Chair, Department of Communications Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks an innovative, visionary, and inclusive leader to chair the Department of Communication Studies. This position would begin in Fall 2025. We welcome applications from scholars who specialize in human interaction and communication in all its forms. The department offers majors in Communication Studies with concentrations in Communication Management, Mass Communication and Sports Communication and specializations in Journalism, Digital Media/Broadcasting and Public Relations. The department offers B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communication, with approximately 350 undergraduate majors, 30 M.A. students, and 12 full-time faculty. See the departmental website for more information: https://www.uab.edu/cas/communication/.
The successful candidate will be an accomplished scholar with administrative experience, evidence of effective teaching and mentorship, and a proven track record of research and publishing excellence. In addition, the candidate should be able to articulate their vision to lead a department that emphasizes inclusivity with specific regard to recruitment of diverse faculty and students, research excellence, quality undergraduate and graduate instruction, and community engagement. This may include demonstrating a collaborative leadership style, engaging with colleagues within and beyond the department, communicating with transparency and clarity, identifying emerging department priorities, engaging in strategic planning and implementation, supporting faculty teaching, research, and creative scholarship, managing enrollment, and fostering growth in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Appointment at the full professor level is expected and Associate Professors may apply if there is a likelihood of being eligible for the rank of Professor at UAB. A doctoral degree in communications or a related field is required.
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is home to 19 academic departments and six Centers and Institutes. Our 19 departments — home to over 300 full-time faculty and more than 58 baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees — make us the largest academic entity in the UAB academic enterprise. We are home to research centers, community outreach programs, and interdisciplinary cooperation.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic health center that discovers, teaches, and applies knowledge for the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic benefit of Birmingham, the state, and beyond. UAB is internationally renowned for its intensely collaborative culture that has — for more than five decades — produced breakthroughs in education, health care, research, and service. UAB was ranked #1 in the United States for 2018 and 2019 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Young University Rankings. In 2021, Forbes named UAB as America’s No. 1 Best Large Employer, topping a list of more than 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities, Fortune 500 companies and more, across dozens of industries.
Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with nearly 28,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 16 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and eight UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals report. UAB research grants and awards are at a record high, totaling $715 million in FY22 — a 50% increase over the past five years. UAB ranks 33rd among all universities in federal research funding and 17th among public universities. UAB’s NIH funding continues to grow among peer institutions in the Southeast and beyond, with the university ranking 25th among all universities in NIH funding and 11th among public universities.
All applications should include the following documents: (1) a cover letter that specifically addresses your qualifications, (2) current CV, and (3) the names and contact information for three professional references. Please address your cover letter to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Verna M. Keith (vmkeith@uab.edu) and contact her if you have any questions about the position.
To apply, please follow this link: https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/21808
Review of applications will begin on September 15, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.
A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.
