Title: Lecturer in Public Relations (100%)

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Social & Behavioral Sciences

Department: Journalism

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

The Journalism Department invites applications for a full-time Lecturer in Public Relations expected to start on September 1, 2027.

Essential Functions

Teaching responsibilities will primarily include undergraduate courses in public relations. We seek the best available candidate who can contribute to one or more of the following areas: (1) our mid-level writing for public relations course; (2) our hands-on multimedia courses, which could include yet-to-be-developed courses in Digital Content Marketing, Strategic Video Storytelling, and Emerging Communication Technologies and PR; and/or (3) other courses that exist within the Public Relations Concentration. Our faculty is versatile, allowing us to adapt to the most promising candidate.

Evidence of teaching effectiveness and versatility, demonstrated ability to provide insightful and practical hands-on training and feedback to students and a strong commitment to pedagogical innovation and adaptation are desirable but not necessary. We invite applicants with professional experience in the above areas in lieu of demonstrated teaching evidence.

The successful applicant will be expected to teach a 3-3 load while engaging in service activities that are commensurate with peers at their rank, such as serving on departmental committees, sponsoring internships and supervising Honors projects. The successful applicant may be asked to serve as an internship coordinator for the Concentration, with an associated reduction in the teaching load.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants are required to have at least a Master’s degree in public relations, journalism, communication, marketing, or related field as of September 1, 2027. Evidence of meaningful professional experience in public relations is preferred for this position.

Additional Details

Salary and benefits at UMass are competitive. Full-time Lecturers are eligible to join the Massachusetts Society of Professors—our faculty and librarian union at UMass Amherst.

The Journalism Department is a collegial and dynamic group. Our focus is on quality undergraduate education, with our award-winning instructors and courses consistently receiving some of the highest student evaluation and senior survey scores across the university. Our class sizes are generally small, which allows us to develop strong connections with our students. We take our commitment to students seriously and have a departmental culture of respect and mutual support. Both tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty have a voice in departmental governance.

As a campus with an increasingly diverse student body, we are looking for candidates who can operate effectively in a diverse faculty and student community and who value collegiality, collaboration, achievement, and integrity. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and individuals with a commitment to mentoring under-represented demographics within journalism and public relations. We are also interested in candidates who have had non-traditional career paths, spent time outside of academia, or paused their careers for caregiving reasons. We are committed to helping all members of our community reach their full potential, creating best-in-practice operations to support faculty development and fostering excellence in student experiences inside and outside our department.

UMass Amherst is a leader in providing institutional support for faculty to combine work and family/personal responsibilities and was listed among the Chronicle of Higher Education's “Great Colleges to Work For.” For more information on work-life balance at UMass Amherst, see https://www.umass.edu/faculty-development/sustainable-careers.

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

This position will start on September 1, 2027, and will initially be for two years. The position is intended to be ongoing, with reappointments and continued employment contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

Salary Information

The salary range for this position is expected to be between $65,550 and $86,500. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

Please note:

The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.

The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Please submit your application through UMass Amherst’s online application system. Along with the application, please submit the following:

1. A letter of interest addressed to Professor Rodrigo Zamith, Search Committee Chair, S414 Integrative Learning Center, 650 North Pleasant Street, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
2. A curriculum vitae.
3. A one-page statement outlining the skills, experience, future outlook and commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive academic community that the candidate will bring to bear in teaching and mentoring.
4. Names and contact information for three references who may be contacted at an advanced stage of the selection process.
5. OPTIONAL: Previous teaching evaluations and/or student testimonies.

Review of applications will begin on October 5, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received on or before October 5, 2026. Questions can be addressed to Search Committee Chair Rodrigo Zamith at rzamith@umass.edu.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.