Faculty - Non-Tenure Track (Scholar Educator)

Job Title: Faculty – Non-Tenure Track (Scholar Educator) 

Rank: Assistant Professor 

Department: Psychology 

Location: Palo Alto, California 

Categories: Instruction, Psychology 

Annual Basis: 9.5 month workload 

Application Deadline: Position open until filled 

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. PAU’s core values include social justice and cultural competency. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead. 

PAU is committed to faculty success. The Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) provides resources and training in evidence-based teaching strategies for instructors at all stages of their career to advance a culture of continuous learning and growth. PAU has launched an onboarding process and two-year program for early career faculty to promote mentorship and support development. The University is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. Additionally, PAU supports faculty research through grants and other sources of funding to fulfill our vision to improve the well-being of others and contribute to just and inclusive communities. 

PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT 

The Psychology Department has two APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (a PhD program and the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium), an undergraduate completion program in Psychology offering majors in Psychology and Social Action, and Business Psychology, a master's program in Psychology. PAU operates an in-house community clinic, the Gronowski Center, and advanced students are placed at off-site practicum placements around the Bay Area, including VA Medical Centers, community clinics, and schools. 

We are committed to build training programs that promote diversity from all areas of psychology. The work done through the Latinx Task Force, I4Health, and the undergraduate summer bridge program (funded by the APA CEMRRAT grant for ethnic minority recruitment, retention, and training of students in psychology) represent some of our current diversity work within the department. 

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT 

Palo Alto University (PAU) invites applications to fill a Scholar Educator faculty position in Psychology at the rank of Assistant Professor. The responsibilities for this position would primarily reside in the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, our innovative joint clinical psychology PsyD program with the Department of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Scholar Educators are term faculty with predominantly teaching responsibilities who are also expected to carry responsibilities in service. Their expertise should include an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities. Faculty in this appointment category are expected to be current in the related disciplinary literature and in the relevant research on teaching and clinical practice. Scholar Educators are to actively participate in how that knowledge is applied so that PAU students are afforded instruction that leverages high impact practices for student engagement and success. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Teaching, Consulting, and Advising 

● Teach 36 units of courses per year over 9.5 months (~2 classes per quarter); willingness to teach several courses in psychological assessment is preferred. 

● Provide supervisory consultation for doctoral students’ assessment cases at in-house practica (Note: This role satisfies some of the above-listed teaching unit requirements) 

● Provide professional development advising to doctoral students 

2. Service and Engagement 

● Serve on program, department and/or university committees 

● Participate in program and department faculty meetings. 

● Attend major university events, such as convocation and commencement. 

3. Scholarly Engagement 

● Active engagement in the field of psychology through participation in relevant professional associations and/or presenting at conferences or communities. 

Minimum Requirements: 

● PhD or PsyD required at the time of appointment. 

● Demonstrated clinical knowledge and skills. 

● Experience or potential to teach at the graduate levels - knowledge in psychological assessment is a plus. 

● Active engagement in the field of psychology through participation in relevant professional associations and/or presenting at conferences or communities. 

● Demonstrated commitment to mentoring students and provide service to the department and University that promotes their institutional and departmental goals. 

● Evidence of inclusive excellence, as well as training and experience with diverse populations. 

● Demonstrated commitment in facilitating conversations related to culture, power, and oppression and increasing cultural sensitivity in students. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

We are especially interested in candidates who will contribute to the collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community of faculty across campus with interests in diversity research. We also particularly welcome applications from scholars who are from populations historically underrepresented in the academy, and/or who have experience working with diverse populations. 

SALARY RANGES (9.5 months): $114,000 - $120,000 

TO APPLY 

Applicants should submit: 

● Cover letter stating interests and qualifications for the position 

● Curriculum vitae 

● 3 letters of recommendation 

● Three 1-page statements: 

      ● Professional accomplishments and future plans

      ● Teaching experience and philosophy

      ● Personal contributions and plans to foster an environment of equity and inclusion for faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds. 

● Representative publications (if applicable) 

● Teaching and supervisory evaluations (if available) 

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2023. Administrative questions can be sent to Yvette Walkinshaw at ywalkinshaw@paloaltou.edu, and any other questions about the search can be sent to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Kimberly Hill at khill@paloaltou.edu. The position will remain open until filled. 

VALUES IN PRACTICE 

Candidates who will contribute to the collaborative, interdisciplinary work at PAU and demonstrate inclusive excellence in their teaching, advising, and service are strongly encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from scholars with identities that are historically underrepresented in the academy and/or who have experience with and commitment to working with diverse populations. 

The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.