Job Summary
The Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling at East Tennessee State University seeks an Assistant Professor and Director of Storytelling. This position carries full-time, tenure-track status beginning August 15, 2026, as an academic year appointment pending continued availability of funds.
We seek an energetic and inspiring faculty member with a demonstrated emphasis in Storytelling who will grow our undergraduate programs in Storytelling and our master's program in Communication and Storytelling Studies through teaching and alliance building with campus and community partners, such as the International Storytelling Center, National Storytelling Network, Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, and Story Collab). Our new colleague should be able to help our students understand storytelling not only as folk and traditional art but also as contemporary practice with socially transformative potential and workplace applications.
We are especially interested in candidates who have or are willing to develop an expertise in digital storytelling. The successful candidate must have a demonstrated ability as a performance storyteller and possess strong academic credentials and experience in two or more of the following areas:
• Performance studies • Performance ethnography • Narrative • Oral history • Applied storytelling • Social justice • Street, forum, or interactive theatre • Arts-based research methods • Storytelling for career preparation (e.g., interpretive biology, public history, environmental or natural resource interpretation, cultural heritage interpretation)
Teaching (50%)
The expected teaching load is a 2/3 (two in fall, three in spring) after accounting for a course release to compensate for the service obligations related to directing the Storytelling program. This tenure-track faculty member is expected to teach existing courses to undergraduates (e.g., Introduction to Storytelling, Storytelling Oral Traditions, Telling Personal Stories, Applied Storytelling, Public Speaking, Communication Theory, etc.) and graduate students (e.g., Foundations of Storytelling Performance, Advanced Storytelling Performance, Applied Storytelling, History of Performance Traditions, etc.).
Other duties of this position include developing and updating curricula, supervising and mentoring graduate assistants, and assisting with curricular assessments among other duties as assigned. The ideal candidate will also develop new courses, including a course in digital storytelling. This tenure-track faculty member will also advise undergraduate and graduate students, including directing MA theses and/or capstones. The candidate will serve on graduate student M.A. committees and undergraduate honors thesis committees. Teaching formats may include in-person, hybrid, and online teaching. Summer and winter teaching opportunities are optional and available depending on need. All faculty hold regular office hours for students enrolled in classes taught.
Service (20-30%)
The successful candidate will direct our Storytelling program in consultation with the department chair. Ideal candidates will demonstrate strong organizational skills, a vision for expanding undergraduate and graduate Storytelling recruitment and programming. Additionally, they will demonstrate the ability to work in collegial and collaborative environments, foster strong ties with local and national storytelling communities, and lead marketing and publicity for Storytelling programming. They will also advise the Storyteller Collective student organization and take the lead in producing storytelling events, including a series of monthly Story Slams. In addition, tenure-track faculty members contribute professional service to the college, university, discipline, and/or community.
Research & Creative Activity (20-30%)
Tenure-track faculty contribute to the mission of the Department of Communication Studies & Storytelling through a program of research and/or creative activity that leads to publication, conference presentations, peer-reviewed performances, and/or competitively selected performances. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research agenda connects the Communication Studies and Storytelling programs (e.g., arts-based research methods, performance ethnography, etc.).
Department Overview
The Department of Communication Studies & Storytelling serves approximately 100 majors and minors at the undergraduate level and 10 M.A. students. The award-winning ETSU Speech & Debate Team and the Storyteller Collective are also housed within the department. The department currently has 12 full-time faculty members with areas of expertise across communication and storytelling fields.
Required Qualifications
Candidates must have a Ph.D. or terminal degree in communication, cultural studies, performance studies, folklore studies, cultural sustainability, cultural anthropology, theatre, or other related field. Candidates who are ABD will be considered, but the successful candidate must have completed all requirements for an earned doctorate prior to the start date.
Emphases in Performance Storytelling
Candidates must have an emphasis in performance storytelling, with associated specializations in two or more of the following:
• Digital storytelling • Performance studies • Performance ethnography • Oral history • Advocacy and social change • Street, forum, or interactive theatre • Arts-based research methods • Applied storytelling
Experience in Higher Education Teaching and Research
Candidates must have experience in higher education teaching and research. Evidence of ability to take leadership of an academic concentration is also required. Research and/or creative activity that connects the Communication Studies and Storytelling programs, background or prior experience in/with Communication Studies, is also preferred.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary - $60,000
For information on benefits please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.
Application Instructions
Exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants. Applicant review will begin on November 21, 2025 and we will be accepting applications until December 5th, 2025.
Please include the following items on your application:
• Curriculum vitae • Minimum 3 professional references on your CV • Cover letter that specifically addresses the job summary and the required and preferred qualifications listed in this posting • Evidence of teaching excellence • 1-2-page research and/or creative activity agenda • Transcripts must be submitted to be considered for review; unofficial transcripts or a copy of the transcript is acceptable for application purposes. Official transcripts may be required upon hire. • ABD candidates should provide convincing evidence in the application materials that the Ph.D. degree will be conferred prior to August 15, 2026.
University Overview
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institutions mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institutions focus on community engagement.