Working Title: One-Year Visiting Instructor of Public Relations
State Role Title: N/A
Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: College of Arts and Letters
Department: 100017 - School of Communication Studies
Pay Band: N/A
Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience
Specify Range or Amount:
Is this a JMU only position? No
Is this a grant-funded position? No
Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No
Beginning Review Date: 07/16/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
General Information:
The School of Communication Studies at James Madison University invites applications for a one-year Visiting Instructor of Public Relations. Employment begins in August 2026. We seek a candidate who can bring innovative public relations teaching, both theoretical and applied.
The School of Communication Studies at James Madison University is composed of 42 faculty and over 700 majors. Its curriculum is organized by 7 concentrations from which students can choose to focus: Organizational Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Health Communication, Advocacy Studies, Public Relations, Cultural Communication and General communication. We also offer a master’s program in communication and advocacy with concentrations in health, environmental, and strategic communication.
The College of Arts and Letters, in which the School of Communication Studies is located, enrolls over 3400 undergraduate majors and about 150 graduate students across ten academic units in the humanities, social sciences, and communication studies.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Teaching will include a variety of public relations courses at the undergraduate level focusing on PR writing, PR in context, PR campaigns, and PR practice through a teaching assignment with our student-run PR firm, Bluestone Communications. Candidates may also have the opportunity to teach human communication courses which contribute to the General Education program, research methods, or other courses related to expertise. The course load for this position is 3-4.
Qualifications:
An M.A. in communication or a related field is required. A Ph.D. in communication or a related field is preferred; ABD applicants are welcome to apply.
Candidates must demonstrate evidence of teaching excellence in public relations.
Preference will be given to candidates with professional or applied experience in public relations.
Additional Posting Information:
Review of applications will begin on July 16 and continue until the position is filled.
Applicants must apply through JMU's online application portal where they can complete the faculty profile and upload the following:
#1: Letter of application (should include a discussion of the candidate’s research interests, teaching experience and philosophy);
#2: Curriculum vitae;
#3. Evidence of teaching approach, effectiveness, and/or innovation (uploaded under "Other Document #1" in application portal);
#4. Copy of unofficial transcripts (combine into one PDF);
#5. Names, phone numbers and email addresses for three academic references.
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO Statement:
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.