Assistant/Associate Professor Sports Communication and Strategic Communication

Title: Assistant/Associate Professor Sports Communication and Strategic Communication
Division Name: Academic Affairs
College/Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Department: School of Communication
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The School of Communication at Illinois State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position specializing in sports communication and strategic communication, beginning August 2026. We seek a teacher-scholar whose research and teaching bridge sports communication and strategic communication. In this role, the successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in sports and strategic communication; maintain an active and impactful research agenda; advise and mentor graduate students; contribute to curriculum development; and build connections with community and industry partners while engaging in service to the department, college, and university.

Responsibilities include scholarly research/publishing, effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, and service. The normal teaching load is nine credit hours per semester. The individual in this position is thus expected to teach 3 courses each semester in the School of Communication.

University Benefit Highlights:
- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Additional Information

The School of Communication typically serves approximately 700 undergraduate and 40 graduate students, offering degrees in Communication Studies, Journalism, Mass Media, Sports Communication, and Public Relations along with a top-rated master’s degree in Communication. The School has research and graphics computer labs, a Communication Innovation Center (CIC), WZND LPFM 103.3 (student radio), and high-definition television station TV-10 with live newscasts. A variety of active student co-curricular organizations are promoted, including Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Association for Women in in Communication (AWC), Lambda Pi Eta, a nationally ranked forensics program, and Student Television Workshop. The School is also home to The Vidette, a renowned student-run news organization. We are a collaborative group of individuals who value collegiality and enjoy working together.

Illinois State University: https://illinoisstate.edu/, was founded in 1857 as Illinois’ first public university. We enroll approximately 21,000 students in seven colleges. Our new strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, lists our seven core values: Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our university being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Learn more about Illinois State’s Metrics of Excellence at https://illinoisstate.edu 

Bloomington-Normal Community: Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems, and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreat