University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

West Chair of Excellence

Department of Communication

Description

The Department of Communication at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) invites applications for the position of West Chair of Excellence in Communication and Public Affairs at the rank of associate or full professor. This is a tenure-track, 9-month position with appointment to begin August 1, 2025

The George R. West, Jr. Chair of Excellence in Communication and Public Affairs is an endowed professorship that provides resources to bring a top-caliber scholar to campus to lead students and the community in the pursuit of the whole truth. The funding agreement offers broad latitude in the area selected for the Chair, but the position should challenge students to confront complexities in contemporary society by emphasizing a liberal arts approach to understanding public and world affairs. Applications are encouraged from a wide range of areas of study related to communication and public affairs. This includes, but is not limited to, consumption of media, effects of media on individuals and society, environmental communication, and health communication.

The West Chair of Excellence should be a positive role model as a teacher or practitioner who has demonstrated a keen interest in students. They must be sufficiently distinguished as a practitioner to have credibility in their chosen profession as well as in related professions; and have demonstrated the ability to and interest in creatively extending the influence of the Chair abroad the campus, the community and the profession.

The successful candidate will be a seasoned scholar who values and enjoys teaching undergraduate students.  The department emphasizes experiential learning and would value a colleague who can intentionally include students in their research or creative work.  Duties also include the convening of forums, workshops and symposia dealing with public affairs issues. The Chair is expected to continue producing scholarships and to serve as a role model for faculty in the department.  The Chair will have a reduced teaching load (2-2) to facilitate research productivity.  The endowment also provides a $20,000 annual spending account to facilitate the research of the Chair. Additional startup funds will be available.

The Department of Communication is home to over 500 students pursuing either a Bachelor of Science major or minor in Communication. The major provides a flexible curriculum that is defined by a common core and an array of elective options that allow learners the opportunity to build skill in their focus area for an ever-changing media landscape (e.g., journalism, strategic communication, film, photojournalism etc.). The students in Communication are served by 15 accomplished and engaged faculty who possess a diverse range of professional and academic expertise including, public relations, reporting, social media management, creative direction, photojournalism, film production, etc. These faculty have emergent research profiles and utilize intra- and interdisciplinary approaches to communication scholarship.  The department prides itself for its hands-on, community-oriented, and award-winning approach to teaching, learning, and scholarships and is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in Mass Communication, Communication, or a related discipline;
• Record of scholarship, teaching, and service that merits tenure in the Department of Communication at the associate or full professor rank;
• Engagement in active and on-going scholarship in a field related to communication and public affairs;
• Ability to teach introductory/advanced courses that meet the needs of the department and university;
• Evidence of prior service to the profession and community.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Record of scholarship, teaching, and service that merits tenure in the Department of Communication at the full professor rank;
• Evidence of mentoring undergraduate students;
• Substantial standing and productivity in an area of expertise related to communication and public affairs;
• Motivation and dedication needed to maintain a high level of research productivity;
• Demonstrated excellence in the classroom;
• Prior experience as a practitioner in a field related to communication and public affairs.

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit all the following to our online application system for consideration:

• A letter of interest addressing their qualifications for the position, making sure to address each minimum qualification;
• CV, including up-to-date personal contact information;
• A two-page (single-spaced) description of scholarship agenda and program;
• Names, titles, and email addresses for 3-5 professional references for confidential letters of recommendation to be requested.

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2024 and will continue until a candidate is found.

About UTC

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) is a regional comprehensive university and a national model for metropolitan universities. Located in downtown Chattanooga, the main footprint of campus offers the beauty of a campus located in a college town with the amenities of a metropolitan location.  UTC serves a vibrant and diverse student body, metropolitan area, and region. The university has an enrollment of over 11,000 students, 58% of whom identify as female. Approximately 23% of the student body self-identify as members of a minority group and 20% are first generation students.

