Description:

The Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston is seeking applications for a full-time, Instructional Associate Professor for the Media Production program beginning in the Fall of 2026.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate media production and theory/criticism courses in a fully developed program centering on studio and field production, long and short-form narrative storytelling, multimedia and nonlinear editing.

The successful candidate will be someone who is passionate about mentoring students to create films. The ideal candidate would have experience advising a student professional group around media production and/or filmmaking. The ideal candidate would have professional background in a variety of film production genres like long-feature film, short-feature film, documentary, and narrative storytelling.

The ideal candidate would also have experience in the business foundations and/or in the entrepreneurial perspective of filmmaking.

Candidates should be able to teach the following areas: Multi-camera Studio Production, Single Camera Studio Production, ENG and EFP, Audio Production. Candidates also need to have technical proficiency with production switchers, studio and field cameras, lighting and grip equipment and audio gear.

Instructional Associate Professors teach a 3-3 course load. They are expected to provide service to the School as well in the form of mentoring students, supporting student groups, and serving on standing committees that help the school function.

Qualifications:

Candidates should have a terminal degree in the field and considerable professional experience.

About the Valenti School:

Valenti faculty members enjoy a wealth of opportunities with partners from all industries in the Greater Houston area. Of the ~1,400 student population at the Valenti School of Communication, ~475 of the undergraduate students major in media production. The Valenti School has 19 tenure-line and instructional faculty with nearly ~250 undergraduate students majoring in filmmaking/digital cinematography. Media production and cinematography faculty and students learn on-site production in our state-of-the-art media and content production facility, The Lance T. Funston Communication Center. The Center encompasses 3,300 square feet of production space between its two studios, complete with high definition studio cameras. It is instrumental in grooming the future filmmakers and broadcast professionals at the Valenti School. With a production control room large enough to hold an entire class, the Center is both functional and educational. It also houses three HD edit suites running Final Cut Pro X and two audio edit spaces. Field production and equipment checkout is found within the Center as well, with HD cameras, lighting and sound equipment all available for student use.
The Valenti School welcomes candidates whose experience in teaching, research, and/or community service has prepared them to contribute to our goals for students to obtain real-world experience and premier skills-based learning.

About University of Houston:

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One research institution that enrolls more than 47,000 students. Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S., and a top seven media market. It enjoys a reasonable cost of living. It has multinational industries, commercial centers, the largest medical center in the world, a robust arts community, a range of professional sports, an entrepreneurial approach to new technologies, and is the world capital for petroleum exploration and energy.

How to apply:

In addition to including a CV, candidates are asked to provide a cover letter detailing their interest in the position, why they are qualified, and how they would contribute to the filmmaking curriculum offerings and the Valenti School.

We will review applications beginning May 4, 2026. For more information or questions, please contact Prof. Craig Crowe, chair of the search committee, at CCROWE@CENTRAL.UH.EDU

Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.