What are the responsibilities and job description for the Full Professor in Health Communication position at Inside Higher Ed?
Posting Number
F2539P
Working Title
Full Professor in Health Communication
Department
Franklin-Communication Studies
About The University Of Georgia
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About The College/Unit/Department
The Department of Communication Studies has 21 full-time and three part-time faculty members, who are nationally recognized authorities in rhetorical studies, interpersonal communication, intergroup communication, persuasion, and health communication. Our faculty are committed to maintaining high standards in both undergraduate and graduate instruction. The department maintains a PhD program with approximately 40 graduate students and an undergraduate program with approximately 350 majors.
The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation, such as with the UGA’s new medical school and other schools/departments in the College. The department’s alliances with the Institute of Behavioral Health Research and the Center for Health and Risk Communication also allow for such collaborations. For more information about the department and our research programs, visit https://www.comm.uga.edu.
College/Unit/Department Website
https://www.comm.uga.edu
Posting Type
External
Employment Type
Employee
Benefits Eligibility
Benefits Eligible
Anticipated Start Date
08/01/2026
Job Posting Date
10/31/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions To Applicants
Applicants must include: 1) a cover letter 2) curriculum vitae 3) the names of three references from people highly familiar with your research. Letters of reference and a teaching portfolio (including a teaching philosophy, a summary of course evaluations, and a sample syllabus) may be requested at a later date. For questions, please contact Search Chair, Dr. Analisa Arroyo, arroyo@uga.edu. All applications received by December 1, 2025, will receive full consideration, though the position will remain open until filled.
Location of Vacancy:
Athens Area
EEO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Classification Title
Professor
Faculty Rank
Professor
Contract Type
Academic (9 mo.)
Tenure Status
Tenured
Minimum Qualifications
A PhD in Communication Studies or relevant field is required.
Position Summary
The Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia invites applications for a full-time, Full Professor position in Health Communication with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026. Candidates who are advanced Associate Professors with potential for promotion to Full Professor upon hire will be considered.
The responsibilities of this position are to carry out research; to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, communication theory, and the successful candidate’s area of scholarly expertise; to supervise graduate and undergraduate; and to perform service to the department and university. The successful candidate should be committed to multidisciplinary collaboration across a comprehensive university and ideally envision possibilities for collaborations that emerge as part of UGA’s School of Medicine and the planned School of Nursing. Ideal candidates also will be enthusiastic about contributing to curricular innovation focused on Health Communication or Communication Studies more broadly.
Additional Requirements
Candidates considered for the Full Professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials that are commensurate with the promotion and tenure guidelines at the University of Georgia and must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire. These guidelines can be found at https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/promotion-tenure/.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And/or Competencies
The successful candidate will be an accomplished social scientist, with internationally recognized expertise in Health Communication as well as a well-developed and active program of research that complements the strengths of the department’s faculty. Ideal candidates will have a strong record of securing external funding.
Is this a Position of Trust?:
No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:
No
Does this position require a P-Card? :
No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :
No
Is driving a responsibility of this position?:
No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:
No
Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications)
No
Credit And P-Card Policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.
F2539P
Working Title
Full Professor in Health Communication
Department
Franklin-Communication Studies
About The University Of Georgia
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About The College/Unit/Department
The Department of Communication Studies has 21 full-time and three part-time faculty members, who are nationally recognized authorities in rhetorical studies, interpersonal communication, intergroup communication, persuasion, and health communication. Our faculty are committed to maintaining high standards in both undergraduate and graduate instruction. The department maintains a PhD program with approximately 40 graduate students and an undergraduate program with approximately 350 majors.
The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. With a vision for high-impact research and education, Franklin College prepares students for leadership and global engagement in a sustainable future. The College has a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research, collaboration and academic innovation, such as with the UGA’s new medical school and other schools/departments in the College. The department’s alliances with the Institute of Behavioral Health Research and the Center for Health and Risk Communication also allow for such collaborations. For more information about the department and our research programs, visit https://www.comm.uga.edu.
College/Unit/Department Website
https://www.comm.uga.edu
Posting Type
External
Employment Type
Employee
Benefits Eligibility
Benefits Eligible
Anticipated Start Date
08/01/2026
Job Posting Date
10/31/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions To Applicants
Applicants must include: 1) a cover letter 2) curriculum vitae 3) the names of three references from people highly familiar with your research. Letters of reference and a teaching portfolio (including a teaching philosophy, a summary of course evaluations, and a sample syllabus) may be requested at a later date. For questions, please contact Search Chair, Dr. Analisa Arroyo, arroyo@uga.edu. All applications received by December 1, 2025, will receive full consideration, though the position will remain open until filled.
Location of Vacancy:
Athens Area
EEO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Classification Title
Professor
Faculty Rank
Professor
Contract Type
Academic (9 mo.)
Tenure Status
Tenured
Minimum Qualifications
A PhD in Communication Studies or relevant field is required.
Position Summary
The Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia invites applications for a full-time, Full Professor position in Health Communication with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2026. Candidates who are advanced Associate Professors with potential for promotion to Full Professor upon hire will be considered.
The responsibilities of this position are to carry out research; to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in research methods, communication theory, and the successful candidate’s area of scholarly expertise; to supervise graduate and undergraduate; and to perform service to the department and university. The successful candidate should be committed to multidisciplinary collaboration across a comprehensive university and ideally envision possibilities for collaborations that emerge as part of UGA’s School of Medicine and the planned School of Nursing. Ideal candidates also will be enthusiastic about contributing to curricular innovation focused on Health Communication or Communication Studies more broadly.
Additional Requirements
Candidates considered for the Full Professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials that are commensurate with the promotion and tenure guidelines at the University of Georgia and must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire. These guidelines can be found at https://provost.uga.edu/faculty-affairs/promotion-tenure/.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And/or Competencies
The successful candidate will be an accomplished social scientist, with internationally recognized expertise in Health Communication as well as a well-developed and active program of research that complements the strengths of the department’s faculty. Ideal candidates will have a strong record of securing external funding.
Is this a Position of Trust?:
No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:
No
Does this position require a P-Card? :
No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :
No
Is driving a responsibility of this position?:
No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:
No
Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications)
No
Credit And P-Card Policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.