UTC is the second largest institution in the University of Tennessee System. Founded in 1886 as a private college, it became part of the UT system in 1969. The four degree-granting colleges (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, and College of Health, Education and Professional Studies) offer 47 undergraduate degree programs with 98 concentrations. Together they offer 29 graduate programs including 6 doctoral programs. The Honors College and the Library, both led by Deans, further enrich the academic culture on campus.  UTC has ten Chairs of Excellence and an array of endowed professorships. The University’s Division 1 athletic program has been strengthened measurably over the past several years, lifting the profile of the university regionally and nationally.

The Chattanooga metropolitan area is often used as an extension of the classroom, with partnerships and collaborations across the city that provide immersive, hands-on research, internships, and practicum experiences for UTC students. Through these experiences, our students are better prepared to contribute to the regional and state economy and workforce. Indeed, the university’s strategic plan has an ambitious goal to embed high-impact practices within all degree programs.

About Chattanooga

Nestled between scenic Lookout Mountain and the Tennessee River, Chattanooga offers breathtaking natural beauty, lively city amenities and a small-town feel.

Our city has it all, with historic cultural institutions like the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, iconic attractions like Rock City and Ruby Falls, opportunities for epic outdoor adventures, and an eclectic contemporary art, music and food scene.

Chattanooga’s robust economy fosters an environment where tech start-ups thrive alongside established industries and corporations. It’s where innovation meets tradition, creating endless opportunities for growth and success.

UTC embodies Chattanooga’s dynamic spirit, serving as one of the city’s most vital institutions where progressive transformation and community thrive. UTC is where Chattanooga goes to build the future.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its educational and employment programs and services.  All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability or covered veteran status.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville

Open Rank / Open Track in Journalism and Media – Fall 2025

The University of Tennessee – Knoxville: Knoxville Academic Units: College of Communication and Information: Journalism & Media

Location

Knoxville, TN

Open Date

Sep 18, 2024

Description

Open Rank/Open Track and Hill Chair of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Medical Writing, School of Journalism & Media, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Full-time

The School of Journalism & Media, housed within the College of Communication and Information, is seeking the next Julia G. and Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Medical Writing to begin August 1, 2025. The position can be configured as a tenure-track or non-tenure track position, based on the applicant’s background. The ideal candidate for a tenure-track hire would be an academic researcher and instructor in science, technology, and/or medical communication. A non-tenure track hire may be an author or scientist in the journalism profession who writes on topics in science, technology, and/or medicine. In both cases, we seek a scholar who will be an active writer, researcher, and professor, while serving as a public ambassador for science, technology, and/or medical writing and reporting, translating complex issues to the general public for their well-being, appreciation, and enjoyment.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Teaching undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses in science, technology, and/or medical writing and reporting.
• Conducting personal research and writing.
• Public outreach, educational, and engagement activities that, consistent with the public land-grant mission, translate scientific, technology, and/or medical findings and knowledge to a lay audience to enhance public awareness, understanding, and well-being.
• Conducting outreach activities to journalists and other media professionals serving the people of Tennessee and beyond, offering training in science, technology, and/or medical reporting and writing, and serving as a liaison between the state’s media and the professional scientific community.
• Performing service to the school, college, university, and discipline.

The School of Journalism and Media

Housed in the College of Communication and Information, the School of Journalism and Media includes 20 full-time faculty members who engage in quantitative and qualitative research as well as creative activity, with the goal of advancing knowledge in journalism and media and educating and equipping the next generation of communication professionals. The school offers coursework at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. In partnership with The Media Center, students have opportunities for vast hands-on experience in film and documentary work, video production (Lumos Media), public radio (NPR member station WUOT-FM), college radio station WUTK-FM, student-led television station TVC, and Ablaze magazine. The School serves more than 450 undergraduate majors and 20 master’s and doctoral students. Visit the websites for the College and School for more information.

