Assistant Professor of Advertising

The Communication Division of Pepperdine University’s Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences invites applications for a tenure-track appointment as an Assistant Professor of Advertising to begin August 2025. The ideal candidate will be committed to excellent undergraduate teaching, have a clear research agenda, and be active in a faith community. To be eligible for a tenure-track position, the successful candidate must hold a PhD in Advertising, Mass Communication, Marketing Communication, Communication, Computer Science, or a related field no later than August 1, 2025.

Successful candidates must possess knowledge of advertising principles and foundations, as well as teaching and research expertise in incorporating the art of persuasive communication into modern digital advertising. They should have teaching expertise in digital strategy, AI-powered advertising, media planning, research, campaigns, or other relevant courses. Scholars interested in research on emerging issues in advertising, such as AI, social media advertising, CSR, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, are especially encouraged to apply. Candidates should be able to teach relevant theories and concepts, as well as the practical application of related technologies. Professional experience in the field is highly desirable. Candidates should aim to collaborate with other disciplines to enrich advertising curriculum, and must plan to advise students, oversee internships, and advance the university, college, and division through service.

Pepperdine’s undergraduate Seaver College is a residential liberal arts college of more than 3,550 students situated in Malibu, California. It is affiliated with the churches of Christ and the Restoration tradition within Protestant Christianity.  All applicants must have an active commitment to the Christian mission and values of the University and reflect on their willingness to support the mission of Seaver College in their application materials. 

The salary for this appointment will range from $87,795 and $93,909 and reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this faculty appointment. Actual salary may vary based on the qualifications and experience of the applicant, as well as market conditions. In addition to salary, Pepperdine offers a robust suite of employee benefits.

Review of applicants will begin October 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. A background check will be required as a condition of employment. Please submit all application materials by clicking [Apply Now].

For additional information, please contact:

HoYoung (Anthony) Ahn, PhD (hoyoung.ahn@pepperdine.edu)
Chair, Search Committee
Seaver College, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-4211

Applicants are required to submit the following documents to https://apply.interfolio.com/151807

• A letter of application
• A curriculum vitae 
• Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within one year prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
• Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
• Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate’s values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
• Scholarly/Creative Agenda. The statement should outline applicants’ short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or creative activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. Two to three pages maximum length is requested.
• Response to Mission. Pepperdine University’s mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the churches of Christ, it is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who richly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.
  
  At Seaver College, the undergraduate college of letters, arts, and science at Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. To achieve this goal, the college’s mission statement affirms that we are a Christian college where each student is a person of infinite dignity and their total development is centered at the heart of our educational enterprise. Arising from our faith, we commit to pursue truth relentlessly in all disciplines, fully confident that it has nothing to fear from investigation.
  
  Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian missions of Pepperdine University and Seaver College and address the following areas in their response.
   
  • A consistent pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
  • Active participation in a community of faith.
  • Either current practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom. 

A background check will be required as a condition of employment. Depending on the position, the search committee may request that additional materials accompany the application (e.g., prior teaching evaluations, portfolio of scholarly work, etc.)