The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The College on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University (ASU) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Director of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication (HDSHC) with a concurrent appointment as tenured Full Professor. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2026. Reporting to the dean of social sciences within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the next Director will have a leadership style that aligns with the universitys culture of invention and innovation, creates meaningful and enduring results, and encourages a passion for the social sciences as interconnected, inclusive, and impactful fields.
The Director should cultivate a persuasive vision for the HDSHCs future that reflects our highest aspirations for the school and its role in civil discourse within and across communities and throughout society.
About the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
The HDSHC is home to a dynamic group of faculty working to create innovative research and excellence in teaching through its efforts to address the complexity of human communication in the 21st century. The HDSHCs mission aims to place communication at the center of human activity while creating a culture of belonging that values inclusive excellence. The HDSHC is comprised of 28 distinguished core faculty and offers BA, BS, MA, and PhD degrees in Communication and will soon launch an online masters degree in Health Communication. Our faculty are recognized for teaching and research excellence in areas of Human Communication, including health, intercultural, interpersonal, organizational, performance, studies, critical, cultural, and rhetoric.
Online programs have experienced exponential growth, and the school looks forward to continuing the upward trajectory. The HDSHC offers laboratory facilities, computer resources, project support, grant development support, and a performance studio.
Learn more about the HDSHC and ASU at:
About The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national, and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College, our faculty engage with a large, curious student body guiding them as they grow into socially aware, critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty-first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit:
About Arizona State University
ASU exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university measured not by whom it excludes but by whom it includes and how they succeed, advancing research and discovery of public value and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the communities it serves.
Essential Functions
Provide intellectual leadership for a unit addressing the complexity of human communication in the 21st century.
Oversee the management of HDSHCs exceptional academic programs to improve student experiences and expand access.
Collaborate with stakeholders inside and outside of the HDSHC to advance the units goals.
Recruit, retain, and mentor excellent faculty and staff.
Manage unit resources responsibly.