The College of Communication and Information

The College of Communication and Information (CCI) consists of four schools: Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Studies, Information Sciences, and Journalism and Media. CCI has approximately 1,600 undergraduate majors (across five undergraduate majors in advertising, public relations, communication studies, information sciences, and journalism and media) and approximately 500 graduate students (including a College-wide M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in communication & information and an M.S. degree in information sciences). The College’s Research & Innovation Center (RIC) provides a wide array of support services for CCI faculty interested in pursuing sponsored research. The Center involves dozens of researchers across various disciplines and agencies to focus the array of talent in CCI, the University of Tennessee, the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (40 minutes away), and other research institutions in the pursuit and conduct of sponsored research. College-wide research facilities include: the Adam Brown Social Media Command Center, the Scripps Convergence Lab, a User Experience Lab, and a Message Effects/Focus Group Lab.

The University of Tennessee and Knoxville

The University of Tennessee is the state of Tennessee’s flagship university and its only public Carnegie Research 1 institution. As a land-grant university and as Volunteers, serving the state and nation is key to its mission. UT enrolls approximately 30,000 students at its Knoxville campus. Demographically, 24% of all students identify as non-white, 24% identify as first-generation students, and 29% are Pell-eligible. The University culture is guided by adherence to core values that define the Volunteer spirit and include seeking knowledge, leading with innovation and integrity, advancing diversity and inclusion, engaging locally and globally, and embracing responsible stewardship of resources.

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville has a metropolitan statistical area population of more than 850,000 people. This moderate-sized city has a vibrant nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, a great music scene, a symphony orchestra and an opera company, world-class restaurants, many cultural festivals, and a downtown market square. Surrounded by 8 lakes and the Tennessee River, the Knoxville area boasts wonderful year-round water activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming that make for scenic and breathtaking views of the area. Knoxville is also home to many leading corporations, including Warner Brothers/Discovery, Regal Cinemas, Bush Brothers & Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, Ruby Tuesday, Pilot Flying J, and Arconic. It also has several prominent advertising/public relations firms and is the fifth largest video production center in the United States.

The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.

Qualifications

The School of Journalism & Media seeks a colleague with expertise in science, technology, and/or medical writing and reporting and a contemporary understanding of the issues in this realm. The ability to teach in one or more of the following areas is strongly desired: science, technology, and/or medical writing; science, technology, and/or medical reporting; environmental journalism; or health/medical reporting.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant field at time of appointment
• Active writer/reporter/journalist or academic and published author in science, technology, and/or medical topics
• Enthusiasm for and a desire to engage with the public for the dissemination of knowledge

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant field at time of appointment
• Active researcher/writer and published author of peer-reviewed publications
• Record of or potential for securing external funding
• Journalism industry experience reporting and/or writing on science, technology, and/or medicine
• Teaching experience in higher education
• Experience in engaging with the public for the dissemination of knowledge

 

• Candidates for (Non-Tenure Track)Associate Professor of Practice should have demonstrated a high level of professional success in science, technology, or medical writing and/or reporting and the potential to succeed as a non-tenure track faculty member at a state flagship campus such as University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Candidates for (Non-Tenure Track) Professor of Practiceshould have an outstanding national or international record of professional success in science, technology, or medical writing and/or reporting and the potential to succeed as a non-tenure track faculty member at a state flagship campus such as University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Candidates for (Tenure-Track) Associate Professorshould have a demonstrated record of publishing in top publication venues and service to both their research fields and their home institutions. A record of or potential for obtaining external funding is also desirable.
• Candidates for (Tenure-Track) Professorshould be nationally or internationally recognized researchers with active and distinctive research agendas. A record of or potential for obtaining external funding is also desirable.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit a letter of application, curriculum vita or resume, and the names and contact information of at least three references on Interfolio. Additionally, if you have classroom experience, you may send teaching evaluations. Please email  with any questions, using the subject line: Hill Chair position.

Review of applications begins October 21, 2024, and continues until the position is filled.

This institution is using Interfolio’s Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Apply now!

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio’s Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Apply Now

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or  or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or .