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 Brandon.Miller@umb.edu.

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 HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.

Working at University of Massachusetts Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban public universities. The scenic waterfront campus is located next to the John F. Kennedy Library, with easy access to downtown Boston.

The second-largest campus in the UMass system, UMass Boston combines a small-college experience with the vast resources of a major research university. With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students easily interact with professors because most teaching occurs in small class sizes. Ninety-three percent of full-time faculty hold the highest degree in their fields.

UMass Boston's academic excellence is reflected by a growing student body of nearly 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university's eight colleges offer more than 100 undergraduate programs and 50 graduate programs. The University Honors Program serves 300 students who thrive on intellectual challenge. Enriched courses probe more deeply into theory or venture further into application.

UMass Boston's diverse student body provides a global context for student learning, and its location in a major U.S. city provides connections to employers in industries such as finance, health care, technology, service, and education, offering students opportunities to gain valuable in-school experience via internships, clinicals, and other career-related placements.

More than 100 student organizations — including clubs, literary magazines, newspaper, radio station, art gallery, and 16 NCAA Division III sports teams — offer a rich campus life. Students live throughout Greater Boston and in apartment communities just steps from the campus, and enjoy the rich amenities, cultural attractions, and educational opportunities that make the city the biggest and best college town in the nation.