Job Details

Description
As part of a diverse community of faculty and staff who represent many faith systems and worldviews, Marian University seeks applicants for a Director of Speech & Debate/Assistant Professor of Communication to promote our Catholic Franciscan mission and identity by traveling with the Speech & Debate Team, on average, to ten collegiate events per year, coach students in debate and individual events, and arrange and facilitate team travel plans. Our team has a long and impactful history and we wish to maintain and extend that success. The candidate will also teach a 2/2 load in speech and help expand the maintenance and continued improvement of our speech classes. The candidate must have experience leading a competitive Speech & Debate team and building and maintaining professional relationships within the competition community. This position reports to the Chair of the Communication and the Dean of Arts and Sciences. This is a 9-month, non-tenure track appointment with the possibility of annual renewal.

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting Marian University’s Catholic mission and identity. By fostering student learning through innovative pedagogy, inclusive practices, and impactful research projects across the curriculum, they will contribute significantly to our community. Marian University believes that recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty is essential for building an inclusive community. We therefore welcome and encourage applications across intersections of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, political perspectives, cultures, and national origins.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively engage the Catholic Franciscan mission and identity of Marian University by modeling the Franciscan Sponsorship Values and honoring the legacy of the founding congregation through transformative education, unity in diversity, leadership through service, integrating faith and life, and institutional policies.
• Teaching Load: 12 credits per year. Primarily in Public Speaking and related classes.
• Competition: Prepare for competition a speech team whose members compete in 2-6 events per tournament. Travel to around ten regional tournaments plus state and national tournaments. Achieve regional success and national distinction.
• Coaching: Lead team meetings and practices. Schedule and supervise the coaching of assistant coaches and volunteers.
• Recruiting, Outreach, and Engagement: Visit local high schools and high school tournaments, host showcase debates or other public performances, and host inter-collegiate speech and/or debate tournaments.
• Advise Communication majors and minors.
• Participate in department, school, and university-wide activities, projects, and recruitment programs.
• Participate in the campus and university service life, including participation in faculty governance and co-curricular programs.
• Contribute to a campus culture committed to professionalism, collegiality, and confidentiality.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of Marian University.
• A master’s degree in Communication, Mass Communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated potential for excellence and innovation in student-centered instruction.
• Teaching experience in higher education preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in teaching pedagogy, curriculum, and program development.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues of diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated, collaborative, and able to work independently with colleagues throughout the university and in the community.
• Commitment to multicultural competence, best practices in teaching, high ethical standards, diversity, and community service/engagement.
• Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For Consideration All Applications Require:

• Cover Letter
• Current resume or CV
• Contact information of three professional references. The reference contact information must be entered after the application is submitted in the "My Presence" section of the applicant profile.
• Responses to the supplementary mission & identity questions.

Please Review Marian University’s Mission & Identity Statement before responding to the supplementary questions on your application:
https://www.marian.edu/faith

Marian University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.