Pacific Islander Studies Scholar in Residence at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon

Job Description:

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled


Portland State University


Position Details
Position Details

Proposed Start Date	09/16/2025
Rank	CT - Teaching Assistant Professor
Working Title	Pacific Islander Studies Scholar in Residence
Position Number	D91549
Representation	AU - AAUP
Faculty Type	Fixed Term Research/Grant
Fixed Term End Date:	06/15/2027
Position FTE	1.0
Term of Service	9 month

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept	Portland State University (PSU) is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action – in Portland and beyond. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to community-based learning opportunities and career connections. More than 22,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. Portland State is ranked in the top 10% nationwide and number one in Oregon for social mobility based on the university’s effectiveness in enrolling students with low-income backgrounds and graduating them into jobs. Portland State University is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). In 2023, it became the first public institution in Oregon to be designated as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). PSU is also an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. With the support of a $2 million federal AANAPISI grant, Portland State will expand support, resources, and services for Pacific Islander and Asian American students over the next 5 years. Grant activities build upon years-long advocacy from students, faculty, and staff and include developing a Pacific Islander and Asian American Studies minor and creating a student retention program specifically for Pacific Islanders modeled after EMPOWER, a program that broadly serves first-generation Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Read more about the grant here. Portland State also partners with Northern Marianas College (NMC) (Saipan) to support Pacific Islander students from NMC to transition into a four-year degree program. For information about the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, please visit https://www.pdx.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/
Position Summary	PSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences seeks a two year visiting scholar specializing in Pacific Islander Studies starting September 16, 2025. The successful scholar may have the opportunity to apply for a tenure-track faculty position at PSU starting in the 2027-2028 academic year. We encourage applications from scholars from any discipline whose research centers Pacific Islander Studies and who practice comparative, relational, intersectional and interdisciplinary methods and community-engaged approaches to research and teaching. Given the diversity of our student population, we expect that the successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to inclusive pedagogies rooted in anti-racism, anti-colonialism, anti-ableism, feminism, and/or environmental justice. The successful applicant will be expected to develop and teach courses in their area of expertise as well as general courses that contribute to the development of a Pacific Islander & Asian American (PIAA) Studies curriculum and to PSU’s Race and Ethnic Studies requirement. The successful applicant will also be expected to develop an active research agenda and publication record and engage in service activities that support Pacific Islander students.
Primary Activity	I - Instructional
Minimum Qualifications	The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in any area of Pacific Islander Studies, and Indigenous scholars from across the disciplinary and interdisciplinary spectrum are encouraged to apply. The PhD. must be in hand by time of appointment. The successful candidate must also have the following: Previous experience teaching courses in Pacific Islander Studies Demonstrated commitment to and/or evidence of working successfully with Pacific Islander and/or Asian American communities and/or organizations Demonstrated potential for research and scholarly activities Experience teachingstudents from diverse populations Experience teaching in both in-person and online modalities Additionally, this position will require the successful completion of a background check.
Preferred Qualifications
Key Cultural Competencies	Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences. Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds. Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement. Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship	Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.
Professional Standards of Conduct	At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respect ul, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy.
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement	Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $71,163 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator

Supplemental Questions

Reference Requests

Reference Requests

Accept References	Yes
Minimum Number of References	3
Maximum Number of References
Cutoff Date
Special Instruction for Reference Provider	Thank you for your time in providing our committee with your assessment of the applicant. Please upload your letter of recommendation by 12/20/24.

Applicant Documents

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Please name the specific field/discipline in which you received (or will receive) your doctoral degree.

   (Open Ended Question)

2. * If you are ABD, when do you expect your degree to be conferred?

   (Open Ended Question)

3. * How did you first find out about this position?
   • PSU website
   • Indeed
   • Chronicle of Higher Education
   • Higher Ed Jobs
   • HERCJobs
   • Referral
   • Professional Listserv- please specify in comment box in the next question
   • Professional Journal- please specify in comment box in the next question
   • Other- please specify in comment box in the next question
4. If you selected Other, please describe.

   (Open Ended Question)

PI254583003

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