Assistant Professor- Public Administration

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor in Public Administration

School/Department Name: School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies, College of Social Sciences
Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $86,000-$90,000

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 2026

Application Deadline: October 31, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies (SPPES) at San Jose State University is pleased to announce a search for an Assistant Professor in Public Administration beginning in August 2026. We seek an interdisciplinary teacher-scholar who will contribute to our Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and has expertise in collaborative and participatory governance; digital governance; policy innovation processes; and/or administrative or land use law. Competitive applicants will also demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing social equity through their research, teaching, professional experience, and/or advising.

The newly established School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies (SPPES) is home to several professional graduate programs including the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Urban Planning (MUP), Master of Science in Geographic Information Sciences (MSGISc), and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies, along with undergraduate programs in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Global Studies. The new faculty will join a community of interdisciplinary teacher-scholars who are dedicated to mentoring students to become future leaders in public service and to building partnerships to address complex social problems. More information about the Public Administration program in the College of Social Sciences is located here: https://www.sjsu.edu/mpa/.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies in the College of Social Sciences and San Jose State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 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 Inclusive 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 and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Public Administration, Public Policy, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Evidence of potential for significant scholarly contributions in areas of expertise.
• Demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in across-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

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

• Expertise in the design, function, and reform of governance systems.
• Expertise in community-engaged, policy, and participatory action research that addresses the needs of diverse, urban communities.
• Practical experience in public service work, especially in local government or non-profit organizations, and/or professional work experience (e.g., city staff).
• Hold an undergraduate or graduate degree in a relevant field.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• The candidate will teach core and elective graduate courses in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. May also teach other graduate courses in Urban Planning, Geography/GIS, and/or Environmental Studies programs depending on student need.
• Faculty conduct interdisciplinary research that contributes to and connects the fields of public administration and public policy.
• The candidate will mentor graduate students, including advising on capstone projects and preparing students for careers in public service.
• Faculty use innovative teaching practices to enhance student learning and enrich the MPA program and SPPES curricula.
• Faculty contribute to service for the MPA program that supports our Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation.
• The candidate will engage with external partners, including community organizations, policymakers, and practitioners to enhance the relevance and impact of research and teaching.
• 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 Jose 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.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents. Statements should be no longer than 2-pages.

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• statement of research agenda and accomplishments
• three references with contact information

Inquiries may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Laureen Hom (laureen.hom@sjsu.edu); or School Director: Katherine Cushing (katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu).

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 a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San Jose State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley - one of the most innovative regions in the world - San Jose 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 Jose 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 Jose 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 Jose 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

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. 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 Jose 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.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. 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.