Tenure-Track ASSISTANT PROFESSOR of Communications & Journalism / UMKC School of Humanities & Social Sciences

UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

SCHOOL of HUMANITIES and SOCIAL SCIENCES

Department of Communication and Journalism

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a broad and diverse educational experience for students interested in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Analyzing ideas and human experiences from a wide variety of perspectives prepares students for careers in government, law, education, communication, digital media, political organizations and more. The school offers a wide range of coursework that suits the specific needs of students seeking professional careers or those wanting to further their academic studies.

Our Communication and Journalism faculty-award-winning scholars, educators, and journalists-inspire our students to examine both the practical and theoretical aspects of human communication through classroom instruction and digital media lab activities, collaborative research and projects, internships, and professional development. Additional information can be found on our website: https://shss.umkc.edu/areas-of-study/communication-and-journalism/index.html

The Department of Communication and Journalism in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Missouri-Kansas City seeks applications for a 9-month, benefit-eligible, tenure-track, full-time faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning Fall 2026. While a specialization in health communication is preferred, we welcome applications from candidates with a variety of interests. This position will support our department's Strategic Communication and Professional Communication emphases.

Successful candidates will use a social science or humanities approach. Quantitative, qualitative, rhetorical, critical/cultural, and other methodological approaches are welcome. Potential areas of specialization include public health campaigns, health mis/disinformation, rural health, community health partnerships, media depictions of health, health activism, patient-provider interaction, medical humanities, and other topics related to the candidate's interest. The preferred candidate will teach existing professional and strategic communication courses at the undergraduate level and create new courses in their area of specialization. Additionally, the preferred candidate will demonstrate an ability to forge working relationships with other departments and schools at UMKC.

The successful candidate will have an active and promising research agenda (for example, publications, conference papers, conference presentations, or other evidence of research), and a desire to conduct interdisciplinary research and secure grant funding. The successful candidate also will be committed to helping create a nurturing departmental environment through research, teaching, and service that will attract and sustain a diverse student body, serve a variety of student populations, and contribute to Kansas City's many communities.

This position has been created to further the department's mission of facilitating high-impact research activities that can broaden interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The Department of Communication and Journalism is committed to excellence in teaching, and it values professional experience, research, and community service that benefit our regional communities and populations.

A Ph.D. in communication or a related field by August 1, 2026, is required. ABD candidates will be considered.

Salary is commensurate with experience, qualifications, evidence of externally funded research, and internal equity.

For consideration, you must apply online at https://www.umkc.edu/hr/careers/ click on Academic Positions, Job Opening ID (57907)

Please combine all application materials references into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachment. Limit document name to 50 characters and do not include any special characters (e.g., /,&,%, etc.). Files should not exceed 11MB.

• Cover letter highlighting qualifications for a tenure-track position
• A current curriculum vitae
• A research statement, including any funded projects
• A teaching statement (reflecting teaching experience)
• Current contact information for three professional references

We will contact references and request educational transcripts for candidates who progress to the finalist stage. A successful criminal background check is required for hire.

• If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
• For questions about the position, please contact the search chair, Dr. Jess Gantt-Shafer, at jgantt-shafer@umkc.edu.
• Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity & Title IX at (816) 235-1323.

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by January 12, 2026. The position will remain open until a qualified candidate is hired.

UMKC is a public, urban, Carnegie R1 rated research university with more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It is part of the larger University of Missouri System. Our university is committed to being a model urban university that is recognized for our partnerships with multicultural communities to effectively foster a healthy, safe, more economically secure quality of life. https://www.umkc.edu/

The UMKC Health Sciences District brings together 12 healthcare partners in the Hospital Hill area. The District strives to be a premier academic health district, engaging in cutting-edge biomedical research and entrepreneurship, delivering state-of-the-art experiences in research and education for the next generation of health care professionals including rural and community healthcare. UMKC provides unique opportunities for research and health care collaboration across its Schools of: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Health Studies, and Pharmacy as well as University Health and Children's Mercy Hospital physicians, regional health care institutions, and the University of Missouri System's NextGen Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center.

A City on the Rise: Big City Life and Midwest Charm, Kansas City offers the best of both worlds - a vibrant, urban community with midwestern appeal and an affordable cost of living. The university is in one of the most entrepreneurial cities in America, and the metropolitan area has a population of more than 2.4 million. Our UMKC campuses are centered in the hubs of business activity, cultural arts, and health science research engagement. Our community boasts championship professional athletic teams, NASCAR racing, ethnic and local cuisine (some great BBQ!), a new international airport, and a rich history of music and performing arts. Our beautiful state provides rivers, lakes, biking/hiking trails, and mountains for outdoor enthusiasts, all within an easy drive. https://www.visitkc.com/

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.