Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership

The California State University; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University Channel Islands invites applicants for an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership in the DELEJ program within the School of Education. The position emphasizes teaching doctoral courses, advising, and chairing dissertations, with potential undergraduate/graduate teaching depending on expertise.

The successful candidate will contribute to equity and justice in educational leadership, engage in scholarly activity, and participate in university governance and

Qualifications

• Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) required.
• Experience teaching doctoral or advanced graduate students preferred.
• Ability to develop online courses and deliver in multiple formats.

Responsibilities

• Teach doctoral courses and advise students.
• Chair and serve on doctoral dissertation committees.
• Support DELEJ program operations and program development.
• Engage in scholarly activity and service within the university and community.

Skills

Teaching doctoral courses

Mentoring students

Online course delivery

Equity and justice in education

Education

Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.)

Job description

Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership

Job no: 562012
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Channel Islands
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Education/Library Science

Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track

Title: Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership

Effective Date of Appointment: Fall 2027

About the University:

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is an inclusive institution dedicated to transforming lives through education, opportunity, and community engagement. Opened in 2002, CSUCI is part of the California State University system and has quickly earned recognition as a leader in higher education. Ranked 13th among “Top Public Schools” and 7 th for “Top Performers on Social Mobility” in the Regional Universities West category by U.S. News & World Report in 2026, and earning the distinguished Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) Carnegie classification, CSUCI is committed to academic excellence and fostering student success.

As Ventura County’s only public university, CSUCI serves a diverse community of over 4,900 undergraduate and graduate students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1, the university ensures personalized learning and meaningful connections between students and educators. Offering over 90 academic programs, CSUCI provides a wide range of academic opportunities designed to prepare students for meaningful careers and global leadership.

CSUCI is dedicated to supporting its students both academically and financially. In fact, 80% of students receive financial aid, and 61% are first-generation college students. Additionally, 55% of students are Pell Grant eligible, reflecting the university’s commitment to providing access to higher education. As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), CSUCI embraces a vibrant cultural community, with 63% of its undergraduate students identifying as Latinx, alongside other racial and ethnic groups that enrich the campus experience. Because of its efforts to advance Latinx student success, CSUCI was one of the first colleges and universities to have earned the prestigious “Seal of Excelencia,” was recertified, and most recently earned the inaugural Intentionally Thriving Institution (ITI) designation from Excelencia in Education.

With a focus on critical inquiry, innovative learning, and social justice, CSUCI is also taking proactive steps to diversify its faculty and confront systemic challenges to equity. This dedication creates an environment where every voice is valued, and students are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Whether through its strong academic offerings, supportive community, or transformative opportunities, CSUCI provides a unique and rewarding experience for students ready to shape their future and make a lasting impact on the world.

CSUCI Mission Statement:

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.

CSUCI’s Commitment to You:

CSUCI is committed to helping newly hired faculty develop a sense of belonging in a collaborative and supportive community dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for establishing and sustaining a research agenda and engaging in continuous improvement in equitable teaching and learning.

About the Program:

The successful candidate will join the Doctorate in Educational Leadership for Equity and Justice (DELEJ) program within the Department of Educational Leadership and School Counseling & Psychology in the School of Education. The DELEJ program offers the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, preparing reflective scholar-practitioners committed to equity and justice in educational leadership. The program launched in Summer 2024 and will welcome its fourth cohort in Summer 2027. The DELEJ program is a primarily online asynchronous doctoral program that serves working professionals, many of whom hold leadership positions in P–12 schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions.
The Department also offers two master’s degrees: an MA in Education, Educational Leadership Emphasis (Higher Education and P-12, with CA Preliminary Administrative Services Credential), and an MS in School Counseling (with CA Pupil Personnel Services Credential).

