Assistant Professor of Communication and Digital Media
Alvernia University

Job Info

 About Alvernia University Alvernia University was founded in 1958 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Through its main campus in Reading and locations in Philadelphia and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the university serves 3,000 students of diverse backgrounds from around the country. Alvernia offers a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts core education for the development of the mind, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, experiential learning through study abroad and internship experiences, and engagement with the community through our Franciscan-based community service model. We call our model of transformational education the Alvernia Advantage, and we believe this style of education transforms students into ethical leaders with moral courage. Alvernia University ranks in the top 100 among 2021 Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report, and we are recognized as a College of Distinction for our commitment to engaged experiential education. Communication and Digital Media Tenure Track Position  The Communication and Digital Media department at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, seeks an engaging, forward-thinking, and dynamic full-time tenure track faculty member with data analytics, digital video production, podcasting, post-production, social media marketing, and video editing skills. A background in sports media is preferred as the department would like to expand its sports media offerings.   The faculty member shall be responsible for the following: teaching assigned classes either in-person or online; helping students fulfill their maximum potential in mastering course content; assessing student learning outcomes; advising students; maintaining a thorough and up-to-date knowledge in their regular teaching field; continuing professional development; utilizing current technology in the performance of job duties; maintaining standards of professional conduct and ethics appropriate to the professional position; assisting with curriculum development and review; serving on university committees; participating in both faculty governance and student co-curricular activities; and fulfilling other duties and responsibilities of a full-time faculty member.  The successful candidate should have a background in multimedia creation programs, specifically the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Audition, and Premiere Pro are required elements of the technical curriculum). A familiarity with the PC computing environment and proficiency with modern web design, including CSS and Javascript, are highly encouraged.  An available portfolio of work, including but not limited to a clip reel, should be included in application materials as hyperlinked resource(s) to demonstrate technical proficiency across all these areas.  A technical background in Microsoft Excel is mandatory, but a data analytics certification focused on social media analytics is highly desirable.   The Communication and Digital Media Department is part of the College of Business and Leadership (CBCL).  It is situated in the John Post Center, a brand-new facility in downtown Reading. The building also houses BCTV, a local cable-access television station. The space includes podcasting rooms and a Plug and Play Den for social media content creation. The department emphasizes teaching and experiential learning, and we have a strong collaborative relationship with local media and community organizations for internships and service-learning classes. This includes the Reading Film Festival, where students and alumni have won documentary and video awards. Our students also recently won a state-wide competition to create content for Gift of Life in order to raise awareness about organ donation. In addition, the department hosts Executives in Residence and an annual conference with the business and leadership departments.   The Communication and Digital Media faculty are creative, supportive, and collaborative. We represent different interests and expertise including journalism, public relations, health communications, and film. We are passionate about engaging and mentoring students.  Further, we want to help students build their e-portfolios by making connections in the field for internships and jobs. Our department oversees the student club WolfPack Media, which supports students in creating communication content.   Assignment Responsibilities The instructional assignment includes, but is not limited to, teaching existing and future courses at all levels of Communication and Digital Media at the university. The successful candidate will be expected to teach specific lower-division major courses and upper-division courses in needed areas of expertise. This position is a 4:4 teaching load. These courses include, but are not limited to: COM 232: Athletic Communications COM 251: Broadcast and Electronic Media COM 333: The Campus Show - Television Production COM 352: Video Production: Shoot, Edit, Share COM 342: Social Media Marketing COM 344: Technical & Professional Writing COM 346: Digital Market Analytics COM 422: Digital Media & Society  Preferred Qualifications A doctoral degree (PhD) in communication or a terminal degree in a related area is preferred. Track record of teaching and research in a university setting.   Work Schedule/Start Date Positions are full-time, benefitted, and exempt   Minimum Hiring Salary Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.  To Apply To ensure full consideration, please include the following materials: Letter of application Curriculum vitae List of three references (including contact information) A digital portfolio