Job description

The School of Professional Studies (SPS) at Columbia University invites applications for a full-time position at the rank of Associate Professor of Professional Practice or Professor of Professional Practice to teach in the MS program in Strategic Communication.

This position will begin on July 1, 2026. This is a full-time appointment with a multi-year renewal contingent on successful review.

We are seeking dynamic experts in the field of communication with the ability to deliver on the Program’s mission, “to shape the future through strategic communication,” interpret and translate academic theory into practice, provide leadership and instruction in the analytics of strategic communication, and possess the capability to teach multiple core and elective courses with a focus on more than one of the following curricular themes:

• Quantitative analysis of communication strategies including methods of framing communication for diverse audiences
• Ethics and communication theory
• AI for strategic communication
• Influence, persuasion, mis/disinformation
• Global communication
• Communication for resilience, social change, collective action
• Social networks, social influence
• Integrating knowledge and practice of communication
• Organizational leadership and communication

The successful candidate must have demonstrated capability to teach in multiple modalities including face-to-face, synchronous and asynchronous online, and hybrid. Expertise in instructional technology is expected. Student populations include early-career to experienced professionals, studying in full-time and part-time formats.

The successful candidate should be capable of advancing the program’s academic and professional mission, develop programming on campus, and expand partnerships globally to provide research/teaching opportunities for faculty and fieldwork opportunities for students. Additional responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: serving on the admissions committee, capstone and other advising, active participation in curriculum and program development and evaluation; designing and teaching classes in collaboration with other program faculty; participating in faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation; enhancing the program’s reputation and expanding its network; development and execution of strategies to support students as they transition to alumni; serving on SPS and University-wide governance and other committees.

Qualifications

A doctoral degree in communication or a related field is preferred. Candidates with extensive professional experience in strategic communication leadership are welcome to apply. All applicants must have a BA/BS.

Extensive experience in the management of organizational communication strategies is an essential characteristic of the candidates we are seeking. Candidates should have a background as a practitioner and a scholar, including at least five years of applied experience leading strategic communication initiatives with organizational or societal impact. Successful candidates will exhibit a commitment to excellence in teaching, mentoring, instructional design, and engaged scholarship. They will have a demonstrated record of collaboration and collegiality, share our core values of respect and professionalism, and help build a culture of academic excellence, care and inclusion for students. Finally, the ideal candidate will exhibit a commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the classroom and professional practice.

Candidates at the rank of Associate Professor of Professional Practice should have demonstrated achievement in professional practice and show great promise of attaining distinction in their field of specialization.

Candidates at the rank of Professor of Professional Practice should be widely recognized for their distinction in their field of specialization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply by December 1, 2025 to receive full consideration, although application review will begin immediately. All applications must be made through Columbia University’s Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR) system. Please upload the following required materials:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Professional and Scholarly Accomplishments and, if applicable, Research Agenda
• 3 Confidential letters of recommendation (solicited via the application platform)
• Student Evaluations of Teaching
• Sample strategic communication course syllabus
• Publication(s) in peer-reviewed academic and professional journals (optional)

Note: School of Professional Studies full-time faculty are expected to be on campus several days each week, with flexibility in accordance with Columbia University policies.Questions or concerns about this position should be directed to Jamie Douglas, Senior Director of Faculty Recruitment, at [email protected].

Columbia’s Distinction

Columbia University was ranked #2 on Forbes’ 2025–2026 America’s Top Colleges list, a recognition driven by alumni success, graduation and retention rates, return on investment, and leadership impact. This ranking reflects what SPS values most: preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong contributions to their communities. Our practitioner-oriented faculty play a vital role in this mission, bringing real-world expertise to the classroom and helping students translate theory into impact. Situated in the heart of New York City, Columbia offers a dynamic environment and a global alumni network that amplifies the reach of every educator’s work.

How to apply

Applicants are encouraged to apply by December 1, 2025 to receive full consideration, although application review will begin immediately. All applications must be made through Columbia University’s Academic Search and Recruiting (ASR) system. Please upload the following required materials:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Professional and Scholarly Accomplishments and, if applicable, Research Agenda
• 3 Confidential letters of recommendation (solicited via the application platform)
• Student Evaluations of Teaching
• Sample strategic communication course syllabus
• Publication(s) in peer-reviewed academic and professional journals (optional)

Note: School of Professional Studies full-time faculty are expected to be on campus several days each week, with flexibility in accordance with Columbia University policies.Questions or concerns about this position should be directed to Jamie Douglas, Senior Director of Faculty Recruitment, at [email protected].