Assistant Professor of Child Development

Assistant Professor of Child Development

• Job no: 556831
• Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
• Location: Stanislaus - Turlock
• Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Human Development

Faculty Employment Opportunity

POSITION:

Assistant Professor of Child Development: The Department of Psychology and Child Development invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning Fall 2026. We seek a developmental scholar with a strong background in child development and expertise in a focus area of their choice – such as culture and diversity, dual language learners, parenting, physical/motor development, children with disabilities, early intervention, or other related areas.

We are looking for someone excited about teaching, committed to working with a diverse student population, and eager to contribute to a highly collaborative undergraduate and graduate program.

Our mission is to prepare knowledgeable, reflective, and equity-minded professionals who serve young children and families across the region, and beyond, in educational and social service settings. A key component of that training takes place at our brand-new, on-campus, NAEYC-accredited Child Development Center. This state-of-the-art laboratory allows faculty and students to engage directly with young children and families, supporting both outstanding professional preparation and meaningful applied research.

Additionally, our program maintains strong community connections, providing observational and internship opportunities interwoven in the curriculum.

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics.
• Utilize our on-campus Child Development Center as a live instructional resource, integrating direct observation and applied experiences into coursework.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students; supervise undergraduate interns and lab students.
• Demonstrate teaching excellence with a diverse student body.

• Maintain an active scholarly agenda.
• Pursue external funding opportunities in support of research and programmatic initiatives.
• Integrate the on-campus Child Development Center as a site for applied or community-engaged research when appropriate.

• Participate actively in department, college, and university service.
• Contribute to student advising, recruitment, and retention efforts.
• Engage with local early childhood programs, school districts, Head Start agencies, and other community partners.

• Ph.D. in child development or related area, at time of appointment.
• Ability to teach across the curriculum (i.e., child development theory, research methods, application/laboratory integration, and other developmental topics).
• Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching at undergraduate level.

• Experience integrating an NAEYC-accredited laboratory school or child development center into instruction or research.
• Experience teaching or supervising students in applied early childhood settings (e.g., preschool, Head Start, transitional kindergarten, infant/toddler programs).
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Central Valley communities.
• Familiarity with California Preschool Learning Foundations, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and/or related professional frameworks.
• Experience with undergraduate internship supervision or graduate student mentorship and thesis advising.
• Record of community-engaged scholarship or regional partnerships.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Anticipated hiring range is $7,064-$7,315 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year). As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer a competitive benefits package.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU…