Assistant Professor of Policy Analysis

Position description

The School of Education (SOE) at the University of California, Riverside invites applications and nominations for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Policy Analysis in the area of Educational Policy Analysis and Leadership. Assistant Professor salary range is from $78,200 to $101,400 annually, with off-scale salaries and other components of pay offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. The position will commence as early as July 1, 2026, or as negotiated.

We seek a scholar who studies the politics of education, policy analysis, and policy making at local, state, and national levels. This position is part of the Educational Policy and Leadership area within University of California Riverside’s School of Education. We seek scholars who examine ways that policy across the age range, from Pre-K to higher education, can further learning and commitments to equity and to multiple forms of diversity. Addressing marginalization as well as other vital goals such as more impactful, humane, and democratic schooling is desired. Doing work that directly informs policy is attractive as is work tied to curricular change and leadership.

Our School and University

The University of California, Riverside School of Education, or SOE, is a nationally recognized school in a public research university that leverages its broad range of expertise to develop impactful partnerships, collaborations, and evidence-based resources fundamental for teaching, learning, and student success. Located in a region rich in racial and linguistic diversity, yet challenged by economic and social inequities, SOE serves a diverse student population, much of which is comprised of students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students. The SOE mission is to advance equitable educational systems and practices which are driven by core values of equity, evidence, excellence, community, critical thinking, and compassion. Additionally, we prioritize recognizing, honoring, and working with the people of the region to create transformative opportunities and advance our respective fields in education. The faculty and staff of SOE enact this mission by valuing, understanding, and partnering with our UC, UCR, and Inland Empire community as we:

• Engage in world-class research which cultivates environments supporting learning and development that are student-centered, inclusive, and intentional.
• Develop future educators, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and leaders across the K-20 education system who implement socially just, evidence-driven, and culturally sustaining principles and practices in their work. We strive to name and disrupt injustices and promote structures of opportunity.
• Build upon the strengths of systematically marginalized communities by encouraging scholars and communities to explore, translate, and strive for equitable and critically minded academic, behavior, and social/emotional outcomes for children and families.
• Endeavor to develop in our students, faculty, and staff a sense of collective ownership, professional responsibility, and humanizing engagement for the greater good of the community

Established in 1954, UCR’s roots trace back to the earliest days of high-impact innovation as a Citrus Experiment Station researching agricultural issues facing Southern California. Today, UCR is a premier research and educational institution and the national leader of the social mobility and student success movement. Located in the thriving Inland Southern California Region on a campus covering nearly 1,200 acres, UCR has more than 1,200 faculty members – including two Nobel Prize winners and 15 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine – and over 26,000 students. The university is home to an exceptional and unique student body: 41% of students are underrepresented minorities, 49% of undergraduates are first-generation college students, and 48% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. UCR has been designated as both a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (AANAPISI) by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2023, UCR was invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), highlighting significant strides made for the university in terms of research and educational excellence, as well as being one of four members to hold both HSI and AANAPISI status. In 2024, UCR was named the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

Building on its mission to transform the lives of the people of California, the nation, and the world through the discovery, communication, translation, Application, and preservation of knowledge – thereby enriching the state’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental future, UCR continues to be recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and accessibility. UCR offers more than 150 majors and minors, 55 master’s programs, 44 Ph.D. programs, and 13 credential programs across three colleges and four professional schools. The university consistently ranks as one of the most innovative schools by U.S. News & World Report and among those making a significant public impact by The Princeton Review, having generated $200 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2023 and contributing $2.7 billion in nationwide annual economic activity.

As the only public research university in diverse inland Southern California, UCR and the School of Education are uniquely positioned to shape effective service delivery for historically marginalized young people locally and across the state. 

School Website: https://education.ucr.edu/

Application Details

Interested candidates should submit an electronic application to UCR’s online application system [https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02123] that includes a cover letter describing current and proposed future areas of research, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy, statement of research, recent teaching evaluations, and at least 3 letters of recommendation.

Review of applicants will begin October 8, 2025 and may continue until the position is filled.

The posted UC salary scales, https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/index.html, set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 1 https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/oct-2024-scales/t1.pdf for the salary range for Assistant Professor. The salary range for this appointment is $78,200 to $101,400 annually. “Off-scale salaries” and other components of pay, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.

Minimum Qualifications (required by the time one would start in the position):

• Ph.D. in Education, Political Science, Public Policy, Economics or a related field.
• A robust and impactful publication record or the potential for a robust publication record in the area of education policy and reform.
• Experience working effectively with diverse and historically marginalized students.
• Concern for equity and justice in research and teaching.
• Orientation towards applied and engaged work (e.g., with K-12 educators, in teacher education, educational leaders, policymakers, or within community-based contexts.
• Established program of research and record of success in securing extramural funding. Candidates should have a demonstrated record for conducting research that centers the needs of students with historically minoritized identities including those based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, linguistics, gender, and others.
• Capacity to build strong, sustainable relationships with local partners in our diverse region. 
• Commitment to the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse student and faculty body, including advocating for the learning needs of diverse/historically underrepresented students in culturally responsive ways and the use of innovative teaching strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to applicants with experiential knowledge of conducting research that centers the strengths and needs of historically minoritized student populations. 
• Prior experience working with historically marginalized and underserved students, families, and communities.
• Experience teaching diverse graduate and undergraduate students.
• Experience supervising graduate students in research, field activities and placements that serve diverse populations.
• The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) as well as the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement) is a preferred qualification.
• Strong, inclusive leadership skills, flexibility, creative problem-solving skills, and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession.

Application instructions

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