Assistant Professor - Environmental Restoration/Natural Resource Conservation

San Jose State University is seeking an Assistant Professor in Environmental Restoration/Natural Resource Conservation for a tenure-track position, starting August 2025. The role is part of the Social Sciences/Environmental Studies & Urban/Regional Planning department, offering competitive salary and benefits. The university values diversity and inclusion, serving a diverse student body. Applications are open until the position is filled, with a deadline of October 15, 2024.
Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor, Environmental
Restoration/Natural Resource Conservation

School/Department Name: Social Sciences/Environmental
Studies & Urban/Regional Planning

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience,
and rank as established by the
CSU Salary Schedule . Anticipated hiring academic year annual
salary range: $86,000 - $90,000

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 2025

Application Deadline: October 15, 2024. Applications will be
accepted until the position is filled or closed.

Position Description

The Department of Environmental Studies & Urban and Regional
Planning at San José State University invites applications for a
tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Environmental
Restoration/Natural Resource Conservation.

The programs in Urban and Regional Planning and Environmental
Studies cover the undergraduate degrees of BA, BS (Environmental
Studies), BA (Geography), BS (Geographic Information Systems), BA
(Global Studies); and Masters degrees in the following areas: MS
(Environmental Studies), MUP (Masters in Urban Planning), MPA
(Masters in Public Administration, MA (Geography). Many graduates
of our programs continue their connections with the department and
form strong alumni ties to faculty and students. This creates a
wealth of internship, conference, and full-time job opportunities.
Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in
subjects including GIS, community development, transportation,
social-ecological systems and energy justice. Further information
about Environmental Studies and Urban and Regional Planning
programs can be found on the following websites: https://www.sjsu.edu/urbanplanning/
and https://www.sjsu.edu/envs/ .

SJSU’s Environmental Studies programs began in 1970 as a direct
response to the first Earth Day. We continue this tradition of
educating the next generation of environmental leaders using an
interdisciplinary approach that combines social science and natural
science disciplines to understand and address today’s most pressing
environmental issues, ranging from habitat conservation to climate
change impacts on vulnerable communities. These programs serve as
the academic home to 250 undergraduate majors (BA and BS in
Environmental Studies, BA in Global Studies) and 40-50 graduate
students (MS). Six tenured/tenure track faculty members with
expertise in this area are complemented by about a dozen
environmental professionals who teach introductory and applied
specialty classes.

The Department of Environmental Studies/Urban and Regional Planning
and San José State University value diversity, equity, inclusion,
and belonging. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service
can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who
share our commitment to these values. SJSU enrolls more than 36,000
students, many of whom are historically underserved, and around 45%
are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The
university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant,
inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000
alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the
diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the
community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender
perspectives.

Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to
equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or
service. We ask that all applicants include a Diversity Statement
with their application package. A guide to writing this statement
can be found at
SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines , along with information
about how these statements will be evaluated.

The Department of Environmental Studies/Urban and Regional Planning
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. In all
of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster
a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and
students.

Qualifications Overview

Successful applicants will have a doctorate in Environmental
Studies or a related natural science field focused on conservation,
in particular environmental restoration. A wide range of
appropriate primary disciplinary backgrounds will be considered,
with preference for applied interdisciplinary natural sciences,
such as restoration ecology, biological conservation, climate
change, wildfire science, natural resource management, or water
resource management. Applicants must have a strong background in
quantitative research methods (e.g., spatial, statistical) and
should have applied their training to environmental theory and
applied problem-solving. We seek a teacher-scholar who is committed
to equitable and inclusive pedagogy with our undergraduate and
graduate student populations and who utilizes high impact teaching
practices.

The successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to teaching
in an interdisciplinary undergraduate/ graduate Environmental
Studies program and demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to
educational goals of a highly diverse student population, ideally
through teaching, professional practice, training or similar
experience. Applicants should have a clearly defined research
program that has and will continue to produce peer-reviewed
publications and demonstrate initiative in seeking external funding
to support research and related activities. Candidates should
demonstrate their ability to meet the needs of a highly diverse
student population that encompasses a broad spectrum of ages,
cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, primary
languages, and academic preparation through course materials,
teaching strategies and advising.

Required Qualifications
• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related natural science field
focused on conservation, in particular environmental
restoration
• A strong background in quantitative research methods
• Evidence of or potential for a productive research program in
environmental studies
• Evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness in
environmental studies
• Applicants must 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:
• Higher education teaching experience at the undergraduate
and/or graduate level
• Demonstrated experience using high impact practices in the
classroom
• Demonstrated application of applicant training to environmental
theory and applied problem-solving.
• Interest in supporting co-curricular academic activities that
support student success
• Engagement with professional communities of practice

Responsibilities Overview

Primary academic assignment responsibilities will commence in Fall
2025 and include teaching courses in the Environmental Studies
core, life science and environmental restoration courses. As
relevant, assigned courses may also include Global Studies courses.
This position involves teaching graduate courses and other courses
that align with the applicant’s disciplinary training.
Undergraduate program responsibilities include advising majors and
minors, supervising undergraduate and graduate student research,
and directing special projects. Applicants must be willing to
supervise at least two new graduate students each year conducting
EnvS Masters of Science thesis research. A record of effective
teaching, scholarly professional achievements and impactful service
is essential for tenure and promotion.

Key Responsibilities
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the Environmental
Studies BA, BS, and MS programs. Actively supervise MS students.
Develop and improve curriculum.
• Create and maintain an active research and scholarship
agenda.
• Participate in shared governance, usually in department,
college, and university committees and other service
assignments.
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience
understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity
– in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion,
economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender
identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course
materials, teaching strategies and advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered
mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set
forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide
policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus
Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act
training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the
institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned
and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA,
Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and
Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with
safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19
transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities
of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Select Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment
Application and attach the following documents:
• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• diversity statement
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• research plans
• three references with contact information or three references
we may contact for letters

Inquiries may be directed to: Dr. Katherine Cushing, Department
Chair: katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position is located in the State of
California and requires commuting to the campus. Employment is
contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in
the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check
(including a criminal records check) is required for employment.
SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be
rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying
information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly
withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily
complete the background check may affect the continued employment
of a current employee who was conditionally offered the
position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public
University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative
regions in the world — San José State University
is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University
(CSU) system and the first public university in the West.
Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San
José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic,
cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area,
and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research
funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU
system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship,
student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to
social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities
and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of
Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender
Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status,
Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion,
Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and
Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State
University students, faculty, and staff as well as University
programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for
applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR)
is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf
. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy
statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information,
crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and
information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR
also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State
University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A
paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the
Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email
at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire
Safety Report (AFSR) is available at
https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf
. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires
that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the
three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety
policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A
paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the
Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at
uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Advertised: August 27, 2024 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight
Time

Applications close: