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

Department of African American Studies
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Assistant Professor
Fall 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.

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is a minority-serving institution and an equal opportunity employer. CSUF is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. CSUF serves one of the largest student bodies in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system, with an enrollment of over 40,000 students. The CSU is currently engaged in a directed multi-year initiative to improve graduation rates for all students with a particular focus on first-generation college students, low-socioeconomic students, Latinx, African American, and Native American students. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through equity-minded teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic diversity goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are particularly encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university’s mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community. 

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position
The 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

Application
A 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.
    1. Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
    2. Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
    3. Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment. 
    4. 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

Application Deadline
To 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 Department
The 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.

Compensation
The 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 Benefits
An 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 Candidates 
California 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 Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf to change their status to H-1B without being subjected to the fee. For example, the fee does not apply to an H-1B petition filed by an individual presently in the U.S. who is an F-1, J-1, or O-1 status holder.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the 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.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.

Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus instruction, as assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States. 

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.