Assistant Professor
- 502717
- Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
- Faculty
- 9-Month Faculty Full-Time
- Closing at: Nov 20 2025 - 23:55 MST
Position Title: Assistant Professor
Employee Classification: LC Faculty TT/TN 9m
College/Division: Arts and Sciences College
Department: 331100-JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS
Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants
Location: Las Cruces
Offsite Location (if applicable):
Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications
Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0
Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt
Summary: The Department of Journalism and Media Studies at New Mexico State University is seeking a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor starting in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will teach in the field of strategic communication, including public relations and advertising.
Classification Summary:
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies at New Mexico State University invites applicants for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of strategic communication (public relations and advertising). The position begins in the Fall semester of 2026.
Classification Standard Duties:
The successful applicant will have responsibilities in the area of teaching, research, student advising, and service to the department, university, industry, and community. The position carries a course load of 9 credit hours per semester and may involve teaching classes like Introduction to Public Relations, Public Relations Storytelling, Social Media Management and Analytics, Advertising Copywriting and Creativity, and others. It also requires research or creative activities with high relevance to strategic communication and mass communication, with the potential to lead to publications in reputable academic journals and/or presses.
Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Candidates must have a terminal degree (PhD, MBA, or MFA) in strategic communication, mass communication, journalism, marketing, business, or a closely related field. ABDs may be considered, but must have a degree in hand by August 17, 2026
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The candidate must be able to teach undergraduate-level courses in strategic communication (public relations and advertising) at both the introductory and advanced levels. Preference will be given to candidates who can teach any of the following topics:
• Fundamentals of advertising
• Fundamentals of public relations
• Copywriting and creativity
• PR Storytelling
• Environmental, social, and governance PR
• Branding
• Media design
• A.I. in strategic communication
• Social media management and analytics
• Sports and entertainment PR
• Strategic communication campaigns
Ideal candidates will exhibit a keen interest in and capacity for assisting the department and students in adapting to ongoing changes in the business, methods, and technology of the strategic communication industry, while maintaining the highest standards of ethics.
Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate any of the following:
• A strong professional background working in the public relations, advertising, or marketing communications field.
• Prior higher-education teaching experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• Advanced knowledge of the use of AI in the strategic communication industry
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Teach public relations and advertising classes for the Department of Journalism and Media Studies in a 3/3 load, perform departmental service and outreach, conduct creative and/or scholarly research, and collaborate with other faculty on new curriculum and program development.
Preferred Qualifications
Special Requirements of the Position
Along with your application, please submit:
-A cover letter stating your experience in relation to the required and preferred qualifications and explaining your commitment to fostering a welcoming and supporting environment in the classroom, department and university.
-A teaching statement describing your teaching philosophy and pedagogical approaches.
-A Curriculum Vita
-URL Links to an online portfolio, with samples of professional and scholarly work, if applicable.
-The contact information for three references who will be contacted at a later time.
Department Contact: Ilana Lapid, 575-646-4403, ilapid@nmsu.edu
Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable
Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)
If Not a Standard Work Schedule:
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.
Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.
Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
Recruitment Summary
We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.
NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.
NMSU Global Campus
Since 1888, NMSU has proudly embodied this tradition, building relationships that last a lifetime while serving students who want to earn their degree and grow in their field. Today, NMSU Global Campus provides flexible, career-focused online education that helps our students transform their lives – and the lives of the people they love – through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.
NMSU Main Campus
Located in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University's 900-acre main campus is located at the crossroads of I-10 and I-25 in the Southwestern United States. As a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in the regional tradition, its role as a comprehensive university is recognized throughout the state.
Doña Ana Community College
Founded in 1973 in collaboration with local school districts to support occupational education, DACC is now a leading community college that provides transformative educational opportunities that meet the workforce needs of Doña Ana County. With a focus on access, innovation and excellence, DACC offers over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.
Alamogordo Campus
Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base located only 10 miles west of Alamogordo, NMSUA is a community college with a long history of excellence that is supported by a caring community of hard-working students and dedicated faculty and staff. The campus is situated “on the hill” above Alamogordo and provides inspiring views of the city and the Tularosa Basin, offering the perfect venue for creative and motivated learning.
Grants Campus
NMSU Grants was established as a branch of New Mexico State University in 1968 through the cooperative efforts of New Mexico State University and Grants Municipal Schools. As a two-year branch community college, NMSU Grants serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni, as well as Tohajiilee, San Mateo, San Rafael, Cubero, the City of Grants, and the Village of Milan.
Special Instructions to Applicants
The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.
EEO Statement
New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.
