[Air-L] Job: Assistant Professor of Video Game Studies at University of Rhode Island

[Leah Heilig]

Hello all,

My colleagues in Communication Studies at the University of Rhode Island
are hiring for an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies with an
emphasis/specialty in Digital/Video Game Studies. Please refer to the ad
below for more information. I'm serving on the search committee and happy
to field any questions or forward them to our search committee chair, Molly
Yanity (molly.yanity at uri.edu). Thank you!

*To Apply: *https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/15677


*Assistant Professor of Communication Studies (Video Game Studies)*
*Job Description Summary, Duties and Responsibilities, Required
Qualifications and Preferred Qualifications*
The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First
consideration will be given to applications received by* November 3, 2025.*
Applications received after November 3, 2025 may be reviewed depending on
search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.

The Department of Communication Studies at the University of Rhode Island
invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant
Professor specializing in video/digital game and communication studies. The
appointment will begin in August 2026. We seek a dedicated scholar and
colleague to join our vibrant faculty in scenic New England.

The assistant professor position is centered on video/digital game studies
and communication, and it aligns with existing communication courses (e.g.,
media theory, media advertising, entertainment media research, rhetorical
criticism, organizational theory, research methods).

Successful candidates should be well versed in theories and concepts
connected to game studies and immersive, interactive media, and be able to
teach and connect across general media theory and practice. Areas of
research and teaching interest within the communication and gaming context
may include digital game storytelling, platform studies, science and
technology studies, qualitative research in gamers and game companies,
emerging media Industries, Esports, Human-Machine Communication,
Human-Computer Interaction, and representation (race, class, gender,
sexuality, ability). The successful candidate will contribute to emerging
areas of emphasis at URI in gaming, design, and computing. Opportunities
also exist for collaborations with colleagues in Computer Science, Art,
Economics, and Data Science, as well as a new 3D Animation and Gaming
Working Group.

The faculty share a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well
as to providing a safe space for constructive conversation and increasing
diverse voices in the classroom. Thus, we encourage applicants who can
reflect that commitment to apply.

*Duties and Responsibilities:*

   - Develop and deliver new courses in communication studies at the
   undergraduate level and possibly at the graduate level.
   - Teach and enhance existing or new course offerings, advise students,
   develop a scholarly or creative agenda, and perform service at the
   department/program, school, college and/or university level(s) as
   appropriate.
   - Establish and maintain a research program within the field and pursue
   funding as appropriate.
   - Advise undergraduate students on course selection, academic progress
   and career planning.
   - Develop curriculum as needed to help shape the major and keep it at
   the cutting edge of the industry.
   - Contribute to the institution’s commitment to diversity, equity and
   inclusion.
   - Perform service duties to the department, university and profession.

*REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:*

1. Ph.D. (or similar terminal research degree) in communication studies or
a related field with a demonstrated area of specialization in video/digital
game studies and communication. ABD candidates will be considered; if
hired, the degree must be completed no later than
September 1, 2026.

2. Ability to develop and deliver courses at the undergraduate level in
video/digital game studies and communication, as well as general media
theory and practice.

3. Ability to develop a scholarly or creative agenda in an area related to
video/digital game studies and communication.

4. Proficiency in oral communication.

5. Proficiency in written communication.

6. Proficiency in electronic media.

7. Knowledge of digital media as it relates to video games and gaming.

8. Ability to work with diverse groups/populations.

*PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:*

1. Professional experience in video/digital game development, marketing,
criticism, or related field.

2. Evidence of seeking and/or securing funding for research or creative
work.

3. Experience teaching video/digital game studies and communication at the
undergraduate and/or graduate level.

4. Experience teaching courses in organizational communication,
interpersonal communication, rhetoric, research methods, and/or strategic
communication.

*ABOUT THE HARRINGTON SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA AT URI*
Administratively housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, URI’s
largest college and home to the university’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, the
Harrington School of Communication and Media aims to grow students into
creative communicators who become engaged citizens and leaders in the
communities they serve. Alumni thrive in media industries, digital
journalism, sports enterprise, public and community relations, corporate
communication, human resources, and education. The Harrington School offers
programs in Communication Studies, Film/Media, Journalism, Library and
Information Studies, Public Relations, Sports Media and Communication, and
Professional and Public Writing.

*ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND*
Located in the rural village of Kingston in southern Rhode Island, the
University of Rhode Island occupies the traditional stomping ground of the
Narragansett Nation and the Niantic people. The Kingston campus features a
traditional college quadrangle designed by the firm of Olmstead and Elliot,
surrounded by a ring of colorful Zelkova trees, majestic granite buildings,
and numerous walkways and greenspace.

Situated in spectacular South County along Narragansett Bay to the east and
the Atlantic Ocean to the south, URI is ideally located for outdoor
pursuits and cultural endeavors alike. The region boasts extensive wooded
hiking trails, golf and sports clubs, and more than 100 miles of coastline,
including 20 pristine public beaches. Historic Newport is just 23 minutes
east by car or bus, while Rhode Island’s capital city of Providence, a
hotbed of innovative cuisine, contemporary art, and professional theater,
is a 30-minute drive northward. Amtrak service right in Kingston serves
cities along the Northeast Corridor, including Boston an hour north and New
York three hours south; the award-winning T.F. Green Airport is a 25-minute
drive away, connecting Rhode Island to metropolitan areas around the
country.

The University of Rhode Island is an equal-opportunity employer. It is the
policy of the University of Rhode Island to provide reasonable
accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a
disability.

-- 
Dr. Leah Heilig (she/her)
Zoom Link: https://uri-edu.zoom.us/j/2891477568

Assistant Professor
Department of Professional and Public Writing
Harrington School of Communication and Media
University of Rhode Island