Assistant Professor, Integrated Strategic Communication

Job Title
Assistant Professor, Integrated Strategic Communication


Requisition Number
FE04686


Working Title

Department Name
8M600: Integrated Strategic Communication


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Type of Position
Faculty


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track


Required Education

Candidates must have a earned Ph.D. in Strategic Communication, Communication, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, or related field, by the start date.



Required Related Experience

NA



Required License/Registration/Certification

NA



Job Summary

Assistant Professor
Integrated Strategic Communication
University of Kentucky

The Department of Integrated Strategic Communication in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026.

Qualifications and Responsibilities:
The university’s regular-title series typically carries a two-course per semester teaching load and emphasizes excellence in teaching, research and service. This position anticipates having an initial distribution of effort of 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% service.

Candidates should demonstrate publication credentials commensurate with expectations at high research-intensive universities. A record of, or potential for, extramural funding is desirable but not required. Candidates must have an earned Ph.D. in Strategic Communication, Communication, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, or related field, by the start date.

Successful candidates will thrive in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, serve as an academic advisor to undergraduate and graduate students, and participate in the department’s and graduate program’s governance and service. Regular-title ISC faculty are encouraged to propose and teach undergraduate and graduate courses that take advantage of their research expertise as well as professional experience in the field.

Position Description:
Successful candidates should demonstrate qualitative and/or quantitative methodological expertise, strong theoretical grounding, and possess a clearly defined, active research trajectory in strategic communication, advertising, and/or public relations.

Candidates should be qualified and eager to teach graduate-level seminars and online graduate certificate courses in integrated strategic communication as well as mentor graduate students. The candidate should also be qualified to teach undergraduate courses in one or more of the following areas: account management, audience insights, data analytics, sales promotion and sponsorship, digital advertising, and/or direct response marketing strategy. Additional consideration will be given to qualified applicants prepared to actively engage in our sports promotion curriculum.

About the Department:
The Department of Integrated Strategic Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, a minor, and a graduate certificate in Integrated Strategic Communication. The department has 700 majors, 15 full-time faculty, an award-winning National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) Team, and is home to student organizations such as the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and the American Advertising Federation’s student Ad Club. The department has full national accreditation by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). For information, visit https://ci.uky.edu/isc/

About the College:
The College of Communication and Information is composed of two schools (School of Information Science and School of Journalism and Media), two departments (Department of Communication and Department of Integrated Strategic Communication), and interdisciplinary master’s and PhD programs. Nearly 100 full-time faculty lead 2,300 undergraduate majors and 350 graduate students while also teaching in the university’s core curriculum and serving students pursuing minors and certificates in the college. The college also houses University of Kentucky’s independent student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel, and the championship-winning Intercollegiate Debate program.

About the University:
Located in the vibrant city of Lexington, the University of Kentucky is a public, land-grant institution that plays a critical leadership role in economic development, human well-being, and educating Kentuckians and beyond. The campus is home to 35,000 students, more than 2,500 faculty members, and nearly 14,000 staff members. The university is one of just eight in the country with a major academic health center and a full spectrum of academic colleges and professional schools on one contiguous campus. As such, the University of Kentucky is an incubator for interdisciplinary research. These collaborations allow researchers to address the rapidly changing needs of a global society. As a leader among employers, the University of Kentucky offers a comprehensive benefits package. For more details, please visit www.uky.edu/HR/benefits.

About Lexington:
The City of Lexington is a great place to live, work, and study. It recently appeared on USA Today’s list of the top cities to live in. With a population of roughly 320,000, Lexington offers the warmth and lower cost of living of a small city, along with many of the amenities enjoyed in a larger city, including the arts, cultural events, and a thriving dining scene.

Application materials should include (1) a letter of application that briefly summarizes background, qualifications, and interest in the position (attach as Cover Letter); (2) a curriculum vita; (3) examples of research activities (attach as Specific Request 1); 4) evidence of teaching excellence (attach as Specific Request 2); and (5) contact information for three references when prompted in the application.

For full consideration, apply by January 5, 2026; application review will continue until the position is filled.Questions regarding the position may be directed to Search Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Hyun Ju Jeong and Dr. Mengtian ‘Montina’ Jiang at ISC-Search@uky.edu.



Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Candidates should demonstrate publication credentials commensurate with expectations at high research-intensive universities. A record of, or potential for, extramural funding is desirable but not required.



Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled
Yes


Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.