Director

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (The College) on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University (ASU) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (HDSHC) with a concurrent appointment as tenured Full Professor. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2025.  As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

The HDSHC is home to a dynamic group of faculty working to create innovative research and excellence in teaching through its efforts to address the complexity of human communication in the 21st century.  The HDSHC’s mission aims to place communication at the center of human activity while creating a culture of belonging that values inclusive excellence. The HDSHC is comprised of 28 distinguished core faculty and offers BA, BS, MA and PhD degrees. Our faculty are recognized for teaching and research excellence in areas of Human Communication including: health, intercultural, interpersonal, organizational, performance studies, critical/cultural studies and rhetoric. Online programs, including a minor, BS, BA and MA, have experienced exponential growth and the school looks forward to continuing the upward trajectory. The HDSHC offers laboratory facilities, computer resources, project support, grant development support and a performance studio. 

Reporting to the dean of social sciences within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the next Director will have a leadership style that aligns with the university's culture of invention and innovation, creates meaningful and enduring results and encourages a passion for the social sciences as interconnected, inclusive and impactful fields. The Director should cultivate a persuasive vision for the HDSHC’s future that reflects our highest aspirations for the school and its role in civil discourse within and across communities and throughout society.

Arizona State University is a leading public university ranked #1 Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report 10 years in a row and is leading a bold reinvention of higher education as the New American University. ASU serves more than 145,000 students on four campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, one of the fastest growing urban centers in the nation; at locations across the U.S., including California and Washington, D.C; and globally through ASU Online. ASU is a research-intensive university and has developed numerous new programs and units that defy and bridge disciplinary boundaries to enable the exploration and discovery of new knowledge while developing solutions to the most challenging issues of our time. With the University’s location in the nation’s fifth largest city, the Phoenix region provides a rich context for applied research and community engagement around issues of human communication. ASU’s location offers the resources of a major metropolitan area (5+ million) in a state with spectacular natural scenery and recreational areas, sublime winters and a culturally rich population.

Learn more about the HDSHC and ASU at https://humancommunication.asu.edu/ and https://newamericanuniversity.asu.edu/, respectively. Learn more about what The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has to offer by visiting https://thecollege.asu.edu/faculty.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Ph.D. degree in Communication Studies or a closely related field
• A scholarly record commensurate with the rank of tenured full Professor in HDSHC
• A record of effective mentoring
• Demonstrated experience in an academic leadership position

Desired Qualifications

• An internationally recognized program of research, a strong record of external funding and experience supporting colleagues as they compete for funding
• Demonstrated experience with financial oversight and personnel management
• Excellent interpersonal and strong persuasive communication skills
• Ability to articulate the vision, mission and future aims of the HDSHC in relationship to The College and the University
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial approach to forming alliances and partnerships with other units and programs, as well as outside organizations and external stakeholders
• A broad outlook and approach to new trends in Human Communication that capture a new learning paradigm of the communication process in post-pandemic higher education
• An interest in and commitment to fundraising and an ability to present a compelling story to potential donors, funding agencies, and external constituencies

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

The application deadline is December 26, 2024.   Applications will be reviewed beginning Friday, January 10, 2025.  Applications will continue to be accepted, if position is not filled, reviews will occur every two weeks thereafter until the search is closed. Candidates are required to submit the following for consideration:

1. a curriculum vitae
2. a letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications noted above and your vision for leadership of an interdisciplinary school
3. contact information, including email addresses, for five references [references will be contacted at a later stage of the search and only with the candidate’s approval].

Nominations and inquiries about this position are encouraged. Please direct them to Irasema Coronado, Chair of the Search Committee, via email at: [email protected].

A background check is required for employment.

ASU is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information on ASU’s policies, please see: https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html  and its complete non-discrimination statement at: https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.