Calvin University invites applications for a program director of the Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication (MMSC) program. The program director will be a full-time professor of practice, will teach MMSC courses in addition to program director duties, and will join the Communication Department and the MMSC beginning in August 2024. The opening is at the rank of assistant professor.
REQUIREMENTS
The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.
Ideal candidates will have more than five years of significant professional experience in advertising or public relations, have agency experience, and have successfully led professional and/or creative teams. A master’s degree in advertising, public relations, or a related field is preferred. Experience in advertising is preferred.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the master’s level; an active stream of relevant research, publication, or industry experience; and administrative experience. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.
The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.
FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
The MMSC program director’s faculty load consists of dedicated hours for directing the program and for teaching MMSC courses during the academic year. Faculty members’ typical workload is 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations.) Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.
As director of the master’s program, this faculty member will
- recruit students to the program
- oversee student retention
- lead publicity efforts
- direct and schedule curricular offerings
- monitor quality and assessment
- collaborate with the dean and department on program innovation
- lead MMSC faculty hiring and compensation
- foster faculty development
- manage the program budget
- represent the program to the administration, and
- build external relationships.
The renewal of this term position is contingent on the program’s success after three years.
FACULTY RESOURCES
Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.
ABOUT THE MASTER OF ARTS IN MEDIA AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PROGRAM
The Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication (MMSC) program meets the needs of students and working professionals in a highly collaborative, in-person environment. The program begins with our Basics of Media Production course, which provides foundational skills needed for the program and features additional media production labs paired with traditional courses in advertising, public relations, multi-media journalism, and storytelling across media platforms. In our student-run agency, Skylight, students work under the direction of an advertising or public relations professional to design strategies and creative content for real clients. Our program helps students and working professionals grapple with the difficult ethical questions that accompany a career in communications.
ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY
Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,000 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to raise a family. For more information, please visit http://www.calvin.edu/go/facultyopenings.
Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment. Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age. Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion.
TO APPLY
Complete the online application process and attach the following:
- Letter of application that addresses the requirements and responsibilities of the position, including your interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University
- Full curriculum vitae or resume
- Portfolio of professional work shared with comm@calvin.edu
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Any questions can be directed to Department Chair Kathi Groenendyk at kathi.groenendyk@calvin.edu.
FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT
1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.
2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.
DIVERSITY COMMITMENT
Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.