Position: Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies
Effective Date: August 17, 2027 (Fall Semester)
Salary Range: The Assistant Professor ([redacted]) classification salary is $74,652 to $158,688/year; $6,221 to $13,224/per month (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $86,000 to $90,000/per year; $7,167 to $7,500/per month (12 monthly payments per academic year). Salary offered is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Deadline: Review of applications to begin December 14, 2026. Position opened until filled (or recruitment canceled)
College of Liberal Arts Program in American Indian Studies Required Qualifications: - Ph.D., Ed.D., MFA, JD, or other appropriate terminal degree in American Indian Studies, Native American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Ethnic Studies, or a related discipline. Degree at time of application or official notification of completion by August 1, 2027.
- Demonstrated academic expertise in American Indian, Native American, First Nations, and/or Indigenous Studies
- Research and teaching specialization in Tribal community-engaged research
- Demonstrated experience in community-engaged, applied, or public scholarship conducted in partnership with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, or Native-serving organizations
- Demonstrated commitment to research practices grounded in reciprocity, respect for Tribal sovereignty, and accountability to community-defined priorities
- Ability to develop and teach curriculum focused on applied and community-engaged research, including Indigenous research methodologies and the ethics of research with Tribal communities
- Evidence of, or clear potential for, a sustained research agenda in Tribal community-engaged research leading to peer-reviewed publication, public scholarship, and/or creative activities of value to partner communities
- Ability to mentor students in community-engaged research and to create opportunities for them to take part in collaborative projects with Tribal and community partners
- Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a diverse student population, including low socioeconomic and first-generation students
Preferred Qualifications: - Experience teaching or developing courses in community-engaged or applied research methods
- Familiarity with Tribal research protocols, Tribal IRBs, or Indigenous data governance frameworks
- Experience building or sustaining partnerships with California Tribal Nations or urban Indigenous communities, including in the Southern California region
- Record of, or clear potential for, external funding to support community-engaged research
- Experience with community-engaged-scholarship involving other community-based institutions
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching American Indian, Native American, First Nations, and/or Indigenous Studies at the college or university level
- Experience successfully working with populations demographically and/or socioeconomically similar to the CSULB student body. Experience mentoring or supporting students using inclusive and culturally relevant teaching strategies in a diverse classroom
Duties:The successful candidate will:
- Teach lower- and upper-division courses in American Indian Studies
- Teach core AIS courses, including general education offerings such as AIS 119, Introduction to Race and Ethnic Studies, a comparative ethnic studies course cross listed with Africana Studies, Chicano/a Latino/a Studies, and Asian American Studies at CSULB, as appropriate.
- Teach and develop upper-division courses that support the AIS Minor and Certificate
- Develop courses in the candidate area(s) of expertise
- Contribute to the design and implementation of a future BA curriculum in American Indian Studies
- Participate in curriculum development, assessment, and program review
- Maintain an active program of research, scholarly and/or creative activity appropriate to rank and discipline
- Advise and mentor students
- Support Native student recruitment, retention, academic success, and pathways into the AIS Minor, Certificate, and future degree programs
- Participate in AIS shared governance and service appropriate to rank
- Contribute to the long-term development and sustainability of the American Indian Studies Program
- Develop interdisciplinary collaborations within CLA and across CSULB
- Build or strengthen reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, Native-serving institutions, and other relevant partners, as appropriate to the candidate's expertise
- Contribute, where appropriate, to grant proposal development, external partnerships, internships, experiential learning, community-engaged research, or other program-building activities
- Teach in various modes of instruction that include in-person, hybrid, online, asynchronous, and/or combinations thereof.
- Experience developing curriculum, degree programs, certificates, academic pathways, or new courses
- Capacity to contribute to development of a future BA in American Indian Studies and the long-term institutional development of AIS
AIS Program and Institutional ContextThe American Indian Studies Program at California State University, Long Beach is one of the oldest American Indian Studies programs in the United States and the oldest in the California State University system. AIS currently offers a Minor and Certificate and is engaged in long-term planning toward development of a BA in American Indian Studies and future departmental status.
CSULB is located in Puvungna, a place of continuing cultural, spiritual, historical, and political significance to Tongva and Acjachemen peoples and other Southern California Native communities. AIS faculty engage questions of Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge, California Indian histories and contemporary experiences, including with the largest urban American Indian population in the US.
CSULB seeks to recruit faculty who enthusiastically support the University's strong commitment to the academic success of all of our students, including students with disabilities, students who are first generation to college, veterans, students with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and students of diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions. CSULB seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the People of California, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer our students a rich variety of expertise, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
Information on excellent benefits package available to CSULB faculty is located here: CSU Employee Benefits.
How to Apply - Required Documentation: - A Student Success Statement about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population (maximum of two pages, single-spaced). For further information and guidelines, please visit: Student Success Statement.
- Letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications
- CV
- Names and contact information for three references (to be contacted for confidential letters of recommendation should you reach the semi-finalist)
- Finalists should be prepared to submit an official transcript (e-transcript preferred, if available) on or before on campus interviews
How to Apply: Click Apply Now icon to complete the CSULB online application
Requests for information and process should be addressed to:
Dr. Theresa Gregor, Director
California State University, Long Beach
Program in American Indian Studies
Theresa.gregor@csulb.edu
Requests for information about the position should be addressed to:
Art Neri, Administrative Support Coordinator for AIS
art.neri@csulb.edu
Advertised: Nov 13 2026 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close: 
