Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication

Position Summary:

Mary Baldwin University invites applications for Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication, to begin Fall 2026.

MBU is committed, through its mission, to “empowering tomorrow’s inclusive leaders to lead lives of purpose and professional success.” With our university’s trajectory of success spanning 183 years, we have solidified our place as a small, innovative co-educational institution that provides opportunities and career preparation for a diverse student body while meeting the needs of today’s workforce and enhancing the local community through creative partnerships. We are especially committed to fostering a climate of innovation, talent, and economic growth in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication will report to the Associate Dean of the School of Business in Palmer College of Professional Studies and will work closely with the Program Director of the Marketing and Strategic Communication degree programs. This position is based on the Staunton, VA campus.

This is a renewable 12-month contract, renewing each July.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach an annual 360 – 480 student credit hour (~8 sections) course load across introductory and advanced Strategic Communication and Marketing topics, including:
  • Social Media; Mass Communication; Digital Strategy and Planning; Marketing Principles; Public Relations
• Teach and lead primarily online course sections while adding instructional support to residential course sections as needed.
• Provide mentorship for Strategic Communication majors.
• Supervise internships and capstone projects.
• Work with the Learning Design team to contribute to online course development.
• Provide service to the programs, the university, and the profession through activities including committee work, assessment, major and minor recruitment, academic presentations, and/or professional organization membership.
• Foster a positive and supportive learning environment for a diverse student body, including online, first-generation, and adult learners.

• Maintain professional knowledge of the marketing field, staying abreast of industry updates, training standards, adult learning styles and preferences, as well as blended/social learning techniques, while maintaining strategic alliances with industry and training organizations.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. (or MA plus commensurate professional experience) in Strategic Communication, Public Relations, Communication, Mass Communication, or a closely related field
• Evidence of excellence in teaching (e.g., strong evaluations, teaching awards, innovative pedagogy, or TA experience)
• Demonstrated ability to teach core strategic communication courses and mentor student projects
• Commitment to student support and accessibility
• Teaching experience specifically with online platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience and industry relationships in PR/strategic communication, brand strategy, agency work, or in-house comms leadership
• Expertise in one or more of: social & digital media strategy, strategic communications campaigns, data & analytics, crisis/reputation management, sports and entertainment communications, or AI-assisted content and ethics
• Experience with high-impact practices (community-engaged learning, internships, experiential learning, client-based projects, etc.)
• Familiarity with tools such as Google Analytics/GA4, Adobe Creative Cloud, social listening platforms, CMS/CRM, and prompt-driven AI tools with a strong emphasis on ethical and transparent use

To Apply:

Please send the following information for the SoE search to Clayton Smith at crsmith@marybaldwin.edu :

• Letter of application addressing qualifications, teaching philosophy, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the university;
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Names and contact information for three references (include email addresses and current phone numbers);
• Unofficial transcripts (if offered, official transcripts will be required)

The projected start date is August 2026. Review of applications will be ongoing and continue until the position is filled.