[Air-L] Department Chairperson position in Communication Studies at Texas Tech University

[Olaniran, B]

Associate Professor or Full Professor Department Chair, Communication Studies
Requisition Number: 15397BR

The Department of Communication Studies at Texas Tech University invites applications for the position of chair to begin no later than September 1, 2019. We seek a visionary leader to continue and to build upon recent department growth and successes. Applicants should have academic credentials commensurate with appointment to the rank of associate or full professor, and must have supervisory administrative experience that includes managing budgets, promoting the professional development of faculty and staff, assessing academic programs, establishing interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaborations, and facilitating the department's contributions and outcomes consistent with the university's strategic goals.

The Department of Communications Studies offers B.A. and M.A. degree programs with general areas of study including organizational communication, interpersonal communication, and rhetorical and cultural studies. It also features students with the colleges' unified Ph.D. program. Communication Studies is a rapidly growing department located in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University. In the past three years, the number of undergraduate majors has grown from 150 to more than 400. Additionally, the Department teaches a number of service courses at the University and generates more than 16,000 semester credit hours per academic year.

The next chair will be an individual with a national or international reputation who will contribute to one or more of the department's core areas of research and teaching, have an active research agenda, and evidence a strong record of teaching effectiveness, including mentoring graduate students. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ability to work cooperatively with faculty and students of diverse disciplines, to provide leadership in realizing the strategic vision of the university, college, and department; to promote the humanities and social sciences in a STEM-rich university environment; to address various challenges of public higher education; and to cultivate civic engagement.

It is expected that the chair will be engaged in scholarship or creative activities that attract external funding (e.g., fellowships, grants), and provide leadership to increase the faculty's external funding. The chair will develop external relationships that help to further the research, teaching, and service outcomes of faculty. The chair will also have service duties, including program-building, as well as commitment to extra-curricular activities.  Service to the department, college, and university is expected.

This is a full-time tenured position at the rank of associate or full professor status. In addition to administrative duties, the chair will teach a 1:1 load. Anticipated start date is fall 2019.

Required Qualifications
*         Ph.D. or Ed.D. in academic discipline related to communication
*         At least two years of higher education administrative experience
*         Experience in distance or online education
*         Credentials that merit appointment at the rank of associate or full professor with tenure
*         An active research program in a related area
*         Established record of advancing diversity and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
*         Experience in higher education budgeting
*         Professional experience in a related area
*         Successful guidance in tenure and promotion cases
*         Experience acquiring or pursuing external funding
*         Experience supporting successful donor and alumni relations
*         Ability to foster interdisciplinary partnerships internal and external to the College
*         Demonstrated success in developing outreach to local, regional, national and international employers
College of Media & Communication

The College of Media & Communication (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/) at Texas Tech University offers bachelor's degrees in Advertising, Communication Studies, Journalism, Creative Media Industries, Public Relations, and Media Strategies. It offers master's degrees in Mass Communication, Communication Studies, and Strategic Communication (online), and a Ph.D. in Media and Communication. The college has more than 2,000 undergraduate majors, about 270 MA students in three programs, and 40 Ph.D. students. Recent graduates of the doctoral program have begun their careers at universities in the Big 10, Big 12, ACC, and SEC, as well as applied research positions with media companies such as the MediaScience Research Lab. As of 2018 CoMC is rated 34th in the world for communication research by the Shanghai Academic Index.

CoMC is home to the Center for Communication Research (CCR) (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/ccr/), one of the world's premier, state-of-the art research facilities in media and communication research. It features labs useful for audience testing, content analysis, surveys, eye-tracking, focus group, and psychophysiology. These research facilities provide a great environment for further advancing an exciting and productive research agenda. The college also hosts the Outpost Social Media Lab, a major center for the study of new and emerging media (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/outpost), and the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic and International Communication, a center of teaching, research, and community outreach in Hispanic and International Communication (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/hihic). Additionally, the CoMC and TTU recently launched the Communication Training Center (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ctc/), a facility focused on training university faculty and graduate students how to enhance oral and visual communication skills.

Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University is a public research university with an enrollment of over 35,000. It offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 masters and 50 doctoral degree programs. Texas Tech is the largest comprehensive higher education institution in the western two-thirds of Texas and is the state's only campus with an adjoining research university, law school, and medical school. Texas Tech students come from almost every county in Texas, all 50 states and more than 100 different countries. Texas Tech University recently surpassed the Hispanic student population threshold necessary for designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and Texas Tech's current Quality Enhancement Plan is "Bear Our Banners Far and Wide: Communication in a Global Society" (www.depts.ttu.edu/globalcommunications<http://www.depts.ttu.edu/globalcommunications>). Texas Tech University is recognized as a Carnegie Tier 1 Research University and is a member of the Big 12 Athletic Conference. The university is located in Lubbock, Texas, a vibrant city of over 250,000.

Application Procedure

Review of applications will begin on October 15 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should apply on line at www.texastech.edu/careers<http://www.texastech.edu/careers>, referencing the Requisition Number 15397BR. Candidates will be asked to provide a letter of application describing their research interests, teaching experience, professional experiences, a current curriculum vita, graduate transcripts, and a list of three references with names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. The search committee co-chairs are Dr. Bolanle Olaniran and Dr. Shannon Bichard. Questions may be addressed to them at b.olaniran at ttu.edu<mailto:b.olaniran at ttu.edu?subject=> or shannon.bichard at ttu.edu.<mailto:shannon.bichard at ttu.edu.?subject=>

EEO Statement

As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, Texas Tech University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We actively encourage applications from all those who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community at Texas Tech University. The university does not discriminate on the basis of an applicant's race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran. Texas Tech welcomes consideration of dual career and professional couple accommodations.

Please visit the college's website for more information: www.depts.ttu.edu/comc<http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc>



College of Media & Communication
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*   Address
Texas Tech University, Box 43082, Lubbock, TX 79409
*   Phone
806.742.6500<tel:806.742.6500>



Bolanle Olaniran
Professor
Dept. Of Comm. Studies
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3082
+1 806-834-3978