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.