Director of Professional Graduate Studies- Tenured Associate Professor

Position Overview

The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas (KU) is seeking an innovative and experienced leader to serve as Director of Professional Graduate Studies and Tenured Associate Professor in the School.

The Director will manage our online master’s program in Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications (DIMC) overseeing all aspects of the program including curriculum innovation, recruitment and professional engagements.

A signature online degree program of KU’s Jayhawk Global, DIMC has been named one of the Best Online Marketing Master’s Degrees of 2024 by Forbes.

In particular, we are looking for a creative and dynamic thinker who will shepherd the School’s continued growth in professional graduate education and elevate it to the next level.

If you are looking for a rewarding and dynamic career, look no farther than the University of Kansas. In addition to a competitive salary, KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, 9 paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a great retirement program, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and state of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors.

KU also offers employees educational opportunities for employees. KU is a great place to work!

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe.

At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success.

We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

Founded in 1865, the University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of only 34 public members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).

The University enrolls more than 27,000 students and offers students and faculty opportunities to collaborate in its graduate and professional programs that include education, public health, medicine, law, and a number of allied social science disciplines.

At KU we make it our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. We aspire to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society.

KU’s strategic plan Jayhawks Rising is focused on objectives to accomplish this vision through three mission-based priorities of student success, healthy and vibrant communities, research, and discovery.

KU’s research residential campus is in the center of a vibrant and culturally-rich community, a quintessential college town.

Visitors, students and new employees from outside the area enjoy discovering the many wonders of Lawrence, including a thriving downtown, various local and regional events, area lakes, vibrant arts and music scenes, and an indelible history.

Lawrence is located 45 minutes west of Kansas City and 30 minutes east of Topeka, the state capital. Along with the music, arts, culture and sports experiences offered at KU and in Lawrence, the short drive to Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams.

Job Description

This position comes with a teaching load of 3-4 courses per year as part of the Tenured Associate Professor role. Applicants who demonstrate teaching expertise or scholarly / creative works in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply : digital marketing communications, social media strategy, data analytics, emergent media practices, public relations and / or audience engagements.

You will have colleagues who share your excitement about working with students, discovering and testing media developments for the future, and are eager to create new ways to understand and engage audiences.

This is a full-time, 12-month tenured faculty position to begin August 18, 2025. Successful applicants will have a in journalism, mass communication, marketing communications, information science or a related field.

Applicants who demonstrate teaching expertise or scholarly / creative works in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply : digital marketing communications, social media strategy, data analytics, emergent media practices, public relations and / or audience engagements.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the by the effective date of the appointment.

60% Administration / Service :

• Serve as the central source of professional graduate information within the School
• Coordinate recruitment activities for professional graduate programs
• Coordinate course scheduling for professional graduate programs
• Identify and develop new opportunities for cutting-edge professional education and professional upskilling (degree / certificate programs or non-degree professional development workshops)
• Work with graduate faculty, professionals, and the Professional Graduate Program Advisory Board for curriculum innovation
• Serve as the primary liaison between the School’s professional graduate education and the University’s Office of Graduate Studies
• Participate in the regular academic activities of the School, including committee assignments and major School functions
• Engage in professional service in academic, professional and / or media organizations

20% Teaching :

• Teach 3-4 courses a year in undergraduate and / or graduate programs, in-person and / or virtually, based upon needs of the School
• Contribute to curriculum innovation and development
• Hold regular office hours

20% Research

Demonstrate sustained productivity through publications, sponsored projects / grants, papers and presentations for national and international academic and professional audiences, or sustained creative work recognized at the national or / and international level

Required Qualifications

Evaluation of the following requirements will be made through (1) descriptions of research / creative work and teaching in letter of application, (2) record of accomplishments and productivity included in CV and (3) information provided from three professional references.

• A in journalism, mass communication, marketing communications, information science or a related field
• Demonstrated teaching excellence in a university setting including the ability to develop and teach online courses, as evidenced by application materials
• Distinguished professional work in digital marketing communications or emerging media
• Eligible for tenured status at the University of Kansas
30+ days ago