Assistant Professor

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Job description

Department: Communication and Performance – 21200

Job Category: Faculty

Job Summary

The Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling at East Tennessee State University seeks an Assistant Professor and Director of Storytelling. This position carries full-time, tenure-track status beginning August 15, 2026, as an academic year appointment pending continued availability of funds.

We seek an energetic and inspiring faculty member with a demonstrated emphasis in Storytelling who will grow our undergraduate programs in Storytelling and our master’s program in Communication and Storytelling Studies through teaching and alliance building with campus and community partners, such as the International Storytelling Center, National Storytelling Network, Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, and Story Collab). Our new colleague should be able to help our students understand storytelling not only as folk and traditional art but also as contemporary practice with socially transformative potential and workplace applications.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. or terminal degree in communication, cultural studies, performance studies, folklore studies, cultural sustainability, cultural anthropology, theatre, or other related field. We are especially interested in candidates who have or are willing to develop an expertise in digital storytelling. The successful candidate must have a demonstrated ability as a performance storyteller and possess strong academic credentials and experience in two or more of the following areas: performance studies; performance ethnography; narrative; oral history, applied storytelling; social justice; street, forum, or interactive theatre; arts-based research methods; storytelling for career preparation (e.g., interpretive biology, public history, environmental or natural resource interpretation, cultural heritage interpretation).

Teaching (50%) – The expected teaching load is a 2/3 (two in fall, three in spring) after accounting for a course release to compensate for the service obligations related to directing the Storytelling program. This tenure-track faculty member is expected to teach existing courses to undergraduates (e.g., Introduction to Storytelling, Storytelling Oral Traditions, Telling Personal Stories, Applied Storytelling, Public Speaking, Communication Theory, etc.) and graduate students (e.g., Foundations of Storytelling Performance, Advanced Storytelling Performance, Applied Storytelling, History of Performance Traditions, etc.). Other duties of this position include developing and updating curricula, supervising and mentoring graduate assistants, and assisting with curricular assessments among other duties as assigned. The ideal candidate will also develop new courses, including a course in digital storytelling. This tenure-track faculty member will also advise undergraduate and graduate students, including directing MA theses and/or capstones. The candidate will serve on graduate student M.A. committees and undergraduate honors thesis committees. Teaching formats may include in-person, hybrid, and online teaching. Summer and winter teaching opportunities are optional and available depending on need. All faculty hold regular office hours for students enrolled in classes taught.

Service (20-30%) – The successful candidate will direct our Storytelling program in consultation with the department chair. Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong organizational skills, a vision for expanding undergraduate and graduate Storytelling recruitment and programming. Additionally, they will demonstrate the ability to work in collegial and collaborative environments, foster strong ties with local and national storytelling communities, and lead marketing and publicity for Storytelling programming. They will also advise the Storyteller Collective student organization and take the lead in producing storytelling events, including a series of monthly Story Slams. In addition, tenure-track faculty members contribute professional service to the college, university, discipline, and/or community.

Research & Creative Activity (20-30%) – Tenure-track faculty contribute to the mission of the Department of Communication Studies & Storytelling through a program of research and/or creative activity that leads to publication, conference presentations, peer-reviewed performances, and/or competitively selected performances. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research agenda connects the Communication Studies and Storytelling programs (e.g., arts-based research methods, performance ethnography, etc.)

The Department of Communication Studies & Storytelling serves approximately 100 majors and minors at the undergraduate level and 10 M.A. students. The award-winning ETSU Speech & Debate Team and the Storyteller Collective are also housed within the department. The department currently has 12 full-time faculty members with areas of expertise across communication and storytelling fields.

About East Tennessee State University: ETSU is a vibrant, growing regional (R2) university. Nestled in the Appalachian Highlands of East Tennessee, ETSU is the educational home to over 14,000 students, with mostly first-generation college students. ETSU is consistently named a ‘best-value’ college, ranking in the top 10% of U.S. colleges and universities for students graduating with the least debt, with 40% of ETSU undergraduates receiving Federal Pell Grants. ETSU is committed to honoring and uplifting Appalachian histories, experiences, arts, and voices and incentivizes community-engaged learning and research initiatives. ETSU is the home to the Martin Center for the Arts, which offers numerous national touring theatrical productions and music performances. As part of the Tri-Cities, the region offers numerous annual events including the Blue Plumb Festival, National Storytelling Festival, Umoja Festival, and Tri-Pride Festival. Located in Johnson City, TN, ETSU is just a short drive to several other thriving mountain towns including Jonesborough, Bristol, Kingsport, and Asheville, NC. With gorgeous lakes, rivers, and hiking and biking trails nearby, there is always something new to explore.

Salary: $60,000 plus healthcare insurance and other benefits extended to legal spouses and dependents.

Required Qualifications

  • Candidates must have a Ph.D. or terminal degree in communication, cultural studies, performance studies, folklore studies, cultural sustainability, cultural anthropology, theatre, or other related field. Candidates who are ABD will be considered, but the successful candidate must have completed all requirements for an earned doctorate prior to the start date.
  • Emphases in performance storytelling, with associated specializations in two or more of the following:
    • digital storytelling
    • performance studies
    • performance ethnography
    • oral history
    • advocacy and social change
    • street, forum, or interactive theatre
    • arts-based research methods
    • applied storytelling.
  • Experience in higher education teaching and research.
  • Evidence of ability to take leadership of an academic concentration.
  • Research and/or creative activity that connects the Communication Studies and Storytelling programs, background or prior experience in/with Communication Studies.

Salary: $60,000

Posting Number: F00959P

Close Date: 11/14/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before November 3, 2025. The review of applicants will begin on November 3, 2025. Applications will be accepted until November 14, 2025.

How to apply

Please apply using this link: https://fa-evyu-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/449/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share

ETSU pursues its mission through a student-centered community of learning reflecting high standards and promoting a balance of liberal arts and professional preparation, continuous improvement, and based on core values where: PEOPLE come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve their full potential ; RELATIONSHIPS are built on honesty, integrity, and trust; DIVERSITY of people and thought is respected; EXCELLENCE is achieved through teamwork, leadership, creativity, and a strong work ethic; EFFICIENCY is achieved through wise use of human and financial resources; and COMMITMENT to intellectual achievement is embraced.