Professor of the Practice

Job Description Summary

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism is seeking an experienced journalist to serve as its next director.

The Povich Center prepares students to be leaders in sports media through a curriculum that elevates discussions of race, gender, culture, politics and policy—just as pioneering sports journalist Shirley Povich did for most of the 20th century in the pages of the Washington Post. A central mission is to guide students in the production of professional-quality enterprise and investigative sports journalism that not only informs but also preserves historical context, provides civic value, and encourages public engagement. Povich Center journalism has been published by The Washington Post, PBS NewsHour and other leading news organizations. It has regularly won professional journalism awards from organizations like the Associated Press Sports Editors and Investigative Reporting and Editors.

The Povich Center has also engaged in a range of other activities, including professional development workshops, research related to sports and sports journalism, summer camps, study abroad programs and events like the annual Povich Symposium, which brings together sports journalists, all-star athletes and collegiate and professional sports executives to discuss pressing issues in sports media or the sports industry. The Povich Center was established in 2011 with support from Shirley Povich’s children – Maury, Lynn and David – as well as other parties.

JOB DETAILS:
This is a year-round (“12 month”), in-person position based in the Povich Center in College Park, Maryland. It is not eligible for a fully remote or hybrid schedule, but is eligible for occasional remote work.

This position is posted as an “open rank” position. We expect to hire this person as a “Professor of the Practice” – a title that does not provide tenure or eligibility for tenure in the future or as a “Professor” or “Associate Professor” – formal University of Maryland titles that provide tenure.
If this person’s record of professional accomplishment meets or exceeds the university’s high standards for appointment as a “Professor” or “Associate Professor” with tenure, we expect they will be appointed to that position. If it does not, they will be appointed as a Lecturer or “Professor of the Practice” on a five-year renewable contract. In either case, the person filling this position will be appointed as the George Solomon Endowed Chair in Sports Journalism.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
● a bachelor’s degree
● a minimum of 15 years of journalism experience, including experience reporting and editing investigative or enterprise sports journalism work that elevates discussions of race, gender, culture, politics and policy in sports.
● Experience with storytelling forms tailored to reach new audiences on multiple platforms.

PREFERENCES:
We expect successful candidates will match some of the items on the list below. We think no candidate is likely to have all of them. Please apply even if you cannot check every box.
● Teaching and mentoring experience, which could include university-level or high-school teaching, teaching at industry conferences or formal mentorship of early-career journalists.
● Fundraising experience.
● Experience producing, sponsoring, managing or collaborating on the production of research reports about critical issues in sports, especially around race, gender, business, politics, policy or culture.
● Personnel management experience.
● Experience in building and managing internal and external partnerships to produce high-quality journalism.
● Demonstrated ability to bring extensive attention to your work through high-profile media channels whether controlled by you or others.
● A deep network in sports journalism and professional and/or amateur sports.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: n/a

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: n/a

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials:

• A CV or resume
• A cover letter in which you: 
  • Succinctly explain your interest in the position.  
  • Explain, with specifics, how your experience, background and interests align with the listed items under the headings “Minimum Requirements,” “Preferred Experience and Qualities,” and “Other Experience Worth Mentioning.”
• Provide links to three examples of investigative or enterprise sports journalism work that you helped produce, along with a brief explanation of your role in the production. For each work, please briefly explain how it elevated discussion of race, gender, culture, politics, policy or social issues in sports.

Best Consideration Date:

November 30, 2026

Posting Close Date:

December 1, 2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Financial Disclosure Required

No

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

Department

JOUR-Philip Merrill College of Journalism

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$185,000- $210,000

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization.  Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

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