Assistant Professor- Communication and Rhetorical Studies

The Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor to begin in August 2027. The Department is positioned within the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University, which is an R1 institution. The University is located on the ancestral lands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, particularly the Onondaga Nation. Candidates must have expertise in Rhetorical Studies with a focus on politics, such as (but not limited to): social movements, political campaigns, advocacy, activism, etc.

The expectations of this position are to provide excellent teaching in both undergraduate and graduate programs, maintain robust scholarly output, and provide appropriate service. The ideal candidate integrates a critical and intersectional approach to research, teaching, and service, anchored in a humanities tradition of scholarship. Research and teaching interests should complement the department's existing strengths in critical/cultural studies, rhetoric, performance studies, language and social interaction, and media studies. A Ph.D. in Communication or Rhetoric, or closely related field must be completed by August 2027, with excellent promise for long-term outstanding research, teaching, and service. Preference will be given to candidates with strong potential for securing external grant funding.

Applicants will be expected to teach undergraduate classes and graduate courses in communication and rhetoric, including required undergraduate large lecture class, CRS 183: Introduction to Rhetoric, and required graduate class CRS 603: Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric. Candidates will also be expected to teach courses that meet the department's curricular needs and to mentor Masters' students.

The department is committed to removing barriers to opportunity; strives to recruit and retain talented faculty from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences; and makes every attempt to support their academic, professional, and personal success while they are here.

About the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies

The Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies (CRS) creates skilled and versatile communicators prepared for the diverse professional and personal contexts they will come to understand, pursue, and influence.

We're proud of our department's long history at Syracuse University. Launched in 1910 as the Department of Oratory, CRS is one of the nation's first academic programs devoted to the study of communication and rhetoric. Throughout our evolution, our department has been housed in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, where our programs have benefited from close association with the disciplines of art, design, film and media arts, drama, creative arts therapy, and music.

About The College of Visual and Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University is committed to the education of cultural leaders who will engage and inspire audiences through performance, visual art, design, scholarship, and commentary. We provide the tools for self-discovery and risk-taking in an environment that thrives on critical thought and action. To learn more about the college, our distinguished faculty, and our program, please visit our websites at www.syracuse.edu, www.vpa.syracuse.edu.

Qualifications

Required

• Doctoral degree in Communication, Rhetoric, or closely related field at time of appointment (must be completed by August 2027)
• Demonstrated record or promise of achievement in academic research grounded in Rhetoric Studies

Preferred

• Record of achievement in academic research that demonstrates the ability to earn tenure at a R1 institution
• Experience teaching courses in rhetoric
• Graduate coursework and training in Rhetorical Studies
• Ability to mentor Masters students
• Ability or potential for securing external grant funding
• Evidence of communication abilities and cross-cultural competencies to maximize their effectiveness with many different groups of students, colleagues, and community members.

Job Specific Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with strong potential for securing external grant funding.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses commensurate with the curriculum in CRS
• Teach required courses in Rhetoric, including our big lecture class
• Serve on committees in the department, college, and university
• Maintain high research productivity appropriate for an R1 institution
• Mentor students, including graduate and undergraduate

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Statement
• Publication - One article/chapter-length publication or draft
• Name and contact information for a minimum of four (4) references.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration given to candidates who apply by October 30, 2026. For further information contact Professor Kendall Phillips, Search Committee Chair (kphillip@syr.edu)