Black Studies Adjunct Pool , Academic Year 2026-27

Position Summary

The Black Studies Department in the School of Gender, Race & Nations at Portland State University invites applications for adjunct instructors to teach Black Studies courses during the 2025–2026 academic year. We are especially interested in Oregon-based scholars, educators, and practitioners deeply engaged with the histories, religions, cultural production, and lived experiences of people of African descent. Join a dynamic and diverse department dedicated to fostering critical dialogue, community engagement, and interdisciplinary approaches. Adjunct instructors may teach in-person, online, or hybrid modalities in collaboration with the Office of Academic Innovation. We specifically seek instructors to offer courses in the following areas: Vodoun, Rasta, and Islam in the African Diaspora, African Women in Film, Black Popular Music in Context, Black Feminism/Womanism, Race, Justice, and Punishment, Contemporary African American Experience, and additional areas relevant to Black Studies, depending on departmental curricular needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree(s) or comparable knowledge base in Black Studies, Africa Studies, or closely related fields
• Prior teaching experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Terminal degree(s) in Black Studies, African Studies, or closely related fields
• Prior teaching or instructional experience at the college/university or equivalent educational/community-based level
• Experience with interdisciplinary, community-based, or public-facing scholarship and practice

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds
• Sets opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement
• Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Required Professional Standards of Conduct

At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at www.pdx.edu/hr/professional-standards-conduct.

Compensation

Adjunct faculty members are paid per credit hour per the AFT Collective Bargaining Agreement which can be found at https://www.pdx.edu/academic-affairs/academic-unions#psufa.