Description

Communication Studies Department 

The Department of Communication Studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in critical and/or rhetorical approaches to technology and communication, to begin August 17, 2026. We seek a scholar whose research and teaching examine how communication, technology, and design intersect with social, ethical, political, and cultural concerns. Secondary interests or teaching strengths in science and/or environmental communication are also desirable to support high-demand areas in our curriculum.

This position is part of an innovation and entrepreneurship university cluster hire. Successful candidates are expected to actively engage in transdisciplinary initiatives related to innovation and/or entrepreneurship and direct collaboration with the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) to further develop vibrant academic and co-curricular programs.

We especially welcome candidates whose work engages areas such as digital humanities, algorithmic culture, bias and ethics in communication technologies, digital rhetoric and culture, AI and automation, and the social, environmental, and health-related impacts of communication technologies.

 Areas of specialization (AOS) may include (but are not limited to) critical and/ or rhetorical Approaches to:

• Technology, communication, and cultures of innovation and tech industries
• Human–AI interaction, meaning-making, and agency
• Ethics, bias, and justice in digital and algorithmic systems
• Communication design, UX/UI, and interface and information design
• Environmental, sustainability, health, and medicine dimensions of technology and communication
• Science and/or environmental communication through technology platforms

The successful candidate’s teaching responsibilities will include:

1. Media Criticism or Rhetorical Criticism, which are situated as upper-level methods courses.
2. Upper-division electivesaligned with the candidate’s expertise in areas such as technology and human communication, critical cultural studies, rhetoric of science, technology, and medicine, science communication, and/or environmental communication. Candidates may also have the opportunity to propose new courses aligned with the department’s curriculum and their areas of expertise.  
3. 200-level courses, including rhetorical studies, communication theory, or applied argumentation.
4. A 400-level Senior SeminarandSenior Projectcourse for graduating majors.
5. Introductory communication courses, such as our orientation (e.g., COMS 100) or public speaking related courses.

Non-instructional duties will include:

1. Engaging in research andscholarship related to candidate’s area of expertise.
2. Engaging in service and academic advising/mentorship of undergraduate students.
3. Advising students’ extracurricular activities, including, but not limited to student clubs.

Salary 

Anticipated Hiring Range: $90,276 - $98,244/year, $7,523 - $8,187/month

(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.) 

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units per semester, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development.   

Subject to further planning and approval, Cal Poly anticipates a possible transitionto semester-based year-round operations (YRO). Under YRO, full-time academic year faculty maybe assigned to teach in two consecutive semesters (Fall/Spring, Spring/Summer, or Summer/Fall)out of the three semesters offered annually. Thetwo-semester sequence will constitute the regular academic year appointment. Faculty may also be eligible to teach in the third semester for additional compensation, subject to departmental needs and University policy.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Due to CSU policies, the person hired must reside in the state of California at the position start date and for the entirety of the appointment.

Special Conditions 

All CSU employees are designated "mandated reporters" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. As a condition of your employment, you will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 and any subsequent amendments.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

 For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.

About The Department  

Currently the Communication Studies Department, in the College of Liberal Arts, has 12 communication professors, and over 35 lecturers, approximately half of whom teach full-time. The department serves approximately 400 majors and 50 minors as well as students throughout the university in our many General Education course offerings. The department's website is https://coms.calpoly.edu/  .

How to Apply 

To apply, please visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/, complete a required online faculty application and apply to Requisition #552675. Please upload the following required materials as part of the electronic application:

• Cover letter providing some details of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position (may wish to address the feasibility of conducting research, scholarship, and/or creative activities within the context of a primarily teaching-oriented undergraduate program).
• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of unofficial transcripts (sealed official transcripts and letters of recommendation will be required for final consideration)
• Universal Student Success Statement: Cal Poly is a public,student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. Service or scholarship related to skills developed in these areas might also be included here.
  • This statement is intended to go beyond a traditional teaching philosophy. It should demonstrate how you intentionally advance equity, inclusion, and access across your teaching, research, and service for all students. Strong statements will provide specific examples of strategies, practices, or outcomes that have enhanced student success for all learners and outline how you plan to continue this work as part of Cal Poly’s commitment to universal student success.
• Statement of research interests/ research plan
• Sample syllabi for a methods course (e.g., rhetorical or media criticism) or an elective in critical and/or rhetorical approaches to technology and communication.
• List of Cal Poly courses for which the candidate is qualified and interested in teaching

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. For full consideration, please submit your application by the application deadline. Applications received after this date are not guaranteed review.

 Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.

Projected Start Date: August 17, 2026

Application Deadline: January 10, 2026

For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit all application materials by this date. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed review.

For questions about the position please contact Dr. Megan Lambertz-Berndt (lambertz@calpoly.edu) search committee chair and associate professor; or, Dr. Anuraj Dhillon (adhill06@calpoly.edu), interim department chair and associate professor, Communication Studies Department. 

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Communication Studies or a closely related field required.  If ABD, Ph.D. must be conferred before August 1, 2026.
• Demonstrated university teaching experience.
• Graduate-level coursework relevant to the instructional assignment is required as the minimum academic preparation.
• Record of scholarship in technology and communication using critical and/or rhetorical approaches.
• Evidence of potential for scholarly and/or creative achievement in AOS.
• Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, academic and inclusive excellence, and student success in their scholarship/creative activities, teaching, and/or service.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated undergraduate teaching experience in critical and/or rhetorical approaches related to technology and communication as an instructor of record or teaching assistant.
• Potential for grant development in areas related to the AOS.
• Willingness to participate in interdisciplinary programs overlapping with AOS, including course development and possible program curriculum development.
• Willingness to develop courses in AOS in various modalities.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment.
• Preference will also be given to those with relevant work experience and those who bring professional capabilities.