Visiting Instructor, Strategic Communication

Company Description

Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds. The trademark of an Augsburg education is its emphasis on direct, personal experience. Guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.

Among the distinctive features of the university are its deep dedication to civic and community engagement, robust undergraduate research programs, and a strong belief in the integration of liberal arts and professional studies across all programs. The University's commitments to our urban context and the world beyond it are enhanced through the work of four signature centers: the Christensen Center for Vocation, the Center for Global Education and Experience, the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and the Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. 

As part of Augsburg University's commitment to intentional diversity, 50% of our current student body identifies as Black, Indigenous, and persons of color. The emerging interdisciplinary Department of Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies builds on this foundation to further diversify our academic curriculum and co-curricular programs. We do this work out of historical and contemporary obligations rooted in our ethical and intellectual commitments to prepare our diverse student body for a cosmopolitan world.

Augsburg's Statement of Commitment on Equity
We believe that education is the key to healthy, meaningful and productive lives for individuals, as well as to the vibrancy of our democracy. Augsburg University is dedicated to achieving an educational experience free from the barriers of poverty, racism, and discrimination so that students can fully realize their unique gifts. Recognizing that higher education's democratic promise is compromised by systemic and systematic barriers to college access and completion, Augsburg is called to stand for equity in everything we do to fulfill our academic mission, serve our students and engage our fellow citizens.

Job Description

The Augsburg University Department of Communication and Media Studies invites applications for a one-year, full-time, non-tenure track visiting instructor position in communication studies beginning August 17, 2026. The Department cultivates engaged citizens who can confidently create and critically examine messages and narratives in diverse contexts and media. Our students learn responsible communication practices, problem-solving, and critical inquiry, leaving with tools to be ethical and effective communicators in our modern world. We believe in fostering the development of inclusive and equitable communities through skillful communication.  

The successful candidate will typically teach a seven (7) course load per academic year (3 courses one semester, 4 during the other). Interested candidates should have primary teaching and research interests in strategic communication, marketing communication, organizational communication, crisis communication, and/or journalism, ideally with experience or interest in applying these skills within underserved communities.  Additionally, this position will include teaching a variety of undergraduate major courses and lower division, non-major courses. Other responsibilities for non-tenure track faculty include: advising/mentoring students; serving on departmental and university committees; and collaborating on departmental and programmatic initiatives within a shared leadership framework.

Preference will be given to teacher-scholars who are committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching and contributing, through teaching, service, and research, to a richly diverse community of learners. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• MA in Communication Studies or a closely related field (such as Psychology or Sociology). Those in master’s programs will be considered if the degree will be completed by August 2026
• Prior teaching or mentoring experience (e.g., teaching assistant and/or instructor of record positions)
• Demonstrates commitment to equitable and inclusive teaching practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching public relations, strategic communication, and/or journalism classes
• Ability to contribute to our Strategic Communication concentration
• Industry experience

Additional Information

The compensation range is $56,000-$59,000, dependent on qualifications.

Augsburg University offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including: 

• Medical, dental and vision insurance coverage. Medical plans include Kavira direct care, which provides free or low-cost virtual and in-home primary care