Academic Professional Track (Non-Tenure): Professor of the Practice

The Department of Communication and Journalism in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for two Professor of the Practice positions with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026. These positions are full-time, 9-month, academic professional track, non-tenure-accruing appointments. Responsibilities for these positions normally consist of teaching a three-course-per-semester load and engaging in service activities. 

Ideal candidates will bring upper-level professional experience in strategic communication or related fields and demonstrate the ability to provide advanced, professional-level training in areas such as digital analytics and performance measurement; integrated, cross-platform communication strategy; social media leadership and audience engagement; media writing and content development; and ethical decision-making in public and organizational communication. The successful candidate will be able to draw on substantial professional responsibility to design and deliver rigorous, practice-driven, project-based instruction across courses in strategic communication, traditional and evolving communication tactics, digital analytics, and strategic social media.

Primary teaching responsibilities will focus on the department’s strategic communication curriculum, which emphasizes instruction in the applied use of digital communication tools, analytics-informed planning and evaluation, social and emerging media technologies, and integrated professional communication practices. Prior higher-education teaching experience is valued but not required; priority will be given to candidates whose professional backgrounds demonstrate sustained leadership, strategic responsibility, and continued engagement with evolving industry standards. Candidates may come directly from applied professional settings, provided they demonstrate the capacity to translate senior-level professional expertise into effective student mentoring and classroom instruction.

The Department of Communication and Journalism administers BA and BS degrees in the fields of communication, media, and journalism, and we offer PhD and MA degrees in Communication. We have over 40 faculty members, more than 35 communication graduate students, and approximately 1,600 undergraduate students. The department promotes a welcoming and supportive workplace and is organized into three broad research and curricular divisions: Communication & Media Science, Humanities & Critical/Cultural Studies, and Journalism & Media Practices. Further information regarding the department is available at cmjr.tamu.edu.

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree (PhD) in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field; OR
• A master’s degree in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field and have significant teaching experience at the college/school level in the field or in a related field, OR
• A bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field and have an extraordinary record of accompishment in an applied setting.

In addition, all candidates must demonstrate:

• Professional experience in strategic communication, public relations, corporate communication, nonprofit communication, public affairs, digital communication, marketing communication, or a related applied field.
• Ability to translate professional experience into effective undergraduate instruction. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of successful teaching experience in higher education, professional training, workshops, or comparable instructional settings.

Interested applicants must apply through the Texas A&M University faculty job board hosted by Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/180320 and upload the following: (1) cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) personal statement to include philosophy and plans for teaching, research, and service as applicable, (4) names and contact information for three references.

Review of applications will begin on February 23, 2026, and will continue until the search is completed. Additional questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair:  Dr. Hart Blanton, hblanton@tamu.edu.