Instructor - Public Relations

The Department of Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management in the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University invites applications for a senior public relations professional to join us as our Public Relations Executive in Residence (PRER) for the Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 semester. The PRER will hold the title of visiting professor and teach one online course in their area of expertise.

The PRER will teach an online, asynchronous course in Spring 2027 (mid-January to early May) or Fall 2027 (mid-August to early December). Instruction will take place primarily online with approximately 4 face-to-face meetings on campus in Lubbock, TX, to be scheduled in coordination with the department chair:

• three one-day visits during the semester, and
• a final three-day visit at the end of the semester.

During these visits, the PRER will:

• meet with students in the assigned class,
• guest lecture in other select PRSC courses,
• consult with students in RaiderComm, our student-run public relations firm, and
• collaborate on a community-engaged learning project with TTU students, PRSC faculty members, and a community-partner/nonprofit organization.

The PRER will receive:

• A teaching stipend
• Travel support
•  A 10-hour/week graduate student teaching assistant

The College of Media & Communication (CoMC) (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/) at Texas Tech University serves approximately 2,400 students across its six undergraduate- and five graduate-degree programs. CoMC offers a student-centered learning environment with high standards for teaching and engaged learning, while benefiting from the resources of an R1 research university. College metrics for undergraduate student retention and graduation rates are near the top at Texas Tech across many categories, and CoMC graduate-student enrollment is at record-high levels. In addition to traditional spaces for offices, classrooms, and computer labs, the College’s 192,000-sf building includes an esports lab, student-run PR agency suite, a commercial-range FM radio station, 12,700 square feet for student organizations and graduate-student offices, and several multimedia production spaces equipped with industry-grade equipment and software. At 13,000 square feet within the building, the CoMC Center for Communication Research (CCR) is the country's premier academic research facility for the study of communication, cognitive and affective processing of information, and media effects. The CCR’s labs and equipment can be used for audience testing, content analysis, experimental surveys, eye-tracking, focus groups, psychophysiological measurements, and robotics/AI integration. The College has rebuilt its research infrastructure and made strategic hires resulting in all-time highs in external funding applications and grant awards. Further strengthening the University’s stable budget environment, state taxpayers in 2023 approved a $3.9 billion research endowment, the Texas University Fund (TUF), that brings $44 million annually to Texas Tech to support faculty research and scholarly/creative activities. Interdisciplinary research strengths across the College’s departments include computational communication, sports communication/media, organizational/corporate communication, and crisis/risk/health communication. Faculty affiliates of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic & International Communication engage in teaching, research and community outreach related to Hispanic and international/intercultural communication (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/hihic/). With strong campus-wide enrollment growth and experienced academic leadership, the College continues an upward trajectory in alignment with the University’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, its $1.2 billion comprehensive campaign, and its charted path toward membership eligibility by 2035 in the Association of American Universities (AAU).

• 5+ years of advanced professional experience in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field.
• At least 18 hours of graduate coursework in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field, or an equivalent record of outstanding professional experience that supports credentialing to teach at the undergraduate level.
• A record of leadership in a professional setting (firm, in-house unit, etc.) in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field.

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• A master’s degree in public relations, strategic communication, or a related field.
• At least 5+ years of high-level (C-suite) professional experience in public relations or a closely related strategic communication field.
• Experience teaching at the university level or similar experience (e.g., training, mentorship, etc.).
• A record of community-engaged outreach.