Assistant Professor of Public Relations

Job No: 559323
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Fullerton
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Communications/Journalism

Department of Communications
College of Communications

Position
At CSUF, the communications faculty are passionate teacher‑scholars who bring creative discovery to life in our classrooms, labs, and studios. We’re looking for a collaborative colleague to teach a variety of public relations courses—from PR writing and ethics to our senior capstones—and potentially co‑lead PRactical ADvantage, our student‑run agency. In this role, you will mentor students, advise them on their career paths, and help shape the future of our department and university communities.

As a tenure‑track faculty member, you will maintain an active research agenda, producing impactful scholarship or creative work in public relations, strategic communications, or related mass communication disciplines aligned with tenure requirements. You will be expected to engage in student mentorship, committee service, and collaboration within the broader university and professional communities. To support our diverse student body, candidates should also expect to teach evening and graduate‑level courses occasionally.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in mass communications, strategic communications, communications, or a related field.

Professional experience in public relations or a closely related field, including experience in an agency, corporate, in‑house, nonprofit, or similar capacity.

Demonstrated potential for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Ability to balance teaching, conducting scholarship and/or creative activities, and working collaboratively with colleagues on department and university service activities.

Ability to successfully teach a wide range of public relations classes, including but not limited to PR writing, corporate and nonprofit PR, principles and ethics of PR, and capstone courses.

Ability to interact effectively orally and in writing with a wide and culturally diverse range of students and colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications

Evidence of successful scholarly research or creative accomplishments in public relations, strategic communications, mass communications, or related fields.

Experience with and ability to incorporate digital communications strategy, social media analytics, content creation, and/or emerging communications technologies into teaching, scholarship and/or creative activities.

Membership and active involvement in PRSA, or its international equivalents, and/or APR accreditation.

Ability to contribute to accreditation self‑study, curriculum development, and assessment of student learning.

Ability to lead high‑impact programs emphasizing student mentoring and professional engagement.

Evidence of a professional network, including contact with industry leaders.

NOTE
Representatives from the Department of Communications will be at the 2026 AEJMC Conference in August. If you will be attending the conference, please indicate that in your cover letter.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html , choose full‑time faculty, search for the position 559323, and provide the following required materials:

cover letter in which you respond to the required qualifications

teaching statement

candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no more than 500 words)

a list of three references with relevant contact information

Graduate Transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review)

Semifinalists and/or finalists may be asked to submit additional materials for further consideration (e.g., scholarly articles, portfolio, etc.).

Application Deadline
To be ensuring full consideration, all application materials must be received by October 1, 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 16, 2027.

The College and Department
The Department of Communications is one of the largest and most diverse mass communications programs in the United States, situated in the second‑largest media market. Nearly 1,500 students are enrolled in four concentrations (advertising, entertainment/tourism, journalism, and public relations) with nearly 50 full‑ and part‑time faculty members. The Department operates international programs, a graduate program, numerous laboratory facilities, an internship center, award‑winning student media, a student advertising and public relations agency, a week‑long signature university event called COMM Week, and many other student organizations, clubs, and competitions. For more information about the department, please visit http://communications.fullerton.edu/comm.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $6,851 to $6,985 per month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‑up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee‑waiver; access to campus child‑care; and a defined‑benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax‑sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/. New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10‑year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information
At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States. For information on the University policy on support for non‑immigrant probationary faculty visa acquisition, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/risk-management/faculty-staff-visas-permanent-residency/default.php . Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose.

Notice of Non‑Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out‑of‑State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU‑related work within the State of California. The employee must be able to accept on‑campus instruction, be assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

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