Department Head - Communication and English

About Us As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities' rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity and citizenship. As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University, as stated in the Blazer Creed and reflected in our commitment to the University System of Georgia's Core Values. Blazer Creed Valdosta State University is a learning environment based on trust and mutual respect in which open dialogue, vigorous debate, and the free exchange of ideas are welcome. The University is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practice civility, integrity, and citizenship. As members of this community, and proud Blazers, we will strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University. Civility - A Blazer shows courtesy and compassion as well as respect for the dignity of every human being. Integrity - Each Blazer is responsible for his or her own actions, and our community is stronger when we contemplate the context of our decisions and uphold the principles of trust and honesty. Citizenship - Every Blazer has an interest in the well-being of the community, and, therefore, a duty to stay informed, to make positive contributions, and to offer support to those who need help. As a Blazer, we pledge to uphold the core principles of Civility, Integrity, and Citizenship. Job Summary The College of Humanities and Social Sciences invites applications for Department Head of a newly-formed department that brings together the Communication and English disciplines. This new department will become part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and will launch on July 1, 2026. Reporting to the Dean, the Department Head d irects and participates in the teaching and other functions of an academic department. Hiring will be at the associate or full professor level with tenure. The newly-formed department will house a combined BA degree in Communication and English, MA in Communication, as well as the MA and the online MAESLAT (Master of Arts for English Studies for Language Arts Teachers) in English. Faculty are currently working on developing the combined BA degree that will replace the separate BA in Communication and BA in English degrees. This new degree will launch in fall 2027. The department will be home to almost 30 full-time faculty, more than 110 undergraduate majors, and more than 50 graduate students. With a significant and important presence in the core curriculum, the department will offer general education courses in Composition I, Composition II, World Literature, Human Communication, and Public Speaking. The department will also be home to signature experiential learning opportunities at Valdosta State University (VSU) such as the VSU Debate Team, Omnino (the VSU undergraduate research journal), and Odradek (the VSU creative writing journal). Applicants should submit the following items with their online application: Cover Letter Curriculum Vitae Statement on leadership philosophy Names and contact information (including email addresses) for at least three professional references For full consideration, please apply by January 16, 2026. For more information contact Dr. James T. LaPlant, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (229-245-6517 or email ). Based on the recent Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (H-1B) , VSU will not be sponsoring any new H-1B visa petitions until further notice. Responsibilities Department Summary Position is responsible for the overall day-to-day functions of the department and serves as its primary spokesperson and advocate. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Hiring, managing and evaluating faculty and staff members in the department Conducting regular departmental meetings Fostering a positive department environment that supports excellent teaching, scholarship, and service Establishing a collaborative department vision and agenda that is aligned with the university and college strategic plans Scheduling classes and sections for each faculty member in each academic semester Supporting students through mentoring, overseeing internships, and providing curricular overrides, where appropriate Teaching courses throughout the academic year Participating in research and scholarly activities Attending academic and professional conferences Supporting department experiential learning activities, including undergraduate research Facilitating departmental curriculum reviews to maintain program viability and alignment with both industry trends Participating in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Executive Committee meetings Attending monthly Council of Department Heads meetings Promoting student internships and community partnerships Maintaining a wide variety of service courses in the core curriculum Serving as Budget Manager for the department Typical Allocation of Duties : Teaching and scholarship - 30% Teach classes and conducts/presents research in the employee's academic discipline. Recruit and supervise - 20% Recruit and supervise the work of full- and part-time faculty and staff. Evaluate the work of faculty and recommend faculty for tenure and promotion. Curriculum development - 20% Coordinate the development of department curriculum, courses, and schedules. Oversee clinical programs as appropriate. Administrative functions - 20% Direct the department's business and administrative functions. Student services - 10% Coordinate the delivery of student services within the department. Required Qualifications An earned Ph.D. in Communication and/or English from an accredited university Tenure, or a record meritorious of tenure, at a previous institution A record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service A strong record of progressively responsible and relevant leadership experience An awareness of current trends in higher education and a commitment to innovation in teaching and learning Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills A commitment to shared governance and a consultative leadership style Preferred Qualifications Experience with grant writing and extramural funding Record of successful outreach to the community Experience with faculty evaluation and promotion and tenure processes Experience with mentoring faculty Experience as a department head Experience with multi-disciplinary collaboration and curriculum Proposed Salary Commensurate with experience. USG Core Values The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at . Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at . Conditions of Employment Applicants are required to provide: professional references with current contact information documentation of academic credentials employment history Please note that during the search process, VSU reserves the right to: ask c andidates who will serve in Positions of Trust to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment, view social media outlets, and remove job postings without additional notification. Employment is contingent upon: successful completion of a background check investigation, including a criminal background check reference checks Employment may also be contingent upon the job-based requirements if applicable for your position: satisfactory credit check successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) pre-employment drug testing confirmation of credentials After initial hiring, employees will be required to successfully complete all of the following training: New employee orientation VSU's Annual Compliance Training: USG Ethics Policy Conflict of Interest/Outside Activities Policy Drug Free Workplace Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Motor Vehicle Policy Workers Compensation (new hires) Georgia Open Records Act (new hires) USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly) Job-specific training such as: FMLA and Worker's Compensation, Budget Manager training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving Equal Employment Opportunity Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual. Background Check Position of Trust + Credit Accommodations If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Catherine Wills, in the Office of Human Resources at .

Created: 2026-03-10