Assistant Professor in Public Relations

Apply now Job no: 536996
Work type: Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Communications/Public Relations/Marketing, Education/Training/Instructional Design
Department:23060000 - CJC-PUBLIC RELATIONS

Classification Title:

Assistant Professor in Public Relations

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Candidates must possess an earned Ph.D. in public relations, communication or other relevant field by August 2026 and a record of original scholarly research.

Job Description:

Bring Your Talent and Research Skills to a Winning Team!

Join the faculty of a Forbes’ top 5 U.S. public university at an exciting time of growth and opportunity. The Department of Public Relations at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications invites applications for a nine-month tenure track appointment at the assistant professor level. Applicants must already have or will have earned a doctorate in public relations, communication, or a related field before starting work in August 2026. In the Department of Public Relations, faculty, students, staff, alumni, and professionals work together to continually improve our program. As a result, our graduates go on to be future leaders, change makers, scholars, writers, and critical thinkers who make us proud. Our talented and engaged students from a variety of backgrounds need you to bring your skills, experience, and wisdom to our classrooms.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the Public Relations Department. The faculty member will teach and supervise graduate students. Candidates will mentor undergraduate and graduate students, engage in governance and other service activities, and demonstrate interest in contributing to online education and the internationalization of college and university. The candidate will also be expected to conduct scholarly research.

About the University of Florida 

UF is a member of the Association of American Universities. In 2024-2025, UF faculty generated 1.3 billion in research expenditures. The University of Florida offers a competitive salary commensurate with similar positions and includes a full benefits package. To view the university’s Total Reward benefit package, please click here: https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/.

About UF’s College of Journalism and Communications

The College of Journalism and Communications is recognized as a national leader in communication scholarship and professional skills development. Be part of an ambitious, progressive, and collaborative program at one of the top public research universities in the United States.

Accredited by ACEJMC, the college has earned its reputation for excellence over the last half century on the strength of its programs, faculty, students, and alumni; the stories they tell; and the difference they make around the world. Our 84 full-time faculty members supported by 92 staff members and about 182 part-time instructors serve in four academic departments: Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Media Production, Management and Technology. We enroll about 2,500 undergraduates both in-person and online. More than 800 graduate students are earning master’s and doctoral degrees.

The Department of Public Relations is one of the top programs in the country, with 10 tenure-track faculty members, one endowed chair in public interest communications, and six professional faculty, for a total of 17 faculty members. It currently serves over 640 undergraduate majors, more than 130 master’s students, and 10 Ph.D. students. The Department consistently is ranked among the top three public relations programs in the United States and enjoys an excellent international reputation. Visit the Department of Public Relations for more information about the department.

The City of Gainesville

City of Gainesville, home to Florida's largest and oldest university, which makes it one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events, and athletics. Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida. The city is in a central location to both coasts, providing easy access within a day’s drive to beaches, nature preserves, and water-based activities. Explore Gainesville in 60 Seconds.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with education and experience.

Required Qualifications:
  • Candidates must possess an earned Ph.D. in public relations, communication or other relevant field by August 2026 and a record of original scholarly research.
Preferred:
  • Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated expertise in one or a combination of the following areas: corporate communication, public interest communication, crisis communication, corporate social responsibility, internal communication, political public relations, sports public relations, artificial intelligence, social media, and other areas relevant to public relations.
  • Other qualifications include evidence of excellence in teaching, a publication record and productive research program, and evidence/potential to secure grant funding.
Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applications must be submitted online via the Careers at UF - PageUp system. Applications must include an electronic copy of the following:

  • A letter of interest outlining research agenda, teaching approach, service, and relevant professional experience;
  • Teaching evaluation data, where available, or evidence of teaching effectiveness;
  • Complete curriculum vitae;
  • Names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three references;
  • The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call (352) 392-4621 or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD).

Please direct all question to Search Committee Chair, Rita Men at rmen@ufl.edu.

Review of applications begins October 5, 2025, and continues until the position is filled.

Final candidates will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

University of Florida is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit.

Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine Laws require that all documents relating to the search process, including letters of application, nomination, and reference, be available for public inspection.

Health Assessment Required: No

 

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