Music Jobs

Tenure Track Faculty Position

Music Department

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences

Salary Range: $79,000-$80,976 Annual

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty ASSISTANT PROFESSOR position in the Music Department in an area related to the study and/or promotion of Music (Ethnic Studies Affinity) specializing in African, African diaspora, or Black popular culture and music.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students have participated in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 Baccalaureate and 29 Master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 3 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona – nearly half (49%) of new students were transfers in Fall 2020. 58% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible. The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 49% Latinx, 21% Asian, 15% White, 3% Black, 5% International, 3% two or more races, 3% unknown, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. 39% of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

Tenure track faculty hires will demonstrate a commitment and record of contributions through their teaching, scholarship, or service to these inclusive excellence criteria (a minimum of two must be addressed in the Student Success Statement):

1. Integrates the values of equity and inclusivity into their teaching, scholarship and/or service contributions with diverse student populations;

2. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups and communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;

3. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;

4. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;

5. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;

6. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline;

7. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;

8. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;

9. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and

10. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences: Cal Poly Pomona's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS) brings to life a vibrant hands-on experience through disciplines in the humanities, performing arts, and social sciences. As the heart and soul of the campus, the College’s mission is to cultivate one’s intellectual development, ethical reasoning, and aesthetic sensibility to support creative and critical thinking in a dynamic world of competing challenges. We are a community diverse in backgrounds, expertise, and thought, committed to improving the human condition and to bettering the world. Our faculty, students, and staff are devoted to creating an inclusive environment where all can thrive through the College's programs, research activities, creative performances, community outreach, and signature experiences. Learn more about the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences and our 12 distinct departments at www.cpp.edu/class.

Department of Music: We are a vibrant and engaged musical community. We celebrate music in all its forms and expressions, promoting music-making as a diverse practice that rewards and fulfills individual lives and the human experience. We foster ethical, innovative careers in performance, composition, teaching, research, and the music industry, and encourage all to realize their highest artistic, scholarly, and professional potential. With an emphasis on collaboration and the inclusion of varied musical perspectives, this department presents unique opportunities to students and faculty to find their expressive voices and build connections to the communities around them. Our newly re-imagined Music Theory coursework integrates repertoire by composers from underrepresented groups and supports deeper understanding of jazz/pop music. Recitals and projects often involve close collaboration among seniors and reflect broad musical perspectives.

Our 9 full time faculty and numerous adjunct faculty work with approximately 270 majors, and we normally present over 60 events annually, from recitals and concerts to masterclasses. Our 21 ensembles range from traditional band/orchestra/choirs to Songwriter Showcase, Electronic Music Ensemble, Jazz Band, Soul Ensemble, Mariachi, Music Theatre, Piano Ensemble, and more. Please look at our courses of study and more: www.cpp.edu/class/music

Position description:

The Cal Poly Pomona Music Department seeks an Assistant Professor in Music specializing in African, African diaspora, or Black popular culture and music. Additional training in ethnic studies, critical race theory, interdisciplinary arts and dance, or digital humanities and technologies is desired. Musical performance experience would be an asset, but it is not required.

The successful candidate will teach lower- and upper-division classes in the music curriculum, such as American Popular Music, Jazz and Beyond, and others as they suit the candidate’s qualifications and interests. They will be expected to develop new curriculum and assist Music Department with updating and refreshing current curriculum. The candidate will also teach and develop classes in their area of specialty within the Cal State University’s new GE Area F: Ethnic Studies requirement. The candidate will also participate in Music Department administrative duties and will be expected to pursue and continue their own research interests through publishing /applied scholarship.

The new faculty member will be a part of the Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies Faculty and will have the opportunity to engage with a new and permanent Office of Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies Teaching and Scholarship. This is a space for collaboration across disciplines and methodological vantage points, mentorship, and professional development programming. The Interdisciplinary Ethnic Studies Faculty, and the resources to support them, are a key element of CPP’s ongoing efforts to ensure the flourishing of our diverse students and faculty and be the leading inclusive polytechnic university in the nation.

Minimum requirements include:

• Qualified to mentor aspiring scholars and community leaders
• Engagement in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in research, teaching, and service.
• PhD, DMA, or equivalent in Music, Ethnic Studies, or a related field from an accredited university at the time of appointment.
• Ongoing or clear plan of scholarly/creative activities.
• Expertise in African, African diaspora, or Black popular culture and music and cross-disciplinary work between music, ethnic studies, or other disciplines.
• Ability to develop and teach a general education class that meets the requirements for Area F Ethnic Studies courses. See the learning objectives for Area F courses here:
• A commitment and a record of contributions to student success through applicant’s teaching, scholarship, or service. This will be described in the Student Success Statement, which must address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above in this announcement (1,000 word max).

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Industry experience (such as music industry, museum work, or similar)
• Post-doctoral experience
• Successful teaching experience at university/college level
• Experience in music performance, music and audio technology, or field work (such as ethnographic films or videos)
• Experience supervising undergraduate research

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

The CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so. Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of:

• The names and contact information for at least three individuals that can serve as phone call/Zoom references (may be the same or different from letter writers);
• At least two current letters of reference;
• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, scholarly and creative goals, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications;
• A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population. Please address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above;
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, official transcripts will be required of finalists).
• Curriculum vitae;
• Supporting materials may be requested of semi-finalists, such as samples of scholarly work: published articles, films, music, etc. Do not upload with the initial application.

Finalists for the position will:

• Final candidates being interviewed are expected to make a presentation of scholarly/creative work and a teaching demonstration to faculty, and interact with students.
• Be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;

Applications accepted only via PageUp – online application portal - for University hires.

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than January 17, 2023.

Please direct inquiries to Dr. Jessie Vallejo [email protected] or Dr. Dave Kopplin [email protected].

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.