Assistant Professor in Public Relations

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track,
Public Relations

School/Department Name: School of Journalism and Mass
Communications Compensation: Commensurate with
qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU
Salary Schedule . Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary
range: $ 90,000 -

$ 94,000.

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher
education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details
about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2027

Application Deadline: October 31st, 2026 (Applications
accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State
University is pleased to announce a search for a tenure-track
Assistant Professor in Public Relations beginning in August 2027.
We seek a colleague with practical and scholarly expertise in
public relations and strategic communication, including areas such
as public relations writing, media relations, digital and social
media, research and analytics, crisis communication, campaign
planning, emerging technologies, or related fields. The successful
candidate will teach in both our on-campus and growing SJSU Online
Public Relations degree programs, with courses potentially
including Principles of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing,
Social Media Strategies, Public Relations Research, Strategic
Communication Planning, and Campaigns.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) offers
leading programs in advertising, public relations, journalism, and
mass communications—all rooted in Silicon Valley’s culture of
innovation. As an Adobe Creative Campus, and with a new VR and
Emerging Technologies Lab in development, JMC provides students and
faculty with opportunities to explore possibilities in media, AI,
and immersive storytelling. Our award-winning student media and the
student-run DBH Agency highlight our hands-on, collaborative
approach, while faculty actively lead research and practice in
emerging technologies

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications and San José State
University value institutional excellence and are committed to
advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll
more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically
underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are
first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant
recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution
(HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander
Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic
learning environments that facilitate both individual and
collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate
inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building,
and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong
learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff,
students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional
Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how
your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU
community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to
writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional
Excellence Statement Guidelines.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional
Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how
your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU
community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to
writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional
Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Masters degree (MFA, MA, MS) in Public Relations, Strategic

Communication, Mass Communication, Communication, or a closely
related discipline by the start of the appointment. Candidates who
are ABD may be considered, provided the degree is completed by the
start of the appointment.

• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity

to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse
student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural
study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the
following:

• PhD in Public Relations, Strategic Communication, Mass

Communication, Communication, or a closely related discipline by
the start of the appointment. Candidates who are ABD may be
considered, provided the doctoral degree is completed by the start
of the appointment.

• Experience teaching public relations courses in online

(synchronous/asynchronous), hybrid, and in-person formats.

• Ability to teach core public relations courses, particularly

public relations writing, crisis, research methods, digital and
social media, strategic planning, and campaigns. ● Professional
experience in agency, corporate, nonprofit, government, or
community based public relations.

• A developed or developing research or creative agenda in public

relations, strategic communication, digital media, artificial
intelligence, or emerging communication technologies.

• Experience integrating artificial intelligence, social

listening, media monitoring, digital analytics, multimedia
production, or data visualization into public relations teaching,
research, or professional practice.

• Experience with client-based projects, experiential learning,

community-engaged learning, or other innovative teaching
approaches.

• Evidence of scholarly, teaching, or professional achievement,

including publications, grants, awards, accreditation, or industry
recognition.

• Experience mentoring and advising students from varied

educational, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Engagement with professional or scholarly organizations such as

PRSA, PRSSA, AEJMC, ICA, or NCA.

• Breadth of experience that supports curriculum development,

internship programs, student-run agencies, or partnerships with
professional and community organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Public Relations in both the

on-campus and SJSU Online degree programs.

• Teach core and elective courses in areas such as public

relations writing, research, media relations, digital and social
media, strategic planning, crisis communication, and
campaigns.

• Develop and maintain an active program of research,

scholarship, or creative activity that contributes to the field of
public relations or strategic communication. ● Design and deliver
inclusive, engaging, and applied learning experiences appropriate
to in-person and online instructional environments.

• Advise and mentor students regarding academic progress,

internships, professional development, and career preparation.

• Contribute to curriculum development, assessment,

accreditation, and ongoing program improvement.

• Cultivate relationships with public relations professionals,

community partners, and professional organizations to support
experiential learning and student opportunities. ● The candidate
will participate in shared governance, usually in department,
college, and university committees and other service
assignments.

• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas

Learning Management System (LMS).

• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in

understanding the needs of a student population of great
diversity—in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity,
religion, economic background, primary language, sexual
orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation—through
inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and
advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered
mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set
forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide
policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus
Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act
training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the
institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned
and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA,
Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and
Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with
safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19
transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities
of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application
and attach the following documents [departments may specify
length of items below (e.g. 2 pages)]:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• inclusive excellence statement (dedicated statement or

addressed in letter of interest)

• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• Research plans
• Portfolio of relevant work
• Three references with contact information . Inquiries may be

directed to the School Director: John Delacruz, john.delacruz@sjsu.edu.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the
State of California and requires establishing an on-campus
presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of
eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion
of a background check (including a criminal records check) is
required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of
employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals
disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the
candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to
satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the
continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally
offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public
University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative
regions in the world — San José State University is the founding
campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system
and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a
leading transformative educational institution, San José State is
an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and
social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California.
SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second
highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge
research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning,
diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU
to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good
locally and globally. Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of
Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender
Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status,
Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion,
Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and
Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State
University students, faculty, and staff as well as University
programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for
applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR)
is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf.
The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy
statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information,
crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and
information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR
also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State
University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A
paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the
Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email
at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire
Safety Report (AFSR) is available at
https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf.
The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that
occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three
most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies
and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy
of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing
Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, applicants will be
required to disclose whether they have received a final
administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that
they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only
after a determination is made that they meet the minimum
qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment
is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the
application process must also sign a release form that authorizes
the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former
employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of
misconduct.

Advertised: October 14, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight
Time

Applications close: