Assistant Professor, African American Studies (with a focus on Black Cultural Studies)

Department of African American StudiesCollege of Humanities and Social SciencesAssistant ProfessorFall 2027

The Department of African American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in African American Studies with a focus on Black Cultural Studies, with an appointment beginning Fall 2027.

PositionThe Department of African American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of African American Studies with a focus on Black Cultural Studies. The appointment will begin in Fall 2027. The appointed faculty member will be responsible for developing and teaching courses in Black Cultural Studies and creative expression.

The primary responsibilities of the person in this position will include the development and teaching of introductory and core courses in the discipline, such as Introduction to African American Studies, and the development of courses in their area(s) of specialization. Potential courses that this person will teach include Intro to Black Creative Expression, Black Lives Matter Creative and Critical Ideas, Hip Hop Culture, and/or Black Representations in Film. Junior faculty generally teach 3 classes per semester. The successful candidate is expected to provide students with applicable skill sets, such as navigating higher education, critical thinking, and professionalization A reduced teaching load is provided for the first two years.

This person will also be responsible for producing scholarship or creative work commensurate with the requirements for tenure. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities.

The African American Studies Department is housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and works closely with the Departments of Chicana and Chicano Studies and Asian American Studies.

CSUF faculty are committed teacher/scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and individually mentored projects. The position offers the right candidate an opportunity to participate in the growth and development of a creative, energetic faculty building a dynamic, intellectually exciting interdisciplinary department. The successful candidate will be eager to join with colleagues in a commitment to active learning, to the assessment of learning outcomes, and to multiple pathways enabling students to acquire a transformative education on the way to a college degree.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in African American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Black Cultural Studies, American Studies, English, Film and Digital Media Studies, or a related field. ABDs must show evidence that the degree will be completed by the appointment date
• Demonstrated experience and interest in topics related to a broad historical view of African American cultural theory and social relations
• A strong record of, or potential to produce, scholarly publications
• Ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service
• Experience in working collaboratively with colleagues and community
• Demonstrated contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and service
• Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in teaching of a very diverse student population, including first-generation college students, underserved students, and racially minoritized students

Desired Qualifications

• Experience teaching courses in Black Cultural Studies and demonstrated scholarly expertise in the field
• Experience teaching, researching, or developing curricula across humanities subdisciplines, such as Music, Film, Dance, Literature, or Digital Media

ApplicationA complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html , choose full-time faculty, search for position 561407, and provide the following required materials:

• Cover letter in which you respond to the required qualifications and preferred qualifications
• Curriculum vitae that includes works in progress (if applicable)
• Teaching statement that describes your pedagogical approach and how you create a welcome learning environment for Black and/or Latinx students
• Representative course syllabi and teaching evaluation summaries, if applicable (submit as a single pdf)
• Research statement
• Graduate Transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review)
• Writing sample (could include published article, dissertation chapter, book chapter, or creative works)
• Candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no more than 500 words):
  • Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).
  • With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.
  • Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.
  • Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
  • Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
  • Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment.
  • Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.
• A list of three references with relevant contact information
  • Finalists will be required to have three letters of recommendation submitted. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You will be able to verify that each letter has been received by CSUF by logging back into your applicant portal.

Please direct all questions about the position to: Dr. Siobhan Brooks, African American Studies Department Chair, at skingbrooks@fullerton.edu or call 657-278-3847.

Application DeadlineTo be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by November 1 st , 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 2027.

The College and DepartmentThe College of Humanities and Social Sciences' departments and program offer students the breadth of a traditional liberal arts education in the humanities and social sciences while preparing them to be members of a global society participating in a wide range of professions or advanced academic or professional study. Students who graduate with a degree from the H&SS are assured of having depth of understanding in their field of study and the useful core skills that are most attractive to prospective employers and most useful for success in graduate school.

The Department of African American Studies is an interdisciplinary intellectual community committed to advancing knowledge about Black people in the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. The department strives to interrogate the historical meanings and dimensions of slavery, colonialism, resistance, and freedom, and explore their implications for contemporary political, social, and cultural expressions of Black identity.

CompensationThe Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,126 to $7,269 per month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work ( https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm ).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start-up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF BenefitsAn excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee-waiver; access to campus child-care; and a defined-benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/ .

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

International CandidatesCalifornia State University, Fullerton, is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University, Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclam