Department of Applied Human and Environmental Sciences

 

Faculty Employment Opportunity

Job no: 551663 

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: Sonoma

Categories: Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track, Unit 3 CFA – California Faculty Association

 

Department of Applied Human and Environmental Sciences

(Tenure-Track) Assistant or Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Anthropological Studies Center

 

Starting July 2026

Our Commitment

Sonoma State University is a federally-designated Hispanic Serving Institution, as such we are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and we endeavor to employ faculty and staff reflecting the linguistic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the region and state.

Guided by our core values as a university: diversity, sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability, Sonoma State University (SSU) offers an education that fosters intellectual, social, and personal growth. SSU is a public liberal arts and sciences university. As the only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges in the state of California, we are committed to preparing students for a life of active citizenship and public service. We have a vibrant campus life characterized by a lively co-curriculum that fosters broad-based intellectual and artistic opportunities in which the campus as a whole is actively engaged.

Sonoma State University is committed to creating a community in which bias and intolerance have no place. It is our expectation that all students, faculty, and staff work together to honor this commitment and hold each other accountable to create an open and inclusive environment.

We are committed to facilitating spaces in which all can grow by building on our students’ assets as they explore new knowledge. These efforts include fostering creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, experimentation, empathy, and communication. The successful candidate will be one who can collaborate with faculty, staff, administration, and students to achieve these goals. We are especially interested in candidates committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Faculty Responsibilities

In addition to teaching and scholarship, faculty are expected to engage in service to the University, profession, and community. These responsibilities include:  advising students, participation in campus and system-wide communities, maintaining office hours, working collaboratively and productively with colleagues, and participating in traditional academic functions.

Sonoma State is committed to the Teacher/Scholar model and places an emphasis on faculty support of Graduate research and other professional opportunities for students.

Faculty are also expected to foster our commitment to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 through excellent teaching, advising, and mentoring. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the University’s Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion Policy.  All faculty are required to have the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

The Department

The Department of Applied Human and Environmental Sciences houses the Anthropology, Human Development, and Geography, Environment, and Planning undergraduate programs, and the Cultural Heritage and Resources Management MS program. The latter is one of the oldest in the country; revised in 2024, it is the only MS program in the state that focuses on cultural heritage and resources management. Students select a concentration in Natural Sciences and Technology or Social Sciences and Interpretation. The undergraduate Anthropology program is in the process of merging with the affiliated Human Development program. This merger provides an opportunity to transcend the traditional four-subfield model of anthropology, reorient our curriculum toward the practical applications that the job market desires, and build a bridge to the MS program. The new Human Development and Applied Anthropology BA will offer two concentrations: Health, Social Justice, and the Life Course; and Culture, Heritage, Environment, and Power.

The Anthropological Studies Center (ASC) is a self-funded research, outreach, regulatory consulting and educational organization associated with the Department of Applied Human and Environmental Studies’ academic programs. Since 1974, the ASC has been a leader in the field of cultural heritage and resources management, working with federal, state, and local agencies as well as tribal entities and private development. The ASC incorporates a broad-spectrum approach to CHRM consultation, including traditional archaeological methodologies, environmental studies, archival research, advanced non-invasive technology, oral history and interpretation, and engagement with tribal, descendant and stakeholder community partners throughout all project phases. The ASC typically has 30-40 ongoing projects generating $1-3 million annually in contracts.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to see the department’s web page at:

https://anthropology.sonoma.edu/, https://asc.sonoma.edu/

Duties of the Position

The successful candidate will be a faculty member in Anthropology and be appointed Director of the Anthropological Studies Center (ASC). The position also has a key role in the Cultural Heritage and Resources Management (CHRM) MS program. The Department teaching load will consist of one (1) undergraduate or graduate course per semester, depending on the Department’s needs. Undergraduate courses should fall within the candidate’s area of expertise related to North American archaeology, cultural heritage and resources management, and other areas of research interest and experience. Graduate seminars will focus on the legal, regulatory, and ethical contexts of CHRM practice, and on theoretical approaches to heritage and identity. Other Department duties include: advising undergraduate and graduate students, chairing MS thesis/project committees, active engagement in Department and University-wide governance and committee work, assisting with departmental program assessment, and possible duty as rotating Anthropology chair and/or CHRM MS Program Coordinator. Duties of the ASC Director include identifying and securing regulatory contracts and research grants, acting as Principal Investigator on these projects, leading a team of 15-20 staff members, working with the ASC Collections Manager and Office of Tribal Relations to ensure compliance with NAGPRA, coordinating ASC’s activities with its educational mission, supporting student research and overseeing student interns, promoting the organization to the University administration and off-campus entities, and performing other duties as assigned.

The position is a 12-month position, split between an instructional faculty appointment in the Anthropology Department and the director position in ASC. 

Required Qualifications

To be recommended for appointment, the candidate must have:

• a Ph.D. in Anthropology, Archaeology, or a closely-related field
• significant experience in cultural heritage and resources management
• demonstrated ability to identify, secure, and administer research grants and regulatory contracts in this field
• demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with Tribes, descendant communities, and other stakeholders.
• specialization in North American pre-Contact, ethnohistoric, and/or historical archaeology
• demonstrated ability to teach effectively at the undergraduate and/or graduate level and to contribute to an inclusive learning environment
• ability to communicate effectively with a diverse team of staff and faculty colleagues

Preferred Qualifications

• significant experience in Indigenous and/or community-based archaeology
• research interests in how the following are applied in cultural heritage and resources management: digital/non-invasive technologies, geoarchaeology, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and/or environmental archaeology
• regional specialization in California or the western U.S.

Rank and Salary

The position will be hired at the rank of assistant or associate professor.  Service credit depends upon academic preparation and professional experience. The anticipated salary range for this 12-month position is: $97,000 to $120,000 (dependent upon background, experience, and rank).

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial transcripts
• Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of Interest and Vision for the Position
• Names and contact information for three references

Student Evaluations and Letters of Recommendation may be requested at a later stage of evaluation.

Official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Sonoma State University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents demonstrating the appointee’s identity and eligibility to work, in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU.

CSU Out of State Policy - Sonoma State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon the date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, go to jobs.sonoma.edu and click on the Staff & Faculty Career Opportunities link. Find and select the faculty position you are applying for to view the description and select Apply Now. If you have not previously applied, you will be prompted to create an account. You can use this account to apply to multiple positions. Once you have submitted the application, a confirmation email will be automatically sent to you. Please do not send materials to facultysearch@sonoma.edu. If you encounter difficulties during the application process, please email facultysearch@sonoma.edu.

Application Deadline

First consideration will be given to applications received by October 15, 2025. The position will remain open until filled. Early response is encouraged.

Contact Information

Questions concerning the application process may be directed to: facultysearch@sonoma.edu

Questions concerning this position may be directed to:

Search Committee Chair Alexis Boutin

boutin@sonoma.edu

Please refer to the requisition job number on all correspondence and inquiries regarding this position.

The ADA Coordinator is also available (hraccomodations@sonoma.edu) to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

The University

Sonoma State University's beautiful 274-acre campus is located in Sonoma County wine country, an hour north of San Francisco. The Campus offers the ideal setting for teaching and learning and access to a community of rich cultural, environmental, and recreational opportunities. Founded in 1960, SSU is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University System. As members of the largest public higher education system in the nation, we provide accessible, high-quality education.

Other Information

The university is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

This position is 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.

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