Associate Professor or Full Professor of Rhetoric - Communication Studies

The Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, seeks an Associate Professor or Full Professor of Rhetoric to begin August 2021, who will hold The Edwin K. Hunter Chair in the Traditions of Rhetoric and Argument. 

Endowed by a transformational and record-breaking gift to our program, this chairship will serve to amplify the intellectual work of a scholar of rhetoric with an exemplary record of research, teaching, and service who is also committed to diversity, community, and inclusive/ethical rhetorical praxis. The chair will advance innovative and timely research, pedagogy, and potentially public-facing scholarship that guides scholars and rhetors to address complex communication challenges.

Responsibilities: The Edwin K. Hunter Chair in the Traditions of Rhetoric and Argument is expected to produce cutting-edge scholarship, aid in the advancement of the rhetoric program, demonstrate a commitment to shared governance and consensus-building, and actively participate in teaching and service commensurate with rank. They are expected to advance inclusive pedagogy, offer undergraduate and graduate courses, advise master’s theses and doctoral dissertations, and work to facilitate the professional success of students and emerging faculty, especially those from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. They will exhibit leadership qualities that nurture coalitions and community across differences such as being collaborative, receptive, equitable, creative, and self-reflexive.

Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Communication Studies, Rhetoric, Cultural Studies, English, or a related field; experience commensurate with appointment with tenure at rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor at a research-intensive flagship university.

Preferred Qualifications: Because the position will require the management of significant endowment funds, fiscal administrative experience. 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University strives to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be sophisticated, effective, and ethical communicators in their communities, workplaces, and everyday lives. In our programs, students obtain an awareness of the history and scope of the communication discipline, and acquire oral, written, and visual communication skills through the creation of presentations, performances, and original research. The Department is home to approximately 25 full-time faculty, 40 graduate students and 200 undergraduate majors. We offer B.A., M.A., and Ph.D degrees in Communication Studies with specializations in Interpersonal Communication, Performance Studies, and Rhetoric. 

The Department is committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment for our students, staff, and faculty. In 2018, the Department established a standing Equity and Justice Committee that is charged to take actions to achieve these important goals. Please visit the department website for more information on our community: http://www.lsu.edu/cmst 

Our Department has an active student chapter of the Rhetoric Society of America, which was honored with the 2020 Outstanding Graduate Chapter Award from the national organization. RSA@LSU works to provide a forum for LSU students, faculty, and other interested persons to gather as rhetoricians and host rhetoric-related events. For more information on RSA@LSU, visit our website at http://www.geauxrhetoric.com 

The Department is located in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at LSU. Through the college, faculty in Communication Studies are encouraged to affiliate with and contribute to nationally-recognized interdisciplinary programs including African & African American Studies, Asian Studies, Jewish Studies, International Studies, Screen Arts, and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. For more information on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences visit http://www.lsu.edu/hss 

ABOUT LSU

Louisiana State University is a research-intensive flagship university with approximately 35,000 students situated in the capital city of Louisiana on a campus of beautiful Spanish style architecture, abundant live oak trees, flowering azaleas, and lakes. 

Diversity is fundamental to LSU's mission and the University is committed to creating and maintaining a living and learning environment that embraces individual difference. Cultural inclusion is of highest priority.  LSU recognizes that achieving national prominence depends on the human spirit, participation, and dedicated work of the entire University community. The LSU Strategic Plan 2025 will be realized by bringing together diverse ideas, perspectives, skills, and talents of the nation's pre-eminent scholars, brightest students, and leading higher education professionals. Through its Commitment to Community; LSU strives to create an inclusive, respectful, intellectually challenging climate that embraces individual difference in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, spirituality, socio-economic status, disability, family status, experiences, opinions, and ideas. LSU proactively cultivates and sustains a campus environment that values open dialogue, cooperation, shared responsibility, mutual respect, and cultural competence– the driving forces that enrich and enhance cutting edge research, first-rate teaching, and engaging community outreach activities.

Read more about LSU’s commitment to diversity here: https://www.lsu.edu/diversity/about_us/mission_vision.php 

ABOUT EDWIN K. HUNTER

Learn more about alumnus Edwin K. Hunter, his longstanding commitment to the exchange of ideas and communication praxis at LSU, and background on his transformational gift supporting The Edwin K. Hunter Chair in the Traditions of Rhetoric and Argument here: https://www.lsufoundation.org/s/1585/17/interior.aspx?sid=1585&gid=1&pgid=1917 

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

A complete application will include:  A cover letter detailing your interest in the position and relevant qualifications regarding research, teaching, and service A current curriculum vitae A statement (1-2 pages) highlighting your experience as a leader advocating for equity, access, inclusion, and diversity in higher education contexts A vision statement (1-2 pages) that articulates how—if appointed—you imagine utilizing your position and significant financial resources as The Edwin K. Hunter Chair in the Traditions of Rhetoric and Argument to amplify your research and teaching, contribute to the advancement of communities (such as the rhetoric program, undergraduate and graduate students at LSU, and/or other local, national, and/or global publics), and promote ethical and inclusive rhetorical praxis Names and contact information for 3 professional references, who may be contacted or asked to provide letters of recommendation at a later stage Original transcripts will be required prior to hire

Combine these materials into a single PDF document, and attach the PDF to the electronic application portal.  Review of applications will begin January 15, 2021, and will continue until a candidate is selected. Questions regarding the application and position can be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Bryan McCann at bryanm@lsu.edu.

Additional Position Information:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

LSU is committed to diversity and is an equal opportunity / equal access employer.


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