Assistant Professor Interpersonal Communication

Position Title

Assistant Professor Interpersonal Communication

About the University

Western Washington University is a comprehensive state university, highly ranked nationally, with over 16,000 students (undergraduate and master’s level) in seven colleges and the graduate school. Western is located in beautiful Bellingham, a scenic coastal city of approximately 83,000 situated between Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. With easy access to both the Cascade mountain range and the Pacific coast, the region is rich in cultural events and attractions as well as many recreational activities. Western is known nationally for its successes, including being named the top public master’s granting university in the Pacific Northwest by U.S. News and World Report and one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Visit www.wwu.edu for more information.

About the Department

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Communication Studies support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. The mission of the Department of Communication Studies is to teach communication that nurtures inclusive civil discourse and encourages cooperative solutions in a diverse world. This involves faculty research, community engagement, and courses that focus on identity and difference in local and international contexts.

About the Position

The Department of Communication Studies at Western Washington University (WWU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Interpersonal Communication. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The starting date for this position is the 16th of September 2020.

The Department currently has 9 full-time and additional part-time faculty serving approximately 150 undergraduate majors. We seek an Interpersonal Communication scholar whose teaching and research focuses on the dark side of interpersonal communication and one or more of the following topics: conflict, health, and identity & difference. Applicants must also be qualified to teach our introductory survey of Communication Theory and other classes in the core areas as needed. The successful candidate will also be expected to fulfill teaching and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students.

The successful candidate will teach existing courses at the undergraduate level, including some combination of Communication Diversity & Controversy, Communication Identity & Difference, Communication & Conflict, Communication & Healthcare, Interpersonal Communication, Issues in Interpersonal Communication, as well as other classes as needed. The teaching load is six courses per academic year on a 10-week quarter system (i.e., teaching two courses in each of three quarters per year). Members of the Department of Communication Studies actively engage in research that enhances effective instruction and expands the knowledge base and creative vitality of the discipline. In addition, active service to the department, the College, the University, the profession, and the community is an important component of a faculty member’s role at WWU.

Required Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Communication at time of application OR ABD in Communication at time of application. If ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment.

  • Evidence of successful undergraduate teaching in communication.

  • Ability to teach interpersonal communication.

  • Demonstrated commitment to an active and successful program of

    scholarship.

  • Utilizes a dark side approach in interpersonal communication.

  • A demonstrated commitment to social justice (e.g., university,

    academic, professional, and community).

  • Ability to teach our introductory survey of Communication Theory.

  • Demonstrated ability and commitment to cultivating learning and

    working environments that are equitable and inclusive of students, faculty, and staff with diverse social identities and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Evidence of commitment to service (e.g., university, academic, professional, etc.).

  • Ability to teach our Research Methods in Communication course or our capstone Communication Ethics seminar.

Salary

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Bargaining Unit

United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

To be considered for the position, application materials must be submitted via WWU’s PageUp, Western's online employment management
system. Candidates should upload the following as part of a complete application: 1) a letter of application specifically addressing the qualifications; 2) a CV; 3) a separate statement addressing their demonstrated ability and commitment to cultivating learning and working environments that are equitable and inclusive of students, faculty, and staff with diverse social identities and backgrounds; and evidencing their commitment to fulfill teaching and mentoring responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive learning environments for all students (see https://www.wwu.edu/diversity); 4) evidence of successful teaching (e.g., philosophy on teaching, student evaluations, course materials, etc.); 5) graduate transcripts; 6) the names and contact information of three professional references. Do not send letters of recommendation; three letters of recommendation will be required and these will be requested of candidates' referees via the PageUp system; and 7) If ABD, include verification of status from graduate school office, your major professor, or the department chair. Finalists may be asked for student course evaluations if they were not provided with the application. For questions regarding the position, application process, or department, contact Michelle Reed Oppenheimer at 360-650-2294 or reedopm@wwu.edu.

Closing Date Notes

Application review begins November 29, 2019; position is open until filled

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Employment Diversity, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Equal Opportunity Office, Western Washington University, Old Main 345 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); eoo@wwu.edu

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3774 or 711 (Washington Relay).

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires.

To view the job announcement and access Western's online application portal, select the link: https://employment.wwu.edu/cw/en-us/job/497474/assistant-professor-interpersonal-communication