[Commlist] Assistant Professor of Gaming Studies - Texas Tech University

Gaming studies assistant professor
Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries at Texas Tech 
University.

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/about/employment/asst-prof-game-studies.php

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Assistant Professor in Game Studies
Requisition Number: 39150BR

The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries in the College 
of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University invites applications 
for a tenure-track Assistant Professor who can advance our department’s 
growing offerings in digital gaming to begin in the fall of 2025.  JCMI 
students are typically first-time game makers who are new to both game 
design and coding.  The person in this position will help service these 
students by advancing a research agenda in the area of gaming, growing 
an existing undergraduate certificate in Game Design and Culture, 
helping to develop a campus game making community, and aiding in other 
departmental curriculum.

The Creative Media Industries degree at Texas Tech is designed to train 
innovative, responsible storytellers in convergent media forms who can 
create, analyze, and compete in diverse U.S. and global media 
marketplaces.  Our growth in game design and culture contributes to this 
mission through both coursework and student engagement, and the 
department recently opened an 18-seat esports competition and streaming lab.

Successful candidates must have a publication record and research agenda 
demonstrating their expertise in theories and concepts pertinent to game 
studies and immersive, interactive media.  Such expertise may include 
(but is not limited to) the study of identity in online culture, 
emerging media industries and economics (XR, cryptocurrency), esports, 
fan studies, digital cultures, human-machine communication, strategic 
communication, or media psychology.  Candidates must also have a record 
of or articulate a plan for the successful pursuit of extramural funding 
from federal, state, or private funding in support of engaged scholarship.

A demonstrated record of teaching excellence is required.

In addition, preference will be given to candidates who have strengths 
and experience in digital game design in one or more of the following 
areas: working with game engines and design tools, creative coding, 
interactive storytelling, physical and digital game prototyping, level 
design, interaction design, and/or analog design.

Preference will also be given to candidates with strengths and 
experience that can aid the department’s curricular and community 
expansion in closely aligned areas of game design, including: game jams, 
esports events, festival submissions, 2D/3D game art, VR/AR design, and 
building 3D game environments as well advance the department’s 
engagement with external partners from across the university and beyond.

In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse 
student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and 
transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged 
scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse 
student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within 
individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, 
and service.

The position of Assistant Professor is a 9-month, tenure-track position. 
 The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025 with faculty-on-duty 
in mid-August.  The standard teaching load is four courses per academic 
year, typically a 2-2 load, with the possible opportunity to teach 
additional courses during summer or intersession semesters for 
additional compensation.  Teaching assignments may include both 
face-to-face and online courses.
Required Qualifications

    Candidates must have either completed a Ph.D. in a Media & 
Communication or closely aligned discipline relevant to this position in 
game studies at the time of appointment;
    A demonstrated scholarly publication record and agenda 
demonstrating expertise in game studies and/or immersive, interactive media.
    A record of or demonstrated vision for the successful pursuit of 
extramural funding from federal, state, or private funding in support of 
engaged scholarship.
    Demonstrated record of teaching excellence.
    Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the 
following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

    Demonstrated strengths and experience in game studies and/or game 
design;
    Demonstrated strengths and experience in teaching courses related 
to game design;
    A record of teaching excellence in a variety of contexts 
(face-to-face, online, hybrid) and class sizes (large lecture, lecture, 
and skills-oriented labs).
    Experience with mentorship of undergraduate and/or graduate 
students is highly desirable. 

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable 
health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment 
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender 
identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic 
information or status as a protected veteran.
About The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries

The Department of Journalism & Creative Media Industries (JCMI) 
emphasizes experiential education opportunities that provide immersive 
learning environments, leading its approximately 600 students to produce 
a robust portfolio of content with support from peer, faculty, alumni, 
and industry mentors. In producing their work, JCMI students are 
encouraged from their first day in our degree programs to take advantage 
of opportunities to get busy writing and producing, and plug in to our 
robust, collaborative content culture. 
Made up of 21 full-time faculty across two degree programs, JCMI offers 
new faculty and students a diverse slate of teachers, mentors, and 
collaborators.  JCMI faculty are leaders in their respective areas, 
scholars and practitioners of international stature.
JCMI faculty serve as faculty advisors to a number of student 
organizations and production opportunities, including the Society for 
Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, 
The Daily Toreador, The Hub@TTU, Tech Creative Media Association, 
KTXT-FM 88.1 The Raider, and Tech Esports, among others. JCMI also 
fosters close relationships with on-campus partners, such as KTTZ-TV 
Channel 5 (PBS), KTTZ-FM 89.1 (NPR), and Tech Athletics, as well as four 
local broadcast news outlets and Lubbock’s daily newspaper, the 
Avalanche-Journal.
College of Media & Communication

The College of Media & Communication (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/) at 
Texas Tech University serves approximately 2,300 undergraduate majors in 
five departments, 300 MA students in three programs, and 35 Ph.D. 
students. Its enrollment and credit hours offered have grown 
consistently for the last seven years. CoMC is the #1 Rated Research 
Unit in the TTU system per the 2020 Academic Ranking of World 
Universities (Shanghai Ranking). Its private and state grants 
initiatives have skyrocketed in recent years, achieving its 2025 grants 
goals in fall 2020, many in partnership with HSTEM researchers. It 
maintains high standards for teaching, even as its reputation as a media 
and communication research center expands.

CoMC metrics for retention of students and efficiency of graduation lead 
Texas Tech in many categories. Among its signatures are innovative and 
globally unique teaching programs with the schools of business and 
nursing. The college is proud that Diverse Issues in Higher Education 
magazine recently ranked it 19th nationally for graduating 
Hispanic/Latinx students. Junior faculty hires from top doctoral 
programs in recent years reflect this ascendance. In addition to 
Hispanic and international communication, research strengths among 
college faculty include media and communication, strategic 
communication, science/health, gaming/AI, leadership, 
interpersonal/organizational, and political communication as well as 
social scientific research methods.

The college’s Center for Communication Research offers state-of-the-art 
facilities for studying audience responses to media messages 
(www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/research/ccr/). The Thomas Jay Harris Institute 
for Hispanic and International Communication offers programs in Hispanic 
and international/intercultural communication 
(www.comc.ttu.edu/research/hihic).
Texas Tech University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a public research 
university with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students. It offers 
over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 master’s and 50 doctoral 
degree programs. Texas Tech is the primary research institution in the 
western two-thirds of Texas and is the state’s only campus with an 
adjoining research university, law school, and medical school. Texas 
Tech students come from almost every county in Texas, all 50 states, and 
more than 100 countries. TTU is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), 
and the university’s current Quality Enhancement Plan is “Bear Our 
Banners Far and Wide: Communication in a Global Society” 
(www.depts.ttu.edu/globalcommunications). Texas Tech University is 
recognized as a Carnegie Tier 1 Research University and is a member of 
the Big 12 Athletic Conference. The university is located in Lubbock, 
Texas, a vibrant, diverse city of almost 300,000 residents.
Application Procedure

Please include the following documents in your application:

    Curriculum Vitae
    Cover Letter outlining research agenda related to position 
description; evidence of success
    Other document(s) directly related to required qualifications
    List of references

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Megan Condis, 
Search Committee Chair, at (megan.condis /at/ ttu.edu). If you need assistance 
with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent 
Acquisition at (hrs.recruiting /at/ ttu.edu) or 806-742-3851.

The deadline to submit applications is on January 10, 2025.

To ensure full consideration, please complete an online application at: 
https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25898&siteid=5637#jobDetails=877277_5637 


Candidates must apply online  at www.texastech.edu/careers referencing 
the Requisition Number 39150BR.

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