Assistant Professor Child Welfare and Technology

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor Position

School/Department Name: School of Social Work

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications experience and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range for Assistant Professor: $92000 - $99000 to be confirmed by the Dean.

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSUs excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 19 2026

Application Deadline: First review due date is January 31 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or closed.

Position Description

The School of Social Work at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for a full-time tenure-line position in generalist and advanced generalist social work practice with diverse populations beginning August 2026. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in children youth and families (including child welfare) macro social work and/or a passion for teaching at the bachelors level. However candidates with a specialization in any of the following curriculum areas are encouraged to apply: practice research theory human behavior policy and/or related areas. Candidates should also have research and/or practice experience relevant to artificial intelligence health technology and/or health equity. Given our Transcultural Perspective and mission focusing on serving marginalized and oppressed populations as well as history of community-partnered applied research and practice and interprofessional engagement we are seeking candidates with experience and a research agenda relevant to diversity equity and inclusion.

This is an opportunity to join a dynamic successful and diverse School community of students staff and faculty. The School of Social Work at San José State University has over 50 years of history and has been continuously accredited of its BASW and MSW programs from the Council on Social Work Education. Our MSW program offers 2-year full-time 3-year evening-only and online/hybrid options as well as certificate credential and workforce development opportunities. The School is currently responsible for over $30 million of grants stipends and scholarships and offers training programs for workforce development including areas of Adult Protective Services Public Behavioral Services Integrated Behavioral Services Pupil Personnel Services Credential Wellness Coaches and other specific interests. Distinct among social work programs is our nationally recognized Transcultural Perspective our diversity model which is woven throughout the curriculum to honor cultural strengths enhance well-being and promote social justice.

While social work programs share commitments to diversity and equity our School stands out for its location in one of the most diverse regions in the U.S. strong San Francisco Bay Area community partnerships and a global outlook that integrates local and international practice. Our faculty combine research expertise with deep community engagement creating extensive opportunities for students through internships applied research and workforce pipelines in areas of practice including child welfare mental health health and aging. School of Social Work and San José State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research teaching and service. The university enrolls nearly 40000 students many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant 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 Inclusive Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU communityparticularly in relation to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications1

• A Doctorate in Social Work Social Welfare or related field2 and an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program;
• Demonstrated expertise in the use of artificial intelligence or health technology in social work (engagement assessment intervention research etc.);
• Research and scholarship including publications or potential for publications a strong research trajectory extramural funding/potential for funding;
• Teaching experience appropriate to academic specialty; a minimum of two years of social work practice experience if teaching practice courses
• 3Applicants 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Demonstrated working knowledge of the trends in the social work profession in the context of diversity globalization and environmentalism including specializations with certain cultural and/or language groups;
• Demonstrated interest in advancing knowledge and practice in artificial intelligence health technology and/or health equity;
• An active and well-articulated research agenda coupled with interest and ability to secure external grant funding;
• Ability to teach in both in-person and online environments;4
• Evidence of both BASW and MSW teaching and student mentoring;
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience at the university level;
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated ability to be collegial and collaborative.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Promote the mission of the School of Social Work;
• Design and teach introductory and advanced level courses in social work at the BASW and MSW levels;
• Develop and sustain an ongoing record of research scholarly and/or creative activities (RSCA) and other professional engagement;
• Participate in admissions and advising;
• Attend meetings and perform committee and other service at the department college and university levels;
• Participate in curriculum development to meet the needs of the program and its diverse student population;
• Participate in the activities and preparation needed to maintain accreditation;
• The candidate will participate in shared governance usually in department college and university committees and other service assignments;
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within Canvas Learning Management System (LMS);
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity in age abilities cultural background ethnicity religion economic background primary language sexual orientation gender identity and academic preparation through inclusive course materials teaching strategies and advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g. Data Security FERPA Preventing Discrimination and Harassment Title IX Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents departments may specify length of items below (e.g. 2 pages):

• letter of interest (500 words maximum)
• curriculum vitae

• SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines (dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest) (500 words maximum)

• statement of teaching interests/philosophy (500 words maximum)
• research plans (500 words maximum)
• Three references with contact information or three references we may contact for letters
• Inquiries may be directed to:

Dr. Soma Sen Professor and Assistant Director School of Social Work ()

Dr. Peter Allen Lee Director and Professor School of Social Work ()

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valleys Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley one of the most innovative regions in the world San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution San José State is an essential partner in the technological economic cultural and social development of Silicon Valley the Bay Area and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research world-class scholarship student-centered learning diverse communities and commitment to social justice allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age Ancestry Caste Color Disability Ethnicity Gender Gender Expression Gender Identity Genetic Information Marital Status Medical Condition Military Status Nationality Race Religion Religious Creed Sex Sexual Orientation Sex Stereotype and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students faculty and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements emergency preparedness and evacuation information crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at or by email at

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at or by email at