Policy Studies Student Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

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

Compensation: Commensurate with qualificiations, 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 Universityis pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor with aspecialization in Chicanx/Latinx Experiences, Law, andPolicy beginning in August 2027. The department welcomesscholars employing a range of interdisciplinary approaches,including Chicana/o Studies, legal studies, public policy analysis,social justice studies, immigration studies, community-engagedresearch, restorative justice, racial equity, and the socialimpacts of emerging technologies. The successful candidate willcontribute to undergraduate and graduate curricula through coursessuch as Chicanx/Latinx Communities and the Law, Public Policy andChicanx 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 StateUniversity was created in 1968. It is one of the nation'spioneering Ethnic Studies programs and educates students through aninterdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, communityengagement, and critical inquiry. Distinctive within the CSU systemand nationally, CCS is home to the oldest graduate program inChicana/o Studies in the United States and one of only a handful ofgraduate programs in the discipline in California. Located in theheart of Silicon Valley, the department offers unique opportunitiesfor collaboration with diverse communities, public institutions,and advocacy organizations while supporting undergraduate andgraduate specializations in areas such as Cultural and CreativeExpression, Institutions and Community Engagement, Policy Studies,and Transnationalism. Candidates will join a collaborativecommunity of faculty, staff, and students committed to advancingscholarship and teaching on the intersections of race, ethnicity,class, gender, culture, law, public policy, and social justice,with opportunities to develop innovative curricula, mentor graduatestudents, and contribute to research and public engagement thatserves Chicanx/Latinx communities in California and beyond.

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is part of theCollege of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable andinclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty andstudent success as inextricably linked, and strives to provideculturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches tosupporting and engaging students and faculty. We provideopportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holisticstudent success, and support scholarship of engagement thataddresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of ourendeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster aculture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, andstudents.

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies and San José StateUniversity value institutional excellence and are committed toadvancing equity through research, teaching, and service.Ouruniversity enrolls more than 40,000 students, many of whom arehistorically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduatestudents are first-generation college students and 38% are PellGrant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an AsianAmerican and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution(AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environmentsthat facilitate both individual and collective transformation. Weseek teacher‑scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spacesfor mutual learning, skill‑building, and knowledge exchange for allstudents. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningfulconnections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broadercommunities we serve.

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

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Chicana/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, Latinx Studies, LegalStudies, Political Science, Sociology, Justice Studies, PublicPolicy, or a closely related field with a demonstrated specialization in Chicanx/Latinx experiences, law, and/or publicpolicy (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, civilrights, 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.

Preferred Qualifications

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 programfocused on the intersections of Chicanx/Latinx communities, law,and public policy, including publishing scholarly work, presentingat professional conferences, and contributing to public‑facing orcommunity‑engaged scholarship that advances social justice andpolicy reform.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Chicana and ChicanoStudies, contribute to curriculum development in areas such as law,public policy, and social justice, and actively engage in studentmentoring, advising, and service to the department, college,university, and broader community.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually indepartment, college, and university committees and other serviceassignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the CanvasLearning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience inunderstanding the needs of a student population of great diversity– in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion,economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, genderidentity, and academic preparation – through inclusive coursematerials, 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 setforth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policyand Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwidepolicy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Acttraining 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 andSafety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Conditional Offer

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. Satisfactory completion of background and reference checks (including criminal records and prior employment) are required. 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.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative 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 S