Assistant or Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of Anthropological Studies Center

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. 

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 departments' web pages at:

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

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.

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.