About the Position:

As teacher-scholars, CSUCI faculty integrate research and practice, teach across departmental curricula, advise students, and contribute through service at the department, school, university, and professional levels. The primary responsibilities of this position include teaching doctoral courses, advising students, and chairing doctoral dissertations in the DELEJ program. Depending on expertise, teaching may also extend to undergraduate and graduate programs across the Department and the School of Education.
The candidate must have the ability to teach in one or more of the following foundational areas: quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methods research; applied research; educational leadership; equitable assessments and program evaluation; educational reforms for equity; management of people, finance, & resources; school and community relations; transformational leadership; change leadership/strategic planning; advanced school law and ethics.
Faculty are expected to maintain an active scholarly agenda consistent with tenure-track expectations, participate in university governance and community engagement, and contribute to the continued growth of the department and school. Service responsibilities may include orientations, retreats, community events, and other activities that occur during evenings and weekends. Courses may be delivered in multiple formats, including synchronous and asynchronous modalities.

Minimum Degree Requirements:

Doctorate (e.g., Ph.D. or Ed.D.) with preferred specialization in educational leadership and/or a related field.

Required Qualifications:

• Three years of experience in P-12, community college, or 4-year university teaching or leadership
• Experience teaching doctoral or advanced graduate students (experience supervising the research dissertation is strongly preferred)
• Ability to contribute to the development and delivery of online courses
• Evidence of experience working with historically marginalized studentsA record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate to the rank appointed
• Experience with integration of technology in instructional programsEvidence of research, teaching, or practice regarding educational leadership for equity and justice
• Applicants should demonstrate the ability to effectively engage with a broad student population and provide mentorship that supports student academic success.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of potential for or successful teaching of graduate-level courses and supervising theses and/or dissertations
• Expertise in quantitative methods, mixed methods, applied research, and/or program evaluation
• Peer-reviewed scholarship related to historically-marginalized and/or underrepresented populations; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and/or educational leadership
• Community-based work, particularly with communities of color
• Experience teaching asynchronous and/or synchronous online courses
• Potential for or growing record of achieving external funding
• Record of leadership roles on teams and in institutions
• Knowledge of and experience with Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies
• Experience with state, regional, and national accreditation procedures
• Willingness to step into program leadership roles
• Bilingual and/or multilingual proficiency

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of Educational Leadership Faculty:

• Teaching, engaging in research, and providing service to the Department of Educational Leadership and School Counseling & Psychology, the SOE, the university, and relevant community partners and organizations, as outlined in the department’s program personnel standards.
• Advise and mentor graduate students.
• Chair and serve on dissertation committees.
• Supporting DELEJ Director and Department Chair, as required, in continued development, implementation, and daily operations of the DELEJ program.
• Participating in relevant advisory and other departmental and SOE committees.
• Participating in student recruitment and admissions.
• Building and maintaining relationships with faculty and staff across the School and the University, as appropriate.
• Representing the Educational Leadership and School Counseling & Psychology Department and the DELEJ Program within and outside the SOE, CSUCI, and the region, including in relevant professional organizations.
• Collaboration with other departments and programs in SOE, CSUCI, and relevant CSU campuses across the state.
• Be familiar with the mission of CSUCI as an HSI.
• Supporting continuous improvement, accreditation, and program review processes with relevant state, regional, and national agencies.

Application Deadline:

Screening of applications will begin October 15, 2026.Priority will be given to applicants who submit applications prior to the screening deadline; however, the position will remain open until filled.

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Cover letter in response to the required qualifications
• Teaching statement (500 words maximum)
• Scholarship statement (500 words maximum)
• A statement describing your experience mentoring students and supporting their academic and professional growth.

In later phases of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide verification of terminal degrees, licenses and certificates.

California State University Tenure Track (Academic Year) Salary Schedule can be found at

Starting salaries at CSU Channel Islands are equity-minded and are generally at the lower half of the salary range.

The University offers robust employee benefits. Please see the following link for more information (https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf).

General Information:

Evidence of degree(s) is required at the time of hire.

At time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. CSU Channel Islands is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.

The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: 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.

Per CSU-wide policy (https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/labor-and-employee-relations/Documents/unit3-cfa/CFA-Out-of-State-Employment-MOU-12-16-2021.pdf ), all faculty are required to perform their work from within the State of California.

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, CSU Channel Islands 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. CSU Channel Islands 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.

CSU Channel Islands is a diverse community of individuals committed to fostering an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. At CSU Channel Islands, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Faculty Affairs at [e-mail].