Policy Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Professor in Chicanx/Latinx Experiences, Law, and Policy

Job no: 560586

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Categories: Unit 3 – CFA – California Faculty Association, Faculty – Social Sciences, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

School/Department Name: College of Social Sciences, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 – $92,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 19, 2027

Application Deadline: 10/11/2026 (Applications
accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Chicana and Chicano at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor with a specialization in Chicanx/Latinx Experiences, Law, and Policy beginning in August 2027. The department welcomes scholars employing a range of interdisciplinary approaches, including Chicana/o Studies, legal studies, public policy analysis, social justice studies, immigration studies, community-engaged research, restorative justice, racial equity, and the social impacts of emerging technologies. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate curricula through courses such as Chicanx/Latinx Communities and the Law, Public Policy and Chicanx Experiences, Chicanas/os in the Criminal Justice System, and related topics in Chicana/o Studies.

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San José State University was created in 1968. It is one of the nation’s pioneering Ethnic Studies programs and educates students through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, community engagement, and critical inquiry. Distinctive within the CSU system and nationally, CCS is home to the oldest graduate program in Chicana/o Studies in the United States and one of only a handful of graduate programs in the discipline in California. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the department offers unique opportunities for collaboration with diverse communities, public institutions, and advocacy organizations while supporting undergraduate and graduate specializations in areas such as Cultural and Creative Expression, Institutions and Community Engagement, Policy Studies, and Transnationalism. Candidates will join a collaborative community of faculty, staff, and students committed to advancing scholarship and teaching on the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, culture, law, public policy, and social justice, with opportunities to develop innovative curricula, mentor graduate students, and contribute to research and public engagement that serves Chicanx/Latinx communities in California and beyond.

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. Our university enrolls more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher‑scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill‑building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

• PhD in Chicana/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, Latinx Studies, Legal Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Justice Studies, Public Policy, or a closely related field with a demonstrated specialization in Chicanx/Latinx experiences, law, and/or public policy (degree must be completed by the time of appointment).
• Demonstrated ability to teach and develop undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Chicana and Chicano Studies, particularly in areas such as law, public policy, social justice, or community-based research, as evidenced by prior teaching experience, teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, or instructional training.
• Demonstrated record of, or clear potential for, scholarly research and publication focused on the intersection of Chicanx/Latinx communities with legal systems, public policy, civil rights, immigration, criminal justice, or related institutional frameworks, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, dissertation research, or an active research agenda.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student populations as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more
of the following:

• Demonstrated expertise in Chicana/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, legal studies, public policy analysis, criminal justice reform, immigration policy, civil rights law, or related applied policy fields, particularly as they relate to California and/or U.S. state and federal systems.
• Evidence of successful teaching experience in Chicana/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, or related disciplines, including the ability to teach core departmental courses such as Chicanx/Latinx Communities and the Law, Chicanas/os in the Criminal Justice System, or Public Policy and Social Justice.
• Experience with, or strong potential for, community-engaged scholarship, participatory action research, or collaborative work with community organizations, advocacy groups, legal aid organizations, or public agencies serving Chicanx/Latinx populations.
• Record of, or potential for, securing external funding, fellowships, or grants in support of research, teaching, or community-based initiatives.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students, particularly first-generation, and historically underrepresented student populations in higher education.
• Ability to contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration with departments such as Justice Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or Ethnic Studies Departments and Programs, including development of cross-listed courses or curricular pathways.
• Experience developing innovative pedagogical approaches, including experiential learning, internships, policy labs, or applied research opportunities that connect classroom learning to real-world policy contexts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain an active research and teaching program focused on the intersections of Chicanx/Latinx communities, law, and public policy, including publishing scholarly work, presenting at professional conferences, and contributing to public-facing or community-engaged scholarship that advances social justice and policy reform.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Chicana and Chicano Studies, contribute to curriculum development in areas such as law, public policy, and social justice, and actively engage in student mentoring, advising, and service to the department, college, university, and broader community.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair and Search
Committee Chair: Dr. Jonathan D. Gomez, jonathan.d.gomez@sjsu.edu

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the mostinnovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements,
emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.