What are the responsibilities and job description for the Academic Professional Track (Non- Tenure): Professor of the Practice position at Texas A&M University?
The Department of Communication and Journalism in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for a Professor of the Practice position with specialization in Strategic Communication. This position is a full-time, 9-month, academic professional track, non-tenure-accruing appointment. It will start as early as January 1, 2027 but no later than August 1, 2027. Responsibilities for this position normally consist of teaching a three-course load each semester and engaging in service activities.
Ideal candidates will bring upper-level professional experience in strategic communication or related fields and demonstrate the ability to provide advanced, professional-level training in areas such as social media and audience engagement, digital analytics and performance measurement; integrated, cross-platform communication strategy; media writing and content development; and ethical decision-making in public and organizational communication. The successful candidate will be able to draw on substantial professional responsibility to design and deliver rigorous, practice-driven, project-based instruction across courses in strategic social media, strategic message design and campaign implementation, traditional and evolving communication tactics, and digital analytics.
Primary teaching responsibilities will focus on the department’s strategic communication curriculum, which emphasizes instruction in the applied use of digital communication tools, analytics-informed planning and evaluation, social and emerging media technologies, and integrated professional communication practices. Prior higher-education teaching experience is valued but not required; priority will be given to candidates whose professional backgrounds demonstrate sustained leadership, strategic responsibility, and continued engagement with evolving industry standards. Candidates may come directly from applied professional settings, provided they demonstrate the capacity to translate senior-level professional expertise into effective student mentoring and classroom instruction.
The Department of Communication and Journalism administers BA and BS degrees in communication, media, and journalism and MA and PhD degrees in Communication. The department includes more than 50 faculty members, over 35 communication graduate students, and approximately 1,700 undergraduate students. Organized into three broad research and curricular divisions – Communication & Media Science, Humanities & Critical/Cultural Studies, and Journalism & Media Practices – the department values collaboration, innovation, and excellence in teaching, research, and professional practice. Academic Professional Track faculty are fully integrated into the life and strategic planning of the department and play essential and valued roles in advancing our educational mission. Texas A&M offers an outstanding quality of life, a collegial academic environment, and strong institutional support for faculty success. Further information regarding the department is available at https://artsci.tamu.edu/comm-journalism/index.html
Required Qualifications
One of the following:
Review of applications will begin on October 7, 2026, and will continue until the search is completed. Additional questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Hart Blanton, hblanton@tamu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
Ideal candidates will bring upper-level professional experience in strategic communication or related fields and demonstrate the ability to provide advanced, professional-level training in areas such as social media and audience engagement, digital analytics and performance measurement; integrated, cross-platform communication strategy; media writing and content development; and ethical decision-making in public and organizational communication. The successful candidate will be able to draw on substantial professional responsibility to design and deliver rigorous, practice-driven, project-based instruction across courses in strategic social media, strategic message design and campaign implementation, traditional and evolving communication tactics, and digital analytics.
Primary teaching responsibilities will focus on the department’s strategic communication curriculum, which emphasizes instruction in the applied use of digital communication tools, analytics-informed planning and evaluation, social and emerging media technologies, and integrated professional communication practices. Prior higher-education teaching experience is valued but not required; priority will be given to candidates whose professional backgrounds demonstrate sustained leadership, strategic responsibility, and continued engagement with evolving industry standards. Candidates may come directly from applied professional settings, provided they demonstrate the capacity to translate senior-level professional expertise into effective student mentoring and classroom instruction.
The Department of Communication and Journalism administers BA and BS degrees in communication, media, and journalism and MA and PhD degrees in Communication. The department includes more than 50 faculty members, over 35 communication graduate students, and approximately 1,700 undergraduate students. Organized into three broad research and curricular divisions – Communication & Media Science, Humanities & Critical/Cultural Studies, and Journalism & Media Practices – the department values collaboration, innovation, and excellence in teaching, research, and professional practice. Academic Professional Track faculty are fully integrated into the life and strategic planning of the department and play essential and valued roles in advancing our educational mission. Texas A&M offers an outstanding quality of life, a collegial academic environment, and strong institutional support for faculty success. Further information regarding the department is available at https://artsci.tamu.edu/comm-journalism/index.html
Required Qualifications
One of the following:
- A terminal degree (PhD) in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field; OR
- A master’s degree in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field and have significant teaching experience at the college/school level in the field or in a related field, OR
- A bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, strategic communication, public relations, marketing, or a closely related field and have an extraordinary record of accomplishment in an applied setting.
- An extraordinary record of accomplishment in an applied setting, including professional experience in strategic communication, public relations, corporate communication, nonprofit communication, public affairs, digital communication, marketing communication, or a related applied field.
- Ability to translate professional experience into effective undergraduate instruction.
- Evidence of successful teaching or instructional experience in higher education, professional workshops, executive education, or comparable instructional settings.
- Evidence of continued engagement with evolving professional practice, industry standards, and emerging communication technologies.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to the continuing development of an applied strategic communication curriculum that strengthens students' professional preparation and marketable workforce skills.
Review of applications will begin on October 7, 2026, and will continue until the search is completed. Additional questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Hart Blanton, hblanton@tamu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.