Professor of Practice in Advertising and Public Relations

Closing Date:

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation's top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation's strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Minimum Qualifications:

With submitted materials, the candidate must demonstrate:

• Advanced degree in Advertising, Public Relations or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment

Professional applicable equivalencies will be considered on the above qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching in a higher education setting or demonstrated ability to teach required Advertising and Public Relations major courses, such as Advertising Principles, Public Relations Principles, Public Relations Writing, Creative Strategy and Execution, Media Planning and Strategy, Account Planning, and Campaigns, as well as digital/social media courses, incorporating case-based and experiential learning methods

• Minimum 15 years combined professional leadership or executive experience in the advertising/public relations industry, including but not limited to persuasive content strategy, social digital media campaign management, E-commerce, Artificial Intelligence, writing for various social media platforms or other areas based on area of expertise

• Demonstrated ability to supervise student projects, student media (Main Hill), student organizations (AD Club and/or PRSSA), contribute to curriculum development, facilitate industry connections, internships, and professional development opportunities, and potentially engage in research or scholarly activities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment and ability to mentor undergraduate, honors, and/or graduate students, including serving on or directing thesis committees, senior papers, independent research, etc.

• Demonstrated and sustained commitment to maintaining nationally recognized professional experience in the advertising and public relations industries, including active involvement in organizations such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and American Advertising Federation (AAF)

• Professional experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) marketing to teach ADPR courses, by bringing industry insights into areas such as brand storytelling, consumer behavior, media planning, influencer marketing and omni channel marketing relevant to fast-moving consumer goods

• Record of professional awards, honors, or industry recognition

• Strong record of successful publication and external funding in industry-relevant topics

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective undergraduate and graduate classes that complement the current course catalog

• Strong evidence of the ability to be an active, involved, and collegial member of a collaborative faculty team both on campus and in relevant national service organizations

• A proven track record of developing new and innovative courses that respond to emerging industry trends

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Current knowledge in the field of contemporary advertising and public relations, demonstrating expertise in emerging trends and technologies

• Skilled with the use of professional-grade tools for persuasive content creation, media planning, and campaign management, such as Cision, Meltwater, Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Adobe Creative Suite

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to integrate real-world professional experiences and networks into the academic environment to create a dynamic learning experience for students

Additional Information:

About the Department:
The School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas is fully accredited by ACEJMC, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with concentrations in Broadcast Journalism, Journalism, and Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations. SJSM also offers a Master of Arts in Journalism - in total serving more than 950 undergrads and grads in AY25-26.

Duties will include:
80% Teaching
20% Service

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Sitehttps://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.