Instructor / Assistant Professor of Practice in Public Relations, Fall 2025

The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s (UTK) College of Communication and Information (CCI), seeks a non-tenure-track Instructor of Practice or Assistant Professor of Practice  in public relations, depending on qualifications. This is a 9-month appointment to begin August 1, 2025 with a 3-year, renewable appointment. The salary for the position is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate level courses (4/4 load). Courses assigned may include: Principles of Public Relations, Graphic Design, Research, Cases, Campaigns, Writing, Advanced Writing, Law and Ethics, and Campaigns, or other special topics courses in the major.

Applicants should have the requisite classroom or applied experience to teach these courses. Recent relevant industry experience is highly desired.

Qualifications include Master’s degree in communications or related area or equivalent and evidence of excellence in teaching or significant professional experience in the field of public relations, conferred at the time of appointment. A Ph.D. is preferred but not required. Experience in – or the potential for – building an equitable and diverse environment in teaching, mentoring, life experiences, or service is also required.

The ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students and staff from a wide range of disciplines, cultures, and academic backgrounds is essential. The candidate should also have the ability to build positive and mutually beneficial relationships with professionals working in a variety of communication and information sectors. 

The School, College, and University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee enrolls approximately 30,000 students at its Knoxville campus. UT is Tennessee’s only public Carnegie Doctoral/Research Extensive University and is currently ranked among the nation’s Top 50 public universities. The College of Communication and Information consists of four schools: The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations, the School of Communication Studies, the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, and the School of Information Sciences. The College includes approximately 1,300 majors and enrolls more than 5,800 students per semester. The College has an active research faculty supported by the Research and Innovation Center (RIC). RIC involves dozens of researchers from across disciplines and across agency borders to focus the array of talent at the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and other research institutions.

The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations made history in 2022 as the first named school at the University of Tennessee. It includes 16 full-time faculty members who engage in quantitative and qualitative research with the goal of advancing public relations and advertising theory and informing practice. The Tombras Shool offers course work at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The Tombras School includes approximately 600 undergraduate majors and 35 MS and doctoral students. The School participates in the College–wide M.S. and Ph.D. programs. For information about the College and the School, visit: adpr.utk.edu.

To apply, please submit a letter of application, curriculum vita or resume, and the names and contact information of at least three references who can speak about your experience in the industry of public relations or teaching classes in public relations. Additionally, if you have classroom experience, please send teaching evaluations for at least the most recent 2 years of teaching.

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.

Please email adpr@utk.edu and indicate "ADPR APP Search" in the subject of the email with questions or for more information.

Apply by September 15, 2024, for priority consideration.

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 eoa@utk.edu 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 investigations@utk.edu.