Assistant Director of Forensics/Assistant Professor or Instructor in Communication (Fall 2025)

Position Information Position Title Assistant Director of Forensics / Assistant Professor or Instructor in Communication (Fall 5) Job Responsibilities Truman State University seeks a diverse pool of applicants for a full-time, non-tenure-track instructor or Assistant Professor of Communication to begin August 5. This is a nine-month position eligible for renewal.

Responsibilities : Provide classroom instruction in lower and upper division curriculum; fulfill additional faculty duties including coaching intercollegiate debate; demonstrate the teacher-scholar model; mentor students; and provide service to the university and community. Truman is looking for field-specific expertise accompanied by an ability to teach to students following a broad range of pathways in the liberal arts and sciences. Successful candidates will be excited by the opportunity to engage in intentional collaborative research, curricular and co-curricular experiences across programs, departments and schools. Truman is committed to responding to rapidly evolving changes in our fields and in the workforce, embracing expansive modes of inquiry, and building strong communities of practice to address real world needs.

Program : Communication at Truman has 9 full-time faculty members and approximately students in the major program with approximately minors in Communication, Journalism, and Political Communication. The Communication major allows students to choose from five emphases : Relational Communication, Corporate Communication, Strategic Communication, Argument & Speech, and Activism & Advocacy. The curriculum also contributes to the Education certification track in speech and theatre education and the interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in Social Issue Advocacy. The forensics program at Truman State University has had multiple national championships, national finalists, national sweepstakes awards, and state level-champions over the last couple of decades. The program competes in the full range of NFA / AFA individual events and currently participates in NFA-LD and IPDA debate formats. For more information about the Communication program, please visit

The University : Truman State University is home to a vibrant educational community. The approximately 3, students who make up its student body are well prepared for the challenging academics in a supportive environment. More than % engage in significant undergraduate research and creative projects. Nearly % gain leadership experience, and nearly half plan to go on to graduate or professional school.

Founded in 7, Truman is known for its focus on student learning and outcomes and places an emphasis on high-impact experiences such as internships, research, and study abroad opportunities. Truman has the highest overall graduation rate among the state’s public four-year colleges and universities. For more than two decades, Truman has been recognized as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest regional category by News & World Report, and Washington Monthly consistently ranks Truman as one of the best master’s universities in the nation. For more information regarding additional rankings and acknowledgments, visit .

The Community : Located in northeast Missouri, Kirksville is a cultural and economic hub in the region. In addition to being the home of Truman, Kirksville is the birthplace of osteopathic medicine and features a medical school, dental school and community college, and the Kirksville School District is consistently recognized for academic excellence. The community takes pride in several annual events including the Red, White and Blue Festival and the FLATS Trail Half-Marathon. The charming downtown area features an arts center, as well as several local shops and restaurants. It is also the site of numerous community events including weekly farmers’ markets from May through October, as well as the Red Barn Arts and Craft Festival each fall. Just a few minutes outside of town is beautiful Thousand Hills State Park with hiking and biking opportunities surrounding the -acre Forest Lake. Kirksville offers easy access by car to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and Des Moines. Daily flights from Kirksville Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare provide quick access to one of the country’s major metropolitan areas. More information about Kirksville can be found at . Required Qualifications Required Qualifications : This position requires a master’s degree in Communication or a closely related field and experience with competitive Forensics for appointment as an Instructor. A completed PhD (or comparable degree) and competitive Forensics experience is required for appointment as an Assistant Professor.

Applicants will be evaluated on :

• Academic qualifications.
• Teaching background or the potential for teaching introductory and advanced Communication courses in Public Speaking, Oral Advocacy, Debate and Argumentation, Oral Interpretation, Performance Studies, as well as courses related to their teaching or research specialty, such as Communication Theory, Communication Education, Social Media, Interpersonal Communication, and / or Health Communication.
• Forensics coaching background and the potential for assisting the Director of Forensics in coaching a range of events across a comprehensive speech and debate program.
• Capacity to coach students during the week and travel to and judge at tournaments throughout the competition season (September through May), as well as share the administrative responsibilities attached to such activities.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness, including potential for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in undergraduates.
• Evidence of scholarly activity with emphasis on the use of candidates’ scholarship to inform their teaching.
• Evidence of commitment to liberal arts education as a teacher-scholar, with undergraduate student development and accomplishment as the highest priority.
• Interest and background in interdisciplinary and / or cross-disciplinary teaching.
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; and
• Compatibility with the department’s needs.

Preferred Qualifications