Associate/Full Professor of Rhetorical Theory

Category: Liberal Arts Subscribe: New Job Alerts RSS Job Feed Department: Communication Locations: El Paso, TX Posted: Sep 28, 2026 Closes: Open Until Filled Type: Full-time Ref. No.: 27-CLA-03 Position ID: 205269 Share About The University of Texas at El Paso: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, Opportunity, and Community-Engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 26,000 students, 84% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

UTEP offers 169 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. A family-oriented community that is one of the safest large cities in the U.S., the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable with an average home value of $224,000 in 2025, and Texas has no state income tax. In 2026, U.S.

News and World report named El Paso the best big city to live in the nation. The region's rich culture includes a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, a new children's museum and science center, the state's longest-running symphony orchestra, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. Sports fans will enjoy Division I college athletics, Triple-A baseball affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, and professional soccer team El Paso Locomotive FC, and outdoor enthusiasts will be drawn to year-round hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in nearby state and national parks.

Job Description

The UTEP program in Communication is a contemporary blend of the humanistic and applied directions of the field. The Department offers five areas of concentration: Communication Studies, Digital Media Production, Organizational and Corporate Communication, Multimedia Journalism, and Media Advertising. We also offer minors in Communication Studies and Film Studies. Our faculty includes a number of highly recognized experts in the various Communication subfields.

The Department of Communication is housed in the College of Liberal Arts. With nearly 7,000 students and more than 20 departments and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college at UTEP. The college offers 36 bachelor's, 24 master's, and four Ph.D. degrees in the fine and performing arts, the humanities, and the social and behavioral sciences. The college also provides most of the UTEP core curriculum to students in all colleges.

The college's undergraduate and graduate programs house many excellent faculty who have been recognized as national and international leaders in their fields. Faculty conduct interdisciplinary research in Latinx culture, health disparities, social justice, border studies, migration, environmental communication, and numerous other fields that enrich our bicultural and binational region. Under the UTEP EDGE, faculty and students across the college engage in a variety of high-impact practices including community engagement and research on both sides of the border, study abroad/away, internships, and capstone experiences that help prepare students for lifelong success. The college includes a bilingual MFA in Creative Writing, the first of its kind in the country; doctoral degrees in History, Rhetoric and Composition, Sociology, and Psychology; and the College of Liberal Arts Honors Program.

UTEP is also home to the Patti and Paul Yetter Law School Preparation Institute, a university-wide program that serves students from across all academic disciplines. The Department of Communication is seeking to hire a tenured Associate Professor or Professor with a research and teaching emphasis in Rhetorical Theory and Communication, effective Fall 2027. Applicants should be able to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in one or more of the following areas: rhetoric and/or rhetorical/communication theory, international/intercultural communication, Latina/o/x communication studies, film studies, cultural studies, or other areas in the candidate's area of expertise.

Requirements

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric, or a closely related field (with a research concentration in Rhetoric) from an accredited university. An active research agenda and published scholarly journal articles and/or books are required. The potential to secure external funding is highly valued. For appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, applicants must demonstrate: A sustained record of significant scholarly achievement and peer-reviewed publication.

A record of effective undergraduate or graduate teaching and student mentorship. A record of obtaining external research support. Accomplishments sufficient to meet UTEP's requirements for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. For appointment at the rank of Professor, applicants must also demonstrate: A sustained and distinguished record of scholarly achievement and national or international recognition in their field.

A sustained record of effective teaching and mentorship of undergraduate or graduate students. A sustained record of external research support and leadership of an independent research program. Accomplishments sufficient to meet UTEP's requirements for appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate one or more of the following: Evidence of success in, or strong potential for, securing competitive external research funding.

A record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications appropriate to the applicant's career stage. Evidence of effective and innovative teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level. A strong record of mentoring undergraduate or graduate researchers. Experience supporting the academic and professional success of students from a broad range of educational and personal backgrounds, including first-generation college students.

The potential to contribute to the continued growth of UTEP's undergraduate and graduate programs in communication. Preference will be given to candidates who have teaching and/or research expertise in one or more areas listed in the job description. Additional Information: In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at [email protected], or by mail at 500 W.

University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312. For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at [email protected]. To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Application Instructions

Applicants must electronically submit: (1) letter of interest that specifies teaching areas and research expertise; (2) curriculum vita; (3) one scholarly publication (4) recent evidence of teaching effectiveness; (5) names and full contact information of three references that we may contact. Recommendation letters are needed for candidates who are invited for campus visits for further consideration. If you have questions about the position, please contact the Job Search Committee Chair, Dr. Carlos Tarin, [email protected].

Application Review Date: Review of applications will begin October 18, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Powered by Hide Main Navigation University of Texas at El Paso 500 West University Avenue | El Paso, TX 79968