Thomas Phelan Endowed Chair & Department Head Communication & Media

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The Department of Communication and Media offers a B.S. in Communication, Media & Design; an M.S. in Communication & Rhetoric; and a Ph.D. in Communication & Rhetoric.  The department is home to a dynamic, growing faculty researching communication and media from a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields. For more information about the department, visit https://hass.rpi.edu/communication-media

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Job Summary

The Department of Communication and Media in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeks applicants for the Thomas Phelan Endowed Chair & Department Head in Communication & Media, a tenured faculty position beginning in August 2025.

We welcome candidates whose research focuses on the material dimensions of digital media technologies including their sociocultural, political practices and how those practices impact the public sphere. We encourage scholars from diverse perspectives and methodologies to apply, including those whose work spans communication, media, and related disciplines. Preferred areas of expertise include: Communication in the Public Sphere, Science Communication, Public Communication, Rhetoric/ Persuasion, Cultural Media Studies, Political Communication, and AI Ethics. Experience in and/or commitment to public-facing, participatory, or community- engaged scholarship is also desirable. The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in shaping and realizing the future of the department, therefore prior administrative experience is essential.

The successful candidate will provide leadership in advancing the department’s teaching, research, and service missions. Responsibilities include teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, developing and maintaining a robust program of research and scholarship, and engaging in service to the department, the school, and Rensselaer. We seek a collaborative leader with a strong vision for addressing emerging challenges in communication and media, particularly those shaped by 21st-century technologies and interdisciplinary approaches.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet criteria for appointment as a tenured faculty in the Communications and Media department.

We seek applicants with an established program of research, leadership experience, collaboration, and evidence of a commitment to teaching excellence. We seek applications from outstanding candidates at the full professor level, although exceptional associate professor candidates will be considered, who will build upon our existing strengths in these and related areas across the university.

Ideally, candidates will have research focuses on the material dimensions of digital media technologies including their sociocultural, political practices and how those practices impact the public sphere. Applicants whose areas of expertise include any of the following are encouraged to apply: Science Communication, Public Communication, Rhetoric/ Persuasion, Cultural Media Studies, Political Communication, and AI Ethics.

Associate Professor: A Ph.D., Ed.D., or foreign degree equivalent in Communication, Media Studies, Rhetoric, or a related field, is required at the time of appointment. A successful candidate at this rank must possess a record of excellence in scholarship as demonstrated by an emerging national or international reputation, a level of high quality in educational activities.

Full Professor: A Ph.D., Ed.D., or foreign degree equivalent in Communication, Media Studies, Rhetoric, or a related field, is required at the time of appointment A successful candidate at this rank must be an academic leader, possessing a nationally or internationally recognized record of excellence in scholarship, a sustained level of high quality in educational activities that go beyond teaching and advising.

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range:

Associate Professor: $90,000 - $110,000 per 9-month academic year

Professor: $120,000 - 160,000 per 9-month academic year

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