"Ethnic Studies (with an emphasis in Africana Studies) (TENURE TRACK) Assistant Professor"

Position Details

Thank you for your interest in applying for the tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Ethnic Studies (with an emphasis in Africana Studies) at DVC! We are eager to learn about who you are and why you are passionate about teaching Ethnic Studies (with an emphasis in Africana Studies) at our community college. We want to know what you are like as an instructor, colleague, and member of a campus community. We are looking for a colleague who will demonstrate discipline expertise and show sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds and abilities of community college students.

We are looking for instructors who share a strong commitment to social and racial justice and who use or are inspired to use anti-racist pedagogies that close equity and opportunity gaps by recognizing, understanding, and respecting the perspectives of all students.

We strongly encourage those with historically marginalized and/or underrepresented identities to apply, including people of color, non-binary and transgender individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and women.

This position requires on-campus teaching.

Description of Position

Diablo Valley College inspires, educates, and empowers a diverse community of students to transform their lives and their communities. DVC instructors close the equity and opportunity gaps by fostering success among all students. To help further this work, DVC seeks a tenure-track Ethnic Studies (with an emphasis in Africana Studies) Assistant Professor to start in August of 2026.

We are looking for a colleague who will demonstrate discipline expertise and show sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds and abilities of community college students.

We are looking for instructors who share a strong commitment to social and racial justice and who use or are inspired to use anti-racist pedagogies that close equity and opportunity gaps by recognizing, understanding, and respecting the perspectives of all students.

We strongly encourage those with historically marginalized and/or underrepresented identities to apply, including people of color, non-binary and transgender individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and women.

The successful applicant will be well qualified to teach introductory courses in the areas of Africana Studies & Comparative Ethnic Studies. We are specifically seeking candidates who have the expertise and enthusiasm to lead the development of our Ethnic Studies Area at DVC co-creating new transferable courses, an associates degree in Ethnic Studies/associated fields, and a certificate in Ethnic Studies/associated fields. Knowledge of the field of Education, LGBTQIA+ Studies, and Womens Studies is also desirable. We seek candidates who are community-engaged scholars committed to anti-racist, decolonial and social justice pedagogy that addresses structural racism and state violence domestically and globally. The successful candidate will also demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds, and abilities of community college students.

Our Vision for Social Justice

We are seeking people who recognize the critical role community colleges play in social justice, who have ability in this space, enthusiasm for this work, ideas and vision to improve our approaches, and a commitment to achieving equitable academic success for the 50,000+ students attending our five beautiful colleges and centers. Our social justice work calls for employees who have a sense of social responsibility, interest in our community and world in which we live.

The intention of social justice work is to strengthen humanity by understanding that every person deserves the benefits of fully participating in our society and institutions.

Academic researchers have illustrated that crucial social justice principles are a compilation of equality, equity, diversity, inclusion, engagement, environmental sustainability and human rights. These complex principles are challenging to operationalize in higher education; yet, we are steadfast in our diligence to forge ahead to advance this vital mission.

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to lead higher education in the work of social justice. Many of our students come from historically underserved and underrepresented backgrounds; students of color, students with recent immigrant histories, students from cycles of low income if not poverty, students from indigenous communities, and students from first-generation families.

The idea of promoting social mobility through education is unconditionally and uncompromisingly embraced by community colleges. This is an exciting role, and it comes with a heavy responsibility. Simply put, we need to create environments where our students achieve greater academic success, so much so that we close our persistent equity/opportunity gaps.

If you are committed to social and racial justice and if you are interested in joining a community dedicated to solving these inequities through education, please apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

In addition to contractual duties, all full-time faculty are expected to participate actively in their disciplines, department activities, and the general intellectual life and governance of the college. Part of the teaching assignment may be in the evening and/or online. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. advancing equitable student learning through dedicated, exemplary instruction in accordance with established course outlines;
2. participating in the assessment of student learning outcomes for courses and programs; developing and implementing student learning outcomes assessment processes for courses and programs;
3. collaborating in the development and revision of curriculum and in program review;
4. engaging in department program improvement initiatives;
5. participating in department, division, and college committees;
6. participating in professional development activities, both departmental and college-wide;
7. maintaining current knowledge in the subject matter area and effective teaching/ learning strategies;
8. maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics;
9. informing students of course requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance requirements;
10. preparing and grading class assignments and examinations and informing students of their academic progress;
11. maintaining attendance, scholastic, and personnel records and submitting them according to published deadlines;
12. posting and holding sufficient and regular office hours in accordance with prevailing policy;
13. participating in Colleges shared governance processes.

Minimum Qualification-Education/Experience

Understanding and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and faculty.

The applicant must possess one of the following qualifications (earned degrees must be from an accredited college/university):

Masters in African-American/Black/Africana Studies or Latino Studies, La Raza Studies, Chicana/o Studies, or Asian-American Studies, or Native American/ American Indian Studies OR Masters in Ethnic Studies

If you do not possess the EXACT minimum qualifications (i.e., you do not possess the EXACT degree title listed) and believe that you meet the minimum qualifications, fill out the equivalency petition form in the document section of the online application. If you are unsure that you meet the minimum qualifications, please fill out the equivalency petition. The equivalency form can be downloaded here

Desirable Qualifications

Highly qualified candidates will possess knowledge, skills, and experience that address the desired qualifications below. Responses to the supplemental questions below allow the applicant to describe how they meet these qualifications.

1. M.A. or Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies or related fields. Specifically, Africana Studies, African American Studies, or Black Studies.
2. Demonstrated teaching excellence in Africana Studies, African American Studies, or Black Studies, and Comparative Ethnic Studies.
3. Experience working with students at the college level in an academic capacity (instructor, teaching assistant, tutor, etc.) as well as a commitment to work with students under-prepared to do college-level reading and writing.
4. Demonstrated commitment to epistemologies of Africana Studies, African American Studies, Black Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies, anti-racist pedagogy, innovative transdisciplinary methodologies, and social justice practices.
5. Demonstrated sensitivity to and the ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse class positions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, cultures, religious affiliations, citizenship status, genders and sexual orientations, varied levels of academic preparation, learning styles, and/or disabilities.
6. Commitment to community engagement, equity and professional growth and development, and to innovation and improvement of teaching.
7. Commitment to assuming faculty responsibilities beyond the classroom in a shared governance environment.

Salary

Initial salary placement for full-time, tenure track positions is based on academic degree(s), upper/graduate level units earned, teaching experience and/or qualifying related professional occupation experience which ranges from $68,136 to $112,848 per year (Up to $132k).

Location

Diablo Valley College