Description

Position Description:

SDSU Imperial Valley invites applications for a position at the rank of Assistant/Associate/ or Full Professor of Public Administration with a Fall 2025 appointment. This position would be housed exclusively on the SDSU-IV campus, meaning all courses will be taught there. The position requires the expertise to teach core Public Administration courses at the undergraduate level in at least two of the following areas: Human Resources; Leadership; Local, State, or Federal Government; Management or Organizational Theory; Public Administration or Public Policy; Public Finance, Fiscal or Budgetary Policy; Research Methods. The research area is open. Since the SDSU SPA Public Administration program maintains national accreditation, qualified applicants should have a clear interest and ability to contribute to academic program administration and accreditation processes. A doctoral degree in political science, public affairs, public administration, public policy, or sociology is required with research interests related to public administration or public policy.

The minimum salary for this position is based on the current CSU salary schedule and may be revised based on contract collective bargaining. The anticipated salary range for an assistant professor is from $81,000 to $84,000, while an associate professor ranges from $90,000 to $94,000. Salary placement will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. Salaries higher than the published maximums may be offered in limited circumstances. San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For benefits information: https://hr.sdsu.edu/benefits

SDSU Imperial Valley

Founded in 1959, SDSU Imperial Valley (SDSU-IV) offers 12 bachelor’s, three master’s degrees, and an upcoming Doctoral program. SDSU-IV is structured as a college within San Diego State University but functions as a branch campus approximately 125 miles from the main campus in San Diego. With generally small classes, SDSU-IV provides an intimate educational experience. Most SDSU-IV students are from the Imperial County border region (or “Imperial Valley”) and wish to remain there after graduation. This offers a unique opportunity for Public Administration faculty, as many of the area public sector leaders are graduates of SDSU Imperial Valley. Due to its proximity to the Mexican border, the campus serves a student body composed largely of groups that are historically under-represented in higher education. Given the regional focus, responsive curriculum, and community engagement, SDSU-IV has become a powerful engine of economic growth for the region. Less than a two-hour drive from the SDSU main campus, the Calexico campus is located on an eight-acre city block in the heart of Calexico’s civic center along the Mexican border. The Imperial Valley region consists of the Calexico, El Centro, and Brawley micropolitan areas and several other small towns within Imperial County with approximately 180,000 residents. Please visit the SDSU Imperial Valley website for more information, https://imperialvalley.sdsu.edu/

SDSU-IV Division of Professional Studies

The SDSU Imperial Valley Division of Professional Studies offers several programs stressing both academic and practical experiences in a variety of professional fields including Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Nursing, Public Administration, Public Health, and Social Work. The Division offers undergraduate and graduate study programs, including four (4) undergraduate degrees and three (3) graduate degrees.

SDSU School of Public Affairs 

Public Administration and Criminal Justice faculty at SDSU-IV have a dual appointment with the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at San Diego State University. SPA delivers five degree programs: undergraduate degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice as well as graduate programs in City Planning, Criminal Justice, and Public Administration. The combined enrollment is over 1,200 students. The master’s degree in public administration is also offered with an emphasis in either Criminal Justice or City Planning. The School's MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA is currently ranked 2nd among all accredited public administration programs in California by US News and World Report (2023) and 1st among public universities offering an accredited MPA in California. The School of Public Affairs emphasizes excellence in research, teaching, and service to the community, the University, and the discipline. Please see the School of Public Affairs website for more information: http://spa.sdsu.edu/

San Diego State University (SDSU)

SDSU is an established and acknowledged leader in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. With more than 7,700 faculty and staff and 35,000 students, it is one of the largest universities in the western United States. The University offers 91 bachelor degrees, 78 master degrees, and 22 joint doctorates. SDSU is located less than 25 miles from the United States/Mexico border and places an increasing emphasis on international research and preparing students for a global future. The Carnegie Foundation classifies SDSU as a doctoral-granting institution with high research activity and receives over $130 million in external research grants and awards annually. The student body is among the most diverse in the United States and the University is known for cultivating a welcoming environment with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence whether such diversity is presented through cultural, racial, sexual identity, or veteran status. As such, SDSU has received national recognition ranging from the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award (HEED), being recognized as one of the nation’s best universities for women by Professional Women’s Magazine, ranked among the Best Colleges for Veterans by the Military Times, and listed as a top LGBT Friendly campus according to CampusPride.org. Please visit the SDSU website for more information: www.sdsu.edu. 

Requirements

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We seek applicants with demonstrated experience in and/or commitment to teaching and working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and members of underrepresented groups. Candidates must satisfy two or more of the eight Building on Inclusive Excellence (BIE) criteria. Candidates that meet BIE criteria: 

A.    are committed to engaging in service with underrepresented populations within the discipline,

B.     have demonstrated knowledge of barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline,

C.     have experience or have demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring underrepresented students,

D.    have experience or have demonstrated commitment to integrating understanding of underrepresented populations and communities into research,

E.     have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to extending knowledge of opportunities and challenges in achieving artistic/scholarly success to members of an underrepresented group,

F.     have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to research that engages underrepresented communities, 

G.    have expertise or demonstrated commitment to developing expertise in cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and/or 

H.    have research interests that contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. 

Please indicate in your Diversity Statement how you meet at least two (2) of the above criteria. Additional guidance on our BIE program for applicants is here: https://sacd.sdsu.edu/cie/guidance-candidates

Qualifications 

Applicants must have an earned doctorate in political science, public affairs, public administration, public policy, or sociology by August 1, 2025. The individual will teach undergraduate courses in Public Administration at SDSU Imperial Valley, maintain an active research agenda, and serve on university committees. Candidates must demonstrate in their cover letter and application materials that they possess defined research interests and experience related to Public Administration or Public Policy. Candidates should have demonstrated evidence of research scholarship and teaching experience. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Interested applicants should apply via Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio.com/157206 

Candidates must submit 1) a cover letter, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a diversity statement outlining BIE criteria, 4) one writing sample, and 5) contact information for three academic references. Additional materials may be requested for shortlisted candidates later.

Screening of applicants will begin on December 16, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. The effective date of appointment is August 2025. Questions about this position should be addressed to the search committee chair, Dr. David Kanaan: dkanaan@sdsu.edu

Note: As part of its commitment to a safe and equitable “OneSDSU” community, SDSU requires that individuals seeking faculty employment provide at the time of application authorization to conduct background checks if they become a finalist for the position; applications without this authorization will be considered incomplete and not considered. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed before any candidate can be offered a position within the California State University system (CSU). Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements outlined in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

SDSU is a Title IX, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or covered veteran status.