and Creativity, and others. It also requires research or creative activities with high relevance to strategic communication and mass communication, with the potential to lead to publications in reputable academic journals and/or presses.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency

Candidates must have a terminal degree (PhD, MBA, or MFA) in strategic communication, mass communication, journalism, marketing, business, or a closely related field. ABDs may be considered, but must have a degree in hand by August 17, 2026.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The candidate must be able to teach undergraduate-level courses in strategic communication (public relations and advertising) at both the introductory and advanced levels. Preference will be given to candidates who can teach any of the following topics:

• Fundamentals of advertising
• Fundamentals of public relations
• Copywriting and creativity
• PR Storytelling
• Environmental, social, and governance PR
• Branding
• Media design
• A.I. in strategic communication
• Social media management and analytics
• Sports and entertainment PR
• Strategic communication campaigns
  

Ideal candidates will exhibit a keen interest in and capacity for assisting the department and students in adapting to ongoing changes in the business, methods, and technology of the strategic communication industry, while maintaining the highest standards of ethics.

Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate any of the following:

• A strong professional background working in the public relations, advertising, or marketing communications field
• Prior higher-education teaching experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• Advanced knowledge of the use of AI in the strategic communication industry
  

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Teach public relations and advertising classes for the Department of Journalism and Media Studies in a 3/3 load, perform departmental service and outreach, conduct creative and/or scholarly research, and collaborate with other faculty on new curriculum and program development.

Special Requirements of the Position

Along with completing the online application at https://careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/assistant-professor-las-cruces-new-mexico-united-states-7d1d648b-e83f-4e2c-8ca9-da770402f241, please submit:

• A cover letter stating your experience in relation to the required and preferred qualifications and explaining your commitment to fostering welcoming and supporting environment in the classroom, department and university.
• A teaching statement describing your teaching philosophy and pedagogical approaches.
• A Curriculum Vita
• URL Links to an online portfolio, with samples of professional and scholarly work, if applicable.
• The contact information for three references who will be contacted at a later time.
  

Recruitment Summary

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.
NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

EEO Statement

New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.