Open Rank Professor of Public Administration/Public Policy

School/Department Name: Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,008 - $130,008.

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 17, 2027

Application Deadline: January 15, 2027 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an open rank tenured/tenure track position in Public Administration. We seek an interdisciplinary teacher-scholar to contribute to our Master of Public Administration (MPA) program through teaching, research, program management, and service. We welcome applicants at the assistant, associate, or full professor level whose expertise complements the program, including local and regional governance, organizational theory, administrative research methods, administrative law; executive management, civic and community engagement, digital governance and public sector technology, and public financial management. Interdisciplinary work that connects public administration with complementary programs in geography/geographic information science, urban planning, and environmental studies is especially welcome. Strong applicants will have experience in program management, curriculum development, and grant writing as well as experience teaching classes similar to core MPA courses.

The newly established School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies is home to several professional graduate programs including the accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA), accredited 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.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community.

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 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 Institutional 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Public Administration/Public Management, Public Policy, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated teaching experience, or strong potential to teach classes in public administration and/or public policy.
• A record of publication, or strong potential for publications, appropriate to the public administration discipline.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Experience teaching in MPA core curriculum (e.g., Regional Governance, Administrative Research Methods, Public Management).
• Research experience in public administration, government and/or non-profit or public financial management.
• Demonstrated experience in or commitment to service at the department and university level.
• Experience in or commitment to support co-curricular academic activities that support student success (e.g., professional network development).
• Engagement with professional communities of practice, especially practical experience in public service by working with local governments, non-profits, or as city staff.
• Evidence of or potential for academic program leadership & management in public administration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach primarily core and elective graduate courses in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
• Conduct research that contributes to and connects the fields of public administration, and public policy.
• Mentor graduate students, including advising on capstone projects and preparing students for careers in public service.
• Use innovative teaching practices to enhance student learning and enrich the MPA program and SPPES curricula.
• Contribute to service for the MPA program that supports our Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation.
• 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 through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• institutional excellence statement
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• statement of research agenda and accomplishments
• three references with contact information

Inquiries may be directed to the School Director: Prof. Katherine Kao Cushing (katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu).