Tenure Track Faculty Position

Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education PreK-grade 3

Early Childhood Studies

College of Education and Integrative Studies

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Early Childhood Studies. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our campus initiatives and our Principles of Community can be found on the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s website.

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2023, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 24,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 56% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 53% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 3% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-three percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university include mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law. 

Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

*As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below.

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

1. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
2. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
3. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
4. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
5. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
6. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
7. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
8. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
9. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS) is a learning community focused on meeting the present and future needs of students in its communities. The college educates students to become highly qualified and significant leaders in society. It is committed to the principles of diversity, ethics and social justice, and life-long learning. Central to the college’s mission is innovation and integrative thinking, reflective practice, collaborative action, and learning by doing. The college’s four departments include two undergraduate degrees and academic programs—Liberal Studies and Early Childhood Studies—and two graduate departments—Education and Educational Leadership. There are 1,376 students enrolled and 41 faculty in the college.

Department of Early Childhood Studies: The ECS department benefits from a diverse community reflective of the greater Los Angeles area. Our student body is over seventy-five percent students of color and over seventy percent first-generation. The department reflects our geographical context as one of the most linguistically, culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse regions in the U.S. The ECS department recognizes historical, systemic, and present conditions that marginalize children, families, and communities, through intersecting oppressive constructs and systems across race, language, culture, class, religion, and disability. We are committed to transforming the consequences of the legal and social formation of racism and intersecting forms of oppression through antiracist and decolonial pedagogy, linguistically and culturally sustaining approaches, and by advancing social justice and equity in early childhood education. 

Position Description: The Early Childhood Studies Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, seeks applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin the academic year of 2025-2026. We seek an individual with expertise in Early Childhood Education (PK-3rd Grade) who possesses a doctorate in Early Childhood Studies, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related field.  A demonstrated commitment to culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy, anti-racism, and equity in early childhood is required. The position's responsibilities will be primarily to teach, advise students, engage in scholarship leading to publications, and provide service that includes the early childhood broader professional community. Applicants who are ABD will be considered with the understanding that they must have a conferred doctorate prior to the start of the start date.

Minimum Requirements include:

• Earned doctorate in Early Childhood Studies, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Instruction or a closely related field from an accredited university by August 2025; 
• Evidence of at least one year of classroom teaching experience in PK-grade 3; and
• Evidence of commitment to social justice, linguistically, and culturally responsive early childhood practices. Evidence should be provided in one or more of the following required documents: Cover Letter, Research Statement and/or Teaching Philosophy.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Evidence of commitment to social justice within the early childhood professional community;
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaboration. Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines (e.g., special education, social work, public health) to create integrated approaches to early childhood education;
• Evidence of ongoing scholarship related to Early Childhood Education;
• Active participation in Early Childhood/Child Development professional associations and/ or networks related to area of expertise;  
• Experience working with or building partnerships with local schools, families, and community organizations to enhance early childhood education outcomes and advocate for equity
• Expertise in social-emotional learning (SEL) and/or guiding children’s behavior;
• Experience with teaching credential/licensure teacher preparation coursework;
• Experience teaching in higher education;
• Experience and/or interest in program and course development and alignment;
• Evidence of teaching excellence;
• Experience working with or building partnerships with local schools, families, and community organizations to enhance early childhood education outcomes and advocate for equity.

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of

• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications;
• A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success” and addresses at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed (please indicate the criteria numbers in your Statement).
• Curriculum vitae;
• Teaching Philosophy statement (2 pages max);
• Research Statement highlighting your agenda and accomplishments (2 pages max);
• The names and contact information for at least three individuals that can serve as references;
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, official transcripts will be required of finalists);

 Finalists for the position will:

• • Be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;
  • Final candidates being interviewed are expected to make a presentation of their research and engage in a teaching demonstration to faculty and students.

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than Nov 30, 2024.

Please direct inquiries to Dr. Eden Haywood-Bird, Search Committee Chair at ehaywoodbird@cpp.edu.

Salary range for academic year, nine-month appointment: $86,000 - $96,800.

Applications accepted only via PageUp—online application portal—for University hires.

Equal Opportunity Employer

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.