Assistant Professor of Public Relations

About the role

The Department of Communications at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in public relations, with an appointment beginning in August 2027. This is your opportunity to bring your passion and expertise to a dynamic, future-oriented faculty where you will directly impact nearly 1,500 diverse students across our premier mass communications programs.

Responsibilities

• Teach a variety of public relations courses—from PR writing and ethics to senior capstones.
• Potentially co-lead PRactical ADvantage, our student-run agency.
• Mentor students, advise them on their career paths, and help shape the future of our department and university communities.
• 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.
• Engage in student mentorship, committee service, and collaboration within the broader university and professional communities.
• Teach evening and graduate-level courses occasionally to support our diverse student body.

Requirements

• 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 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.

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.