Job Description

Department Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science
Job Posting Title Assistant Professor of Communication Studies (Public Relations and Advertising)

The Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science invites all qualified applicants to apply for the 9-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to teach in Public Relations, Advertising, and Strategic Communication. Teaching responsibilities may include courses in Public Relations, Advertising, and Strategic Communication, as well as other courses in the Communication curriculum, such as Communication Research and Communication in the Information Society. This is a full-time, on-campus faculty position based at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS. While the ability to teach online is expected as part of the role, the position requires physical presence in Hays with regular in-person instruction on campus throughout the academic year.
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum qualification for a tenure-track position is a terminal degree from an accredited institution in Communication, Mass Communication, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, or a closely related field. Advanced All But Dissertation (ABD) status will be considered with a projected completion date of August 1, 2026. Applicants with later completion dates must demonstrate the timeline for completion through information provided by their dissertation chairperson.
Preferred Qualifications: Professional experience in public relations or advertising is desired, along with two or more years of recent college-level teaching experience and an active record of scholarship and service.
Responsibilities:
This faculty position requires a commitment to quality teaching, scholarship and service: 60% teaching, 20% scholarship/research, and 20% service. The teaching load is a 4/4 load, including both on-campus and online instruction. The ideal applicant will be able to provide instruction for graduate and undergraduate-level coursework, including introductory, general education, and upper-division courses. Duties also include mentoring students, engagement in scholarly activities, and providing service to the community, the profession, the department, the college, and the university.
Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track
Appointment Date: August 2026
Application Deadline: Review of applicants will begin January 26, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.
Salary: The best current, good-faith estimate of the salary for the position as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor is $61,444, which is based on data from the College and University Professional Association (CUPA). If the candidate selected does not hold a terminal degree, the appointment will be at the rank of NTT Instructor, at a salary of $55,214. These amounts are subject to change.
Benefits: To review our competitive benefit package, please visit .
Application Process: To apply for this position, please visit . Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.
Required Application Documents: Applicants must submit the following in one PDF:

• Cover letter;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., student evaluations of instruction and grade distributions);
• Teaching philosophy;
• Copies of unofficial university transcripts;
• Contact information for three professional references.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:
Dr. Marcella Marez, Search Committee Chair
(785) 628-5365
About the Program:
The Communication Studies Program is housed in the Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science. The Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with concentrations in Applied Communication, Organizational Communication, and Public Relations/Advertising. The Applied Communication/General Communication BA is available through FHSU Online.
Communication Studies offers more than 70 sections of general education courses a year. These courses include offering COMM 100 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication, a required foundation course, and offering two general education electives, COMM 125 - Introduction to Motion Pictures, COMM 128 - Media and Society, COMM 306 - Argumentation, and COMM 345 - Visual and Creative Design.
About the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the heart of the University, offering a wide array of liberal-arts programs to expand intellectual horizons and prepare students for a profession and for life. In an age of information, we prepare students to be critical, thoughtful, and analytical, to assume a place in society where these skills are needed most. Our undergraduate and graduate help students to become better artists, thinkers, writers, and speakers.
Community of Hays
FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.
Notice of Non-discrimination - Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.
Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.
Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or for further information on how this might affect you.

Skills Required