California State University is hiring: Assistant Professor - MA Library & Info S

Position Rank and Title

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

School/Department Name

School of Information

Compensation

Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $100,000- $110,000.

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.

Target Start Date

August 17, 2026

Application Deadline

December 31, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The School of Information at San José State University is pleased to announce a search to fill two tenure‐track positions as Assistant Professors beginning in August 2026 with specializations in (1) AI and AI Education and (2) AI, Privacy, and Emerging Topics in Information Science. The ideal candidate will be prepared to teach, conduct research, and contribute to various programs and modalities in the School of Information. In addition, we strongly prefer applicants whose expertise aligns with and supports multiple programs in the School of Information. We are especially interested in applicants with interdisciplinary teaching and research strengths that bridge LIS domains with the emerging areas of artificial intelligence, information technology, and human‑centered computing.

San José State University’s School of Information prepares individuals for careers as information professionals, offering a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, doctoral partnership programs, certification, and credentials programs. Graduates work in diverse areas of the information profession, such as user experience design, digital asset management, information architecture, electronic records management, information governance, digital preservation, archives, and librarianship. Our school has been awarding graduate degrees to information professionals for over 55 years. Based in Silicon Valley, our vibrant community continues to inspire innovation in the fields of library, archives, and information science worldwide.

The School of Information 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 Inclusive 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 and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Inclusive Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Terminal degree in the field: Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent in AI or related field.
• An earned doctorate by the start of the appointment.
• A record of scholarly and professional achievement.
• Evidence of potential for teaching effectiveness.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

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

• In‑person, hybrid, and online teaching experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to teach and conduct research in one or more areas of Artificial Intelligence, including but not limited to the following:
• Foundational and Applied AI for the Information Professions (search and recommendation; conversational systems; knowledge organization)
• Human‑Centered, Participatory, and Ethical AI (co‑design with communities; evaluation in real‑world settings; algorithmic accountability, bias/fairness, data justice; Indigenous data sovereignty; global and cross‑cultural perspectives)
• AI Literacy, Pedagogy, and Instructional Design (AI‑supported teaching and learning; assessment with/for AI; academic integrity and faculty development)
• Privacy, Law, and Governance of Data and AI (GDPR/EU AI Act/CCPA/FERPA/HIPAA contexts; platform governance and surveillance studies; privacy‑by‑design, de‑identification, and risk/impact assessments)
• Semantic and Knowledge‑Based Approaches to AI and Trust (ontologies, taxonomies, knowledge graphs, metadata standards, provenance, and transparency)
• Emerging Technologies in Information (agentic AI and automation of knowledge work; extended reality/XR and immersive storytelling)
• Track record of research or curricular collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach and conduct research in the areas listed above.
• Participate in state, national, and international professional organizations.
• Build a collegial relationship with fellow faculty members in the iSchool and across campus.
• 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 the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population with 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
• Curriculum vitae
• Institutional excellence statement
• Statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• Research plans
• Name and contact information of three references

Inquiries may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Souvick Ghosh, souvick.ghosh@sjsu.edu.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position requires establishing an on‑campus presence and may be performed only in the State of California. 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 Valley's 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. 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 408‑924‑1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available. 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 408‑795‑5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification (continued)

San José State University is committed to ensuring campus safety and is prepared to respond to emergencies. Employees and students are encouraged to review all safety resources and report any concerns promptly.