Professor/Director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media

The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island seeks a Director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media, a leader in communication and media research and education. Administratively housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college in the University of Rhode Island, the Harrington School is home to programs in communication studies, digital media, film/media, journalism, library and information studies, public relations, sports media and communication, and writing and rhetoric. The ideal candidate for this position will join an engaging community and will teach and work with students in our communication and media hub, newly renovated broadcast center, and soon to be renovated building that will house the administrative team and provide new active learning classrooms and production spaces for students. The director oversees a collection of autonomous and collaborative departments and programs comprised of over 60 tenure track faculty members, 25+ full-time lecturers, numerous part-time faculty and administrative staff, 1300+ undergraduate majors, and 125+ full and part-time graduate students.

This is a full-time, academic year appointment to commence in Fall 2021, with the tenure home in a Department of the Harrington School. For consideration at the rank of full professor with tenure, candidates for this position must have an active academic record that meets URI research and teaching standards for tenure and rank of full professor. Please see Articles 15 through 20 of AAUP collective bargaining agreement for information on promotion and tenure processes at the University of Rhode Island. The Director will be driven by a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and will champion the University’s mission of student success.

We seek candidates who have a demonstrated potential for collaborative leadership and shared faculty governance and who can implement the Harrington School’s strategic plan while promoting new strategic teaching, research and community-based initiatives. The director works with faculty and staff to realize the school’s vision and mission and build a School of national and international distinction. In addition to helping to establish innovative programs of interdisciplinary teaching, research, and community engagement, the Director will also support the ongoing development of the School through external fundraising and promotion, alumni support and marketing, working with the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences to ensure a collaborative, inclusive, equitable working environment for faculty, staff, and students and to recruit and retain diverse community members.

The University of Rhode Island is conveniently located near the state’s famous beaches, one mile from an Amtrak station connecting to Boston and New York City, 20 miles from T.F. Green International Airport, and 30 miles from Providence, Rhode Island.

Duties or Responsibilities:

• Foster and sustain an academic environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and collaboration among Harrington School faculty, staff, and students.

• Facilitate the growth of faculty research and creative work and assist faculty in developing external funding from public agencies and private foundations.

• Promote student recruitment and retention in conjunction with Department and Program Chairs/Directors and URI Admissions.

• Develop partnerships with communication and media organizations and industry to promote internships, experiential learning, and student networking opportunities.

• Maintain and further develop a network of alumni initiatives to bolster the Harrington School’s visibility, image and high standards with the Harrington School Advisory Board and corporate donors.

• Collaborate with the URI Foundation and the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences for external fundraising.

• Manage the branding of the School by enhancing its positive image to augment internal and external visibility.

• Support interdisciplinary research and teaching within the college and across URI.

• Teach in a field of study related to communication and media.

• Conduct research and develop innovative pedagogy that is disseminated through publications and conference presentations and/or creative work.

• Monitor renovation and construction of facilities and acquisition of equipment to support teaching, learning, research and creative work.

• Supervise and evaluate Harrington School administrative and management staff in collaboration with Department and Program Chairs/Directors.

Visit the URI jobs website at https://jobs.uri.edu to apply and view complete details for posting (F00225).   

Please attach the following (7) PDF documents to your online Faculty Employment Application:

(1) Letter of application that describes your qualifications and interest in this position, with an emphasis on leadership (as one complete pdf doc), (2) Curriculum Vitae that includes the names/contact information for three references (as one complete pdf doc), (3) Brief research statement, one page, (4) Brief teaching statement, one page, (5) “Other” – A one-page statement outlining potential strategies for infusing diversity, equity and inclusion into the work of the Harrington School, (6) Sample – An article-length sample of relevant scholarly work, and (7) “Other Document” – Two course syllabi for recent courses (as one complete pdf doc).
 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The search will remain open until the position is filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by March 1, 2021. Second consideration may be given to applications received by April 1, 2021. Applications received subsequent to second consideration date (April 1, 2021) may not be given full consideration.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE ONLY.

The University of Rhode Island is an AA/EEOD employer.  Women, persons of color, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other protected groups are encouraged to apply.