Associate or Full Professor – Native American Studies
Department Summary
The College of Social Sciences (CoSS) at San José State University (SJSU) invites applications for a tenured faculty position, at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, in the field of Native American Studies.
SJSU is located in a region that is home to the Muwekma Ohlone people and has the largest Intertribal Indian and indigenous Latin American population in the US. We currently enroll approximately 700 students who identify as Native American. SJSU offers a Native American Studies minor that is currently administered by the department of Anthropology. The minor includes courses in American Studies, Anthropology, Art, Chicana/o Studies, Communication Studies, History, Sociology, and Women’s Studies. With this position, SJSU is seeking an established scholar who has a vision for building an independent Native American program that is grounded in Ethnic Studies perspectives and practices, with the support of an institution and college committed to developing Native American Studies.
SJSU and CoSS are committed to growing Ethnic Studies more broadly. In 2018, CoSS launched the Ethnic Studies Collaborative (ESC), bringing together faculty, staff, and students to highlight the research and leadership contributions of SJSU’s Ethnic Studies programs and departments. The ESC includes the Department of African American Studies, Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, and the Program of Asian American Studies; it serves as the nexus for Ethnic Studies faculty, student, and community collaboration at SJSU. The ESC supports Ethnic Studies curricular and co-curricular projects that address issues of settler colonialism, racial capitalism, immigration, and racialization, with a focus on the comparative histories and experiential knowledges of marginalized racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., including but not limited to Native Americans/American Indians; Black and African Americans; Chicanxs and Latinxs; Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Oceania and other nations; and Asian Americans. The ESC is also currently playing a key role in shaping the implementation of AB 1460, the CSU graduation requirement in Ethnic Studies.
This position is an excellent opportunity for scholars interested in a career at a teaching-centered institution that is a national leader in graduating historically underserved students. SJSU has achieved both HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and AANAPISI (Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution) status. Moreover, 40% of our student population are first-generation and 38% are Pell-qualified. As a result, we rank third nationally in increasing student upward mobility.
The successful candidate will be appointed in any of the twelve departments in the College of Social Sciences contingent on disciplinary focus and in consultation with the candidate. This position is one of several faculty searches this year at both senior and junior levels across African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Chicana and Chicano Studies. These incoming faculty will join a community of current Ethnic Studies faculty who are engaging in innovative pedagogies, producing community-centered research, and transforming SJSU through their campus leadership.
For further information see a description of departments and activities in the College of Social Sciences and the Ethnic Studies Collaborative, and our current curriculum for the undergraduate minor program in Native American Studies.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Native American Studies or any field of study in the College of Social Sciences (African American Studies, Anthropology, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Communication Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, History, Justice Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Studies, and Urban and Regional Planning), or other related field with a Specialization in Native or Indigenous Studies.
- Teaching and mentoring experiences and a scholarship record in Native American Studies that is appropriate for an Associate or Full Professor appointment.
- Demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a multicultural population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching and other comparable experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in collaboration with California Native American communities or First Nations or Native American nations.
- Experience with program leadership and curricular development.
- Knowledge of disciplinary trends in the fields of one or more of the departments in the College of Social Sciences regarding issues that center on Ethnic Studies or Native American studies.
- Experience working with curriculum relevant to the CSU Ethnic Studies graduation requirement outlined in California Assembly Bill 1460.
Responsibilities
- Participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committee and other service assignments.
- Demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the strengths and needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advising.
- Develop and sustain an ongoing record of research, scholarship, and/or creative activities, as well as other professional engagement.
- Contribute to curriculum development for the University Ethnic Studies requirement, and lead the development of a new Native American/American Indian Studies program, with a goal of establishing an autonomous department.
- Contribute to an interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies Collaborative.
Compensation – Commensurate with qualifications and experience. See Benefits Summary for details.
Starting Date – August 2021.
Eligibility – Employment is contingent upon proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
Application Procedure
Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:
- letter of interest
- curriculum vitae
- Statement of teaching interests/philosophy (2 pages) that describes what role faculty play in student success
- Statement of research plans (2 pages) that addresses the relationship of research activities to the classroom and teaching
- Diversity statement (2 pages) that discusses best strategies for supporting historically marginalized students
- Three references with contact information
Inquiries may be directed to the Search Committee Chair Libra Hilde (libra.hilde@sjsu.edu).
The University
San José State University enrolls over 35,700 students, a significant percentage of whom are members of minority groups. The University is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.
San José State University is California’s oldest institution of public higher learning. Located in downtown San José (Pop. 1,000,000) in the heart of Silicon Valley, SJSU is part of one of the most innovative regions in the world. As Silicon Valley’s public university, SJSU combines dynamic teaching, research, and university-industry experiences to prepare students to address the biggest problems facing society. SJSU is a member of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system.
Equal Employment Statement
San José State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. 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. 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.
Additional Information
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
Advertised: Pacific Standard Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled