The Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy at Utah State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in culture-centered health communication with expertise in health disparities and quantitative, qualitative, computational, or mixed-methods. This hire is part of a university-wide effort to address educational and health disparities in society, and particularly in rural Utah. As such, this faculty member will work collaboratively with other faculty members, research groups, and centers across the university to address these disparities. Potential areas of interest may include health literacy, healthcare-related language barriers, patient-provider communication, environmental risks, or the use of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, ehealth) to improve health. This faculty member will be expected to establish an independent and extramurally funded program of research and teach classes in our global communication (e.g., Intercultural Communication) and communication studies graduate and undergraduate programs (e.g., Health Communication) as assigned. Candidates must be willing to mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Candidates should have a Doctorate in a Communication-related field completed by August 15, 2025, and will need to pass a background check per university policy. Utah State is a Carnegie R1 university located in a mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake CityWe invite applications for an Assistant Professor position in culture-centered health communication with expertise in health disparities and quantitative, qualitative, computational, or mixed methods.

Review of applications will begin November 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

Please direct all questions related to this job posting to the search committee chair, Dr. Jennifer Peeples (Jennifer.Peeples@usu.edu).  

• Engage in projects that seek to advance outcomes associated with health disparities, particularly in rural Utah.  
• Lead an extramurally funded research program in health disparities, which includes publishing research in subject appropriate outlets.  
• Engage in collaborative scholarship with other faculty members, research groups, and centers across the university as part of the educational/health disparities initiative.  
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses as assigned.  
• Chair and serve on graduate student committees.  
• Provide service to the department, university, and profession.   

Minimum qualifications: 

• Doctorate in Communication, or a related field (ABD Candidates will be considered).  
• Evidence of potential to establish a robust program of research that focuses on addressing health disparities through quantitative, qualitative, computational, or mixed methods.  
• Evidence of potential to obtain extramural funding for research program.  
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and publish scholarly research. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively teach a variety of courses.  
• Ability and willingness to mentor graduate and undergraduate students. 
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working with traditionally marginalized groups (e.g., rural populations; Indigenous, Latinx, and other minoritized racial/ethnic identities; sexual and gender minority populations). 
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaborations. 

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Research Statement to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
3. Teaching Philosophy to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
4. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile
5. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

Two Letters of Reference Upon Request. Please do not provide at this time.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

Utah State University is a Carnegie R1 University located in a beautiful mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The area has great scenic beauty and a four-season climate with excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation year-round. Visit www.usu.edu/greats/ or www.usu.edu/multimedia/ for more information about the university 

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences has played an instrumental role teaching independent thinking and discovery at Utah State University since 1888. Students in our college confront the great questions and controversies that exist. They learn about the forces that have shaped our world and develop skills to tackle its most pressing challenges. Our graduates are creative problem-solvers with a passion for making a difference. The education they receive prepares them to address the problems of today and to succeed wherever their career path takes them tomorrow (chass.usu.edu). 

Department of Communication Studies & Philosophy: https://chass.usu.edu/communication-studies/index 

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023