Assistant Professor (Communication)

The Communication Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position specializing in Sports Communication beginning September 1, 2027. We seek a scholar whose research employs social scientific approaches to the study of sports communication and complements the Department’s strong empirical orientation.

The successful candidate will build on the Department’s existing strengths in media studies and strategic communication while expanding its research and teaching expertise in sports communication. We welcome candidates whose scholarship addresses areas such as sports public relations; sports and social media; sports influencers; sports branding and advertising; sponsorship; and fan engagement and experiential branding. Candidates whose research connects multiple areas of sports, media, strategic communication, and emerging communication technologies are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field by August 31, 2027. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of, or strong potential for, an excellent program of research and publication in sports communication.

The successful candidate will be expected to conduct and publish high-quality research, teach a broad range of undergraduate Communication courses consistent with their expertise, advise and mentor students, and contribute to the Department, University, and broader academic community through service. The position carries a 2-2 teaching load, with faculty teaching two courses per semester.

UMass Boston is an urban public research university with a teaching soul, whose impact is both local and global. We are the third most diverse university in the country - more than 60% of our undergraduate students come from minoritized communities and groups and more than half of our students are the first in their families to attend a college or university. Thus, our students come to us from richly diverse life experiences and backgrounds; they bring to our classrooms and research settings the robust range of perspectives growing out of the socio-cultural, economic, and historical contexts in which they have lived, along with the challenges they encounter, engage, and strive to overcome. We invite applications from candidates who engage the diverse life experiences of our student body, who appreciate that students bring their holistic selves into the academic setting, and who recognize and articulate how their own life experiences and backgrounds have shaped their journeys, practices, and commitments as researchers, scholars, and educators.

Application Process: Interested applicants should submit the following:

• A cover letter detailing their research and teaching interests.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Copies of selected publications or research papers.
• A statement of teaching philosophy.
• Contact information for three professional references.

Deadline and Contact: Initial review of applications will begin on November 2, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. We request that applicants submit a cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants with questions may contact Brandon Miller, the chair of the search committee, at [email protected] .

UMass Boston expects to pay within an approximate range between $80,000 and $84,600 for this position.

The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on the consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [email protected] or 617-287-5150.

Departments: Communication