Associate Professor of Communication and Student Media Director

Job Title

Associate Professor of Communication and Student Media Director

Agency

Texas A&M University - San Antonio

Department

Department of Sociology and Communication

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

San Antonio, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

The Department of Sociology and Communication at Texas A&M University-San Antonio invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Associate Professor of Communication and Student Media Director, beginning in Fall 2027.

This position combines faculty responsibilities with leadership of the University's award-winning Jaguar Student Media Network (JSMN), a comprehensive student media enterprise that serves as a cornerstone of experiential learning in the Communication Program. The successful candidate will teach three undergraduate courses annually (2/1 teaching load) and provide strategic vision, administration, and mentorship for the University's student media operations. We seek an accomplished teacher-scholar and media leader with expertise in journalism, digital media, media production, multimedia storytelling, strategic communication, sports media, broadcasting, or a related field. Candidates should demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, creative activity, and/or professional practice appropriate for appointment at the rank of associate professor. The successful candidate will be committed to student-centered learning, workforce preparation, and advancing opportunities for experiential and community-engaged education.

About the Jaguar Student Media Network

Established in 2010, the Jaguar Student Media Network provides engaging public forums that inform, educate, and connect students, faculty, staff, and the broader South Texas community. Through state-of-the-art communication laboratories and student-led media operations, JSMN reaches thousands of readers, viewers, and listeners annually through original reporting, storytelling, entertainment, and multimedia content. As part of Texas A&M University-San Antonio's mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the Jaguar Student Media Network is dedicated to preparing the next generation of Latino media and communication professionals. The Network serves as an extension of the University's commitment to empowering students through innovative academic and co-curricular experiences that foster leadership, civic engagement, and career readiness. The Jaguar Student Media Network consists of three integrated student media operations:

The Mesquite Online News

A student-run hyper-local digital news organization that provides hands-on training in reporting, writing, editing, multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and community-focused journalism. Students produce original coverage of campus, community, and regional issues while developing professional journalism skills.

El Espejo Magazine

A student-produced magazine that offers opportunities for creative storytelling, feature writing, photography, visual design, and multimedia content creation. El Espejo showcases student voices and perspectives through innovative and culturally relevant content. Enlace Media Lab A multimedia production and broadcast hub that provides students with opportunities to create digital entertainment and media content across multiple platforms. Enlace includes Jaguar Radio and the emerging Jaguar Sports Network, offering experiential training in broadcasting, podcasting, live production, sports media, audio storytelling, video production, and content creation.

University and Program Profile

Texas A&M University–San Antonio is part of the internationally recognized Texas A&M University System. Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, A&M– San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally and historically rich community it serves. Located on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, the University offers 37 undergraduate degree programs and 19 graduate degree programs to more than A&M–San Antonio is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is one of only 30 higher education institutions in the United States to have earned the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education in recognition of its commitment to Latino student success.

More than 77% of A&M–San Antonio students identify as Latinx, 66% identify as women, and approximately 60% are the first in their families to attend college. These students bring a wealth of cultural knowledge, professional experience, and community connections to the classroom, creating meaningful opportunities for faculty committed to teaching, mentorship, and publicly engaged scholarship.

In December 2022, the University established a partnership with the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, also known as Texas A&M Health, and University Health, the Bexar County public health system. This affiliation brings together three nationally recognized institutions to develop and expand educational pathways and research opportunities in high-demand health sciences fields, particularly within a historically underserved region.

Part of the Department of Sociology and Communication, the Communication Program offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with concentrations in Mass Communication and Media. The program combines the study of communication theory, research, media processes, and professional practice to prepare students to become ethical, effective communicators. Through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, students develop critical thinking, media literacy, storytelling, and collaborative problem-solving skills that support careers in media, journalism, digital content creation, and related communication professions.

Our communication students annually earn regional and national distinction, competing for and winning awards, scholarships, grants, and professional development opportunities. Since the launch of the academic program in 2010, our students have received scholarships from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Google, the Online News Association (ONA), the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ), the San Antonio Professional Chapter of Women in Communications, as well as awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA), the Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and admission to the Boston University Graduate College of Communication, and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism among others.

Job Responsibilities: Faculty Responsibilities

• •Teach the equivalent of 9 course credits per academic year (2/1 teaching load) in Communication including internship and media courses.
• •Develop a research program at A&M-SA that results in tangible products (articles, books, grants, etc.).
• •As part of an involved Communication Program team, provide service at the program, department, college, university, community, and profession levels.

Media Director Responsibilities

Leadership & Oversight:

• •Provide leadership direction to multiple student media outlets (e.g., Digital News, Print Magazine, Internet Radio, Multimedia Production, Jaguar Sports Network, and Jag TV).
• •Ensure that all student media operate within university policies and journalistic ethics.
• •Serve as a liaison between student media and university administration.

Operational Management :

• •Oversee budgets, equipment, and facilities for student media.
• •Coordinate fundraising, grant writing, and revenue-generation efforts (sometimes in conjunction with students or university departments).
• •Coordinate Faculty and Student Travel for student contests and media conventions.
• •Ensure timely publication and resourcing to ensure distribution of content (print, broadcast, digital).

Strategic Planning & Innovation:

De