Boston University

Boston, MA

Department Chair

Deadline: September 1, 2023

Department(s): Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations

Type of Appointment: Tenure-track/tenured

With the strong belief that fostering a diverse and inclusive culture helps students thrive and excel, Boston University’s College of Communication invites applicants for the role of Chair of the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations. The Chair will coordinate departmental academic activities in research, teaching, and service that promote programmatic excellence in three main areas: Media Science, Advertising, and Public Relations. We seek a colleague with an academic and leadership track record, and who is committed to the highest educational standards and a focus on the innovations necessary in an era of dramatic change across the entire media landscape.

The Chair works with other members of the College of Communication’s leadership team to build on the already excellent reputation of the unit and move the department to the forefront of education in media science, advertising, and public relations.

The chair will be appointed at the rank of Professor (tenured) and will provide leadership for the department as well as teach one undergraduate or graduate course per semester. The college and the university are committed to fostering a diverse university community within a supportive and respectful environment. We believe that the diversity of our faculty, students, and staff is essential to our success as a leading research university and is an integral component of institutional excellence. We are especially eager to hire a colleague who supports our institutional commitment to inclusion. We expect applicants to embrace principles of diversity and equity in their teaching, mentoring, and professional product as well as their approach to leadership and faculty development.

A successful candidate should have the following:

• A track record of articulating and implementing a strategic vision in leading a unit, department, school, or college in its teaching, research, and service missions. At least several years of experience with progressively responsible leadership is a plus.

• A strong agenda of scholarly activity and research, including securing funding, and mentoring junior faculty and students with their own research programs.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and direct the department’s fiscal plan, budgets, and general administration.

• Excellent interpersonal and strong written and oral communication skills that display openness to diverse perspectives, integrity, and a spirit of inclusive collaboration. Demonstrated accomplishments in promoting diversity and inclusion in an organization.

• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

• A Ph.D. in Communication or a related field, and qualifications appropriate for an appointment as a tenured professor at Boston University.

Applications should include a letter of interest including a statement of your leadership philosophy and vision for where mass communication, advertising, and public relations are headed in the next 10 years and how our program can best prepare future communicators.

A CV and the names of three references are required. Applications may be sent by email with attachments in a Word or PDF file format, to:

Maureen A. Mahoney

maclark@bu.edu

Associate Dean Administration & Finance

Boston University College of Communication

640 Commonwealth Avenue

Boston, MA 02215

Application review will begin on September 1, 2023 and continue until position is filled.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

BU conducts a background check on all final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. The background check includes contacting the final candidate’s current and previous employer(s) to ask whether, in the last seven years, there has been a substantiated finding of misconduct violating that employer’s applicable sexual misconduct policies. To implement this process, the University requires a final candidate to complete and sign the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” after execution of an offer letter.

Area(s) of Specialization Desired: Communication

Position Start Date: July 1, 2024

Interfolio Letters: Accepted