Assistant Professor, Psychology

4cd; Pleasant Hill (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

STRS retirement

Medical and dental benefits

Sabbatical Leave

Job summary

Diablo Valley College seeks a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor of Psychology to begin August 2027. The successful candidate will teach a range of in-person and online courses, and engage a diverse student population while advancing equity in the classroom.

Applicants must meet the listed minimum qualifications, demonstrate inclusive pedagogy, and contribute to departmental and college service and governance activities.

Qualifications

• Experience teaching psychology to students from diverse backgrounds using varied teaching methods.
• Desire to advance equity and social justice in the classroom and campus community.
• Wamiliarity with in-person and online/remote teaching formats is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Advancing equitable student learning through instruction aligned with course outlines.
• Assessing student learning outcomes for courses and programs; developing assessment processes.
• Collaborating on curriculum development and program review; participating in department and college committees.
• Engaging in department program improvement initiatives and professional development activities.
• Maintaining current knowledge in psychology and effective teaching strategies; upholding professional conduct.

Skills

Experience teaching psychology to adiv

Education

Master’s in Psychology

Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling, Sociology, Statistics, Neuroscience, or Social Work

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Thank you for your interest in applying for the tenure-track faculty position in Psychology at Diablo Valley College! We are looking for a candidate who will be well qualified to teach a variety of courses offered by our department, and who will play an active role in increasing the participation, success, and opportunities available to our diverse student population.

Diablo Valley College welcomes all learners, enhances the community, and advances equity through high-quality education and support services that empower students to achieve their goals. To support our students and campus community, faculty in this position are expected to teach and work on campus.

Recruitment Timeline

1. Initial review of applications will occur January 2027.
2. Selected applicants will be contacted in January 2027 to schedule an interview. Interviews will take place in February 2027. Interviews will take place in-person. Zoom interviews may be an option only for candidates with extenuating circumstances.
3. If selected, classroom teaching demonstrations will occur on campus in March 2027.
4. Final interviews will be held March 2027.

Applicants will be responsible for travel expenses. The college nor the District reimburses for travel expenses.

No candidate for a full-time position shall be recommended as a finalist to the President without meeting the minimum qualifications or having been verified as meeting the equivalency.

If you do not possess the exact degree listed in the minimum qualification section or if you have not finished your degree before submitting your application, you must fill out a Master’s degree equivalency form and upload in the attachment section of the online employment application to be considered. All foreign degrees and credits used to meet the minimum qualifications must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency www.naces.org prior to the implementation of the equivalency process.

Supplemental Questions: Please make sure to answer the supplemental questions as part of your application.

Description of Position

Diablo Valley College welcomes all learners, enhances the community, and advances equity through high-quality education and support services that empower students to achieve their goals. DVC instructors use pedagogies that close equity gaps by fostering success among all students. To help further this work, DVC seeks a full-time tenure-track assistant professor of Psychology to begin August 2027. The successful candidate will be passionate about teaching, and able to teach a variety of classes (both in-person and online) from our course offerings in ways that engage diverse students, account for differing levels of academic preparedness, and incorporate historical and modern issues of race, social class, gender, sexual preference, and other identities. Faculty at DVC are expected to share a strong commitment to social and racial justice, and adopt pedagogical strategies that close equity caps 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, women, and Indigenous people.

Inquiries

Dr. Lisa Smiley-Ratchford ([e-mail]).

Recruitment Type

Faculty

Posting Number

F01385

# of Openings

1

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 $119,640 per year (Up to $132k).

EEO Job Category

Faculty & Other Instructional Staff

Employee Group

Full-Time Faculty

Department

D4515-Social Science

Duties and Responsibilities

• 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 College’s shared governance processes.

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

• Master’s in Psychology
• OR
• Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts or Master’s in Counseling, Sociology, Statistics, Neuroscience, or Social Work.

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.

If your degree is not conferred by the time you submit your application, you must fill out an equivalency. All foreign degrees and credits used to meet the minimum qualifications must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency www.naces.org prior to the implementation of the equivalency process.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience teaching psychology to students with different backgrounds and levels of preparation using diverse teaching methods.
• Expertise in centering course topics around historical and modern issues of race, social class, gender, sexual preferences, differences in ability, and other identities relevant to our diverse student population.
• Commitment to continued improvement of teaching and pedagogy.
• Willing and able to teach a wide range of classes, including classes and topics outside of specialization in a variety of formats, including online, hybrid, and face-to-face.
• Awareness and commitment to being a contributing member of the psychology department and campus community at DVC .
• Commitment to engaging with students, in and out of the classroom, as active agents with strengths, skills, and intersectional identities to be cultivated and explored.
• Experience and enthusiasm for helping students to apply psychological principles to better understand and improve their lives.
• Clear and engaging communication skills.
• A commitment and ability to work within the department, division, and college community to achieve the goals outlined in the Educational Strategic Plan, which focuses on advancing equity in student goal completion by increasing holistic support and eliminating barriers to success. Educational Strategic Plan: https://www.dvc.edu/about-dvc/college-plans/educational-strategic-plan

Job Open Date

10/30/2026

Job Close Date

12/14/2026

Open Until Filled

No

Employment Begins

Fall 2027

# of Months

10 Months

Employee Benefits

• Membership in State Teachers Retirement System (STRS)
• District-paid benefits (employee contributes 6%) for employee and dependents/domestic partners include:
• Medical (Anthem Blue Cross or Kaiser) insurance including chiropractic services
• Dental and vision
• Flexible spending (125) plan
• Life and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Deferred compensation (403b and 457)
• Sabbatical Leave

• The District also offers eligible faculty employees, travel assistance plan, retiree benefits, and employee discounts on health memberships.

Newly hired employees may notify the respective union (Local 1 or United Faculty) if they opt to join and/or authorize payment to the union. If the newly hired employee authorizes payment to the union then the following fees apply: Local 1 has a one-time initiation fee of $45.00 and monthly contribution of 1% of gross pay +$1. United Faculty has an agency fee of .55% of gross pay plus $2.50.

Selection Process

1. Applications will be screened to ensure the applicant meets the minimum qualifications as stated in the job announcement.
2. The applications, cover letters, answers to required supplemental questions, resumes, unofficial college transcripts, and other supporting materials submitted by all qualified applicants will be reviewed by a screening committee. Those who are deemed to possess the highest degree of desirable qualifications will be invited to the college at their own expense.
3. During the campus visit, each applicant will be interviewed and may be asked to conduct a demonstration appropriate to the discipline. Selected interviewees may be invited to present an entire lecture in front of a class. Responses to the interview questions and demonstration will be rated by the interview committee.
4. Based upon the overall rating, a small number of applicants will be invited at their own expense to the campus for an interview with the college president and vice president of instruction.
5. After consultation with the interview committee, the college president will make the final recommendation for employment to the chancellor and the governing board of the Contra Costa Community College District.
6. Upon hire, the successful candidate must meet the conditions of employment. Finalists must provide verification of transcripts. TB test, physical examination, fingerprinting/conviction clearance and proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

Foreign Degree and Credit Statement

In accordance with the United Faculty Contract, Article 20.3.1.3.2, all foreign degrees and credits used to meet the minimum qualifications must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency www.naces.org prior to the implementation of the equivalency process. Please upload your evaluation with your application when you apply for this position. We cannot accept foreign degree evaluations after the closing date.

Request For Reasonable Accommodation

Candidates with legally defined disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by notifying the Human Resources Department by the deadline date. Candidates will be required to supply documentation supporting the need for the accommodation when the request is made. Please complete the forms provided in the links above and email to [e-mail]

It is the District’s policy to ensure that all qualified applicants for employment and employees have full and equal access to employment opportunity, and are not subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the District on the basis of ethnic group identity, race, color, ancestry, religion, marital status, sex, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, parental status, citizenship or because an individual is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Describe the way(s) in which you meet the minimum qualifications. Master’s in Psychology OR Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling, Sociology, Statistics, Neuroscience, or Social Work. OR the equivalent. If you do not possess the listed degree, you must fill out the master’s degree equivalency form and upload in the attachment section of the application. Please note: The minimum qualifications are determined by the statewide Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. If the title(s) of your degree major(s) listed on your unofficial transcripts or other documents from the degree-granting institutions are not an EXACT match to the degrees listed below, please submit an equivalency form. Without it, your application will not be considered. If your degree is not conferred by the time you submit your application, you must fill out an equivalency. All foreign degrees and credits used to meet the minimum qualifications must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency www.naces.org prior to the implementation of the equivalency process.
• * Please list the psychology classes from our course offerings that you would be interested and qualified to teach.
• * What are some of the ways you would work to connect with students in the classroom (both in-person and online)? How would you connect with students, staff, and faculty as a Psychology faculty member on campus?
• * Describe a specific topic in psychology that you would be excited to teach. Explain specifically how you would organize a week of classroom instruction, activities, and discussion on this topic in ways that would engage students from diverse backgrounds and levels of academic preparedness.

Required Documents

• Unofficial Transcript (must show degree(s) conferred)
• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV

Optional Documents

• Application for Equivalency
• Foreign Degree Evaluation Form (NACES Approved Agency)
• Unofficial Transcript 2
• Unofficial Transcript 3
• Unofficial Transcript 4

Contra Costa Community College District

District Office

500 Court Street

Martinez, CA 94553

Candidate Employment Notice: The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Public Law 99-603, requires that employers obtain documentation from every new employee which authorizes that individual to accept employment in this country.