Assistant Director of Debate
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Job Info

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Assistant Director of Debate

The George Mason University Department of Communication seeks an Assistant Director of Debate for the August 2022 appointment. This will be a 9-month appointment.

George Mason University Debate is approaching its 50th anniversary and consistently places in the top five nationally. The program has also become an integral part of the mission and vision of George Mason University.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:

Mason's Communication Department has a diverse and collegial faculty committed to excellence, innovation, community and public service, inclusion, and social equity. All department faculty participate in the life of our campus community, including career fairs, faculty functions, recruiting sessions, and other events. We offer a broad undergraduate program, five minor programs, a large M.A. program including strategic, health, and science communication specialties, and a focused Ph.D. program emphasizing health, strategic, and science communication. The department also offers a graduate certificate in science communication. We enjoy robust student diversity in all our academic programs, serving students who bring a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds to our classrooms. Additionally, the department supports several co-curricular activities, including debate, forensics, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Society for Professional Journalists, and a comprehensive student media organization (newspaper, radio, television, sports announcing, magazine and journal editing, etc.).

Responsibilities:

The successful applicant will be expected to coach, travel, perform administrative duties, research debate assignments, and recruit from both the high school and community college debate circuits. The Assistant Director will be primarily responsible for curricular development and coaching novice and junior varsity debaters. The Assistant Director teaches two Communication undergraduate courses per year (1-1 teaching load), which may include the university core communication fundamentals course. Additional responsibilities include accompanying (including driving) groups of students to and from tournaments, co-directing college and high school debate tournaments, and assisting with the planning and supervision of a debate summer camp. Participating in debate community committees is also expected.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree (or higher) in Communication or a Communication-related field (MA, MS) or equivalent combination of education and experience; Experience as a competitor in collegiate debate; Experience as a coach in debate; Experience in recruiting, coaching, and retaining novice and junior varsity competitors; Demonstrated research skills; Familiarity with diverse argument styles and ability to coach across disciplines; Demonstrated organizational skills, proficiency in online tabulation programs, and facility with social media and team promotional efforts; Demonstrated commitment to collegiality and university/debate community service; Teaching experience with evidence of teaching effectiveness; Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; and Valid driver's license and a safe driving record. See George Mason University Policy 1411.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant experience as a competitor in collegiate debate (2+ years and/or excellent competitive record); Significant experience (3+ years and/or excellent competitive record) as a coach in collegiate debate; Demonstrated success in recruiting, coaching, and retaining novice and junior varsity competitors; Teaching experience at the college level, with evidence of teaching effectiveness; and Demonstrated ability to add excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in coaching and teaching, including working successfully with diverse students and colleagues, mentoring diverse students and colleagues, and creating an inclusive environment in which all students can flourish.

Special Instructions to Applicants

In a continuing effort to enrich GMU's academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, we actively encourage applications from all job seekers including members of all ethnic groups underrepresented in higher education.

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA83BZ at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; upload a cover letter outlining your debate coaching and teaching philosophy, your classroom teaching experience and philosophy, your description of what you can bring to the Mason Debate Team and Department of Communication, and a statement on your approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please also upload your CV and a list of three professional references with contact information. For full consideration, applications must be submitted by May 25, 2022.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

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