[Commlist] position Director of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication

Director of the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
Arizona State University Tempe
www.imsearch.com/7682

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 School 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 while 
advancing a new generation of scholars and researchers uniquely poised 
in its vibrant undergraduate and graduate student populations at Arizona 
State University. The School’s mission aims to place communication at 
the center of human activity while creating a culture of belonging that 
values diversity to respond to the pressing issues in the world today. 
The new Director will join a community passionate about the integration 
of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into all parts of the 
School’s offerings and operations. The next Director should have a 
leadership style that aligns with the University's culture of invention 
and innovation, creates meaningful and enduring results, encourages a 
passion for the social sciences as interconnected, inclusive, and 
impactful fields, and provides a persuasive vision for the future of 
HDSHC that reflects the highest aspirations for the School and the role 
it can play in civil discourse and society.

A uniquely collaborative group, in 2019 the HDSHC completed a 
School-wide program review that showcased their collegial and 
interdisciplinary nature and outlined shared strategic aspirations for 
the School’s coming years. HDSHC offers BA, BS, MA, and Ph.D. degrees. 
The School is composed of over 20 distinguished interdisciplinary 
faculty recognized for teaching and research excellence in areas of 
Human Communication including: health communication, intercultural 
communication, interpersonal communication, organizational 
communication, performance studies, critical/cultural studies, and 
rhetoric. Online programs, including a minor, BA and MA, have 
experienced exponential growth and the School looks forward to 
continuing that upward trajectory. The School offers laboratory 
facilities, computer resources, project support, grant development 
support, and a performance studio.

The location offers the resources of a major metropolitan area (5+ 
million) in a state with spectacular natural scenery and recreational 
areas, sublime winters, and a culturally rich population. Learn more 
about the HDSHC and ASU at

https://humancommunication.asu.edu/ and 
https://newamericanuniversity.asu.edu/, respectively. Learn more about 
what The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has to offer by visiting 
https://thecollege.asu.edu/faculty.

Minimum Qualifications

    A PhD degree in Communication Studies or a closely related or 
relevant field
    A scholarly record commensurate with the rank of tenured Full 
Professor in The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
    A record of leadership with effective financial oversight, for 
example, as a group or center leader or department chair or director

 Desired Qualifications

    An internationally recognized program of research, a strong record 
of external funding, and experience supporting colleagues as they 
compete for funding
    A demonstrated commitment to teaching and academic innovation
    Demonstrated commitment to principles of justice, equality, 
diversity, and inclusion and to attracting, recruiting, retaining, and 
promoting personnel in support of those principles, and in particular 
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) personnel
    Excellent interpersonal and strong, persuasive communication skills
    Ability to articulate the vision, mission, and future aims of the 
School in relationship to The College and University
    Demonstrated entrepreneurial approach to forming alliances and 
partnerships with other units and programs in the university, as well as 
outside organizations and external stakeholders, particularly those in 
racially and ethnically diverse communities.
    A broad outlook and approach to new trends in Human Communication 
that capture a new learning paradigm of the communication process in 
post-pandemic higher education
    An interest in and commitment to fundraising and an ability to 
present a compelling story to potential donors, funding agencies, and 
external constituencies

Arizona State University is a leading public university ranked #1 Most 
Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report six years in a row and is 
leading a bold reinvention of higher education as the New American 
University. ASU is a research-intensive university and has developed 
numerous new programs and units that defy and bridge disciplinary 
boundaries to enable the exploration and discovery of new knowledge 
while developing solutions to the most challenging issues of our time. 
Located on four campuses and two research parks in the Phoenix 
metropolitan area, ASU is one of the largest universities in the United 
States and has strong and simultaneous commitments to educational 
access, research, and teaching excellence. With the University’s 
location in the nation’s fifth largest city, the Phoenix region provides 
a rich context for applied research and community engagement around 
issues of human communication.

Nominations, inquiries, and applications (a curriculum vitae; a letter 
of interest describing how you meet the qualifications noted above, and 
your vision for leadership of an interdisciplinary school; a diversity 
statement addressing how your past and/or potential contributions to 
diversity and inclusion will advance ASU’s commitment to inclusive 
excellence; and contact information, including email addresses, for five 
references; references may be contacted at a later stage of the search 
and only with the candidate’s approval) can be submitted below. 
Applications will be reviewed beginning Thursday, December 3, 2020; if 
not filled, reviews will occur every two weeks thereafter until the 
search is closed.

A background check is required for employment.

Ponneh Varho and Natalie Leonhard are leading this search with Robin 
Dougherty.


ASU is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative 
Action Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without 
regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, 
protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more 
information on ASU’s policies, please see: 
https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html  and its complete 
non-discrimination statement at: https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus 
security and fire safety programs and resources.  ASU’s Annual Security 
and Fire Safety Report is available online at 
https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a 
hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 
480-965-3456.
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