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

San José State University’s Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies invites applications for an Assistant Professor specializing in Chicanx/Latinx Experiences, Law, and Policy. The position begins August 19, 2027.

Anticipated hiring range: $88,000 – $92,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Faculty benefits are highly competitive within the higher-education sector; see the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details.

About the Department

The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San José State University was created in 1968 and is one of the nation’s pioneering Ethnic Studies programs. It educates students through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in social justice, community engagement, and critical inquiry. The department 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 Silicon Valley, the department offers unique opportunities for collaboration with diverse communities, public institutions, and advocacy organizations. It supports undergraduate and graduate specializations in 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. The department is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is dedicated to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning, faculty and student success, and culturally sustaining, academically affirming approaches to education.

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.
• Participate in shared governance through department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Organize all classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• Demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a diverse student population—including 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population, as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.

Institutional Excellence Statement

Applicants are invited to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into their cover letter) to share how their lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. Guidelines for writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Note: All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083. Faculty may also be designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) under the Clery Act and must complete related training. Faculty are required to complete additional CSU employee training as assigned (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety).