Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies

San José State University • San Jose, CA

5d • $88,000 - $92,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) program in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies with expertise in Indigeneity, artificial intelligence, media studies, and Indigenous technologies and futurisms. We seek a teacher-scholar whose research, teaching, and community-engaged work examine the implications of emerging technologies for Indigenous peoples: including sovereignty, data governance, cultural knowledge, representation, ethics, and justice. Located in Silicon Valley, SJSU is uniquely positioned to bring Indigenous Studies into direct conversation with artificial intelligence, digital media, data systems, and emerging technologies, and this position offers the opportunity to help shape rights-based, community-accountable approaches to technology while strengthening NAIS curriculum, research, and public engagement.

Successful candidates will be grounded in Native American and Indigenous Studies and engage one or more related areas, such as Indigenous approaches to artificial intelligence, Indigenous data sovereignty and governance, Indigenous media and digital cultures, Indigenous technologies and futurisms, ethical and community-accountable technology design, digital repatriation and cultural heritage technologies, or the social, legal, and political implications of AI for tribal and urban Indigenous communities. A history of working with tribes, Indigenous organizations, urban Indigenous communities, or Indigenous-led technology, media, cultural heritage, or data initiatives is strongly desired.

The Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences 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.

The Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Department 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. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Requirements

• An earned doctorate in American Indian Studies, Native American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Ethnic Studies, Science and Technology Studies, or another relevant interdisciplinary field from an accredited institution (or equivalent) at the time of application. If ABD, degree requirements must be completed by the date of appointment.
• Potential for effective teaching, or teaching experience in Native American and Indigenous Studies or related fields
• Record of, or potential for, research, scholarship or creative activity in Native American and Indigenous Studies and technologies such as sovereignty, self-determination, settler colonialism, or decolonization.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience working with tribes, Indigenous communities, organizations, or Indigenous-led projects involving technology, media, data, cultural heritage, education, governance, or public policy.
• Evidence of the ability to communicate Native American and Indigenous Studies epistemological frameworks and the ethical implications of emerging technologies for Indigenous peoples.
• Demonstrated expertise in pedagogical approaches to artificial intelligence, Indigenous data sovereignty, Indigenous technologies, Indigenous media, digital cultures, or Indigenous futurisms.
• Evidence of research, teaching, creative activity, or community engagement addressing the ethical, cultural, political, legal, or social implications of emerging technologies for Indigenous peoples.
• Demonstrated ability to apply critical, Indigenous, decolonial, and culturally sustaining methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to develop new NAIS curriculum and build interdisciplinary, cross-departmental collaborations related to AI, media, technology, data governance, or Indigenous futurisms.
• Research background and community-practice experience in decolonizing methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Native American and Indigenous Studies and develop new curriculum related to Indigeneity, artificial intelligence, Indigenous technologies, media studies, data sovereignty, digital cultures, and Indigenous futurisms.
• Maintain an active research, scholarly, creative, or community-engaged agenda appropriate to a tenure-track appointment and aligned with Native American and Indigenous Studies.
• Advise and mentor students and develop cross-departmental, community, and institutional partnerships.
• Faculty shall organize all assigned courses within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• Participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• 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.

Benefits

• Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule.
• Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 – $92,000.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree