Hazel Cramer Endowed Chair and Professor in Public Policy and Administration

The Department of Public Policy and Administration (PPA) is housed in the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, consisting of 11 academic departments, three independent and interdisciplinary academic programs, and several centers and institutes. The College is a congenial and cohesive unit both academically and administratively. Our campus community represents the broad diversity of our state, and we believe that all are enriched and unified by this diversity. To this end, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified individuals with the commitment and ability to work with our diverse student population, staff and faculty. The mission of the PPA Department at the “Capital Campus” of Sacramento State is to prepare future leaders to address the complex issues that face California. We serve the State of California and the Sacramento Region by developing leaders with strong analytical tools and a deep commitment to public service. We are excited to be part of “Sac State Downtown”— a hub for innovative teaching, learning, and research, fostering collaborative partnerships to address real-world issues and improve the quality of life in the diverse Sacramento region.

The PPA program (http://www.csus.edu/ppa) provides professional training for graduate students—many of whom work in state government. Our core academic program is a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA); we also offer a Certificate in Collaborative Governance for matriculated graduate students. We participate in, or affiliate with, the Doctorate in Educational Leadership degree, the Judicial Administration Certificate Program, the Executive and Judicial Fellows Programs (part of the nationally recognized Capital Fellows Programs), and the Education Insights Center.

PPA faculty focus on developing engaging and inclusive curricula that include project-based work and application to current policy and administrative issues in California. Courses are taught primarily during evenings to accommodate students who are full-time working professionals. Our curriculum is evidence-based, with a strong focus on ensuring that students leave the program with the ability to:
(1) synthesize, analyze, and offer ideas to improve policy and practice;
(2) apply knowledge and skills in a professional setting; and
(3) recognize the role and duty of public policy and administration professionals in society.

The position is for the Hazel Cramer Endowed Chair. Through this endowed chair position, the university is making a further commitment to its role as an anchor institution in the region by focusing on long-term, systemic solutions to entrenched social, economic, and political problems. Given that this is an endowed chair position, the work differs significantly from a traditional faculty member, and additional funds will be provided to ensure that the chair can meet those expectations.

The work of the Hazel Cramer Endowed Chair will result in an enhancement of the reputation of the Department of Public Policy and Administration, the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, and California State University, Sacramento. This position’s teaching responsibility is reduced and additional funds will be allocated from the Hazel Cramer Endowment to support the chair in executing the unique expectations of the position (e.g. research assistance, related travel, meeting and conferences, convenings, lectures, and other outreach related costs). The initial Hazel Cramer Appointment appointment is for five years. For reappointment, the incumbent endowed chair must undergo a thorough review.

The Department is seeking a community-engaged scholar willing to make significant contributions to the community through California State University’s Downtown Center (https://www.csus.edu/experience/anchor-university/sac-state-downtown/) and the Anchor University Initiative (https://www.csus.edu/experience/anchor-university/). The successful applicant should have a distinguished and sustained record in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service – and have demonstrated the ability to utilize evidence-based research to examine and address public policy problems especially relevant to the Sacramento Metropolitan Area and State of California. Emphasis is placed on the candidate’s substantial and continued contributions. Given the demographics of the Sacramento Region and California, the successful applicant must have evidence of a record in teaching, scholarship, and service that emphasizes service to diverse populations. Through previous work, and a clear plan, the successful applicant must have an applied research agenda, focused on solving practical problems. Examples of desired subject areas include the study of public policy and administration related to social justice, political engagement, education, public finance, urban redevelopment, transportation, health care, affordable housing, homelessness, criminal justice, unemployment, poverty, environmental justice, or other similar issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Teach a reduced course load over an academic year of two semesters.

• Continue distinguished scholarly and professional contributions related to public policy and administration.

• Create and execute a sustainable plan to serve the community through Sac State
Downtown (examples include, but are not limited to, developing and executing a
community engaged research agenda that includes translating research into possible
solution sets/ideas for practice; creating new work-based learning opportunities for PPA
students; developing and implementing innovative educational programs and curricula; fostering collaborations across the college, university, academic field, and entities in the community; recruiting and supervising graduate students; and providing outreach to the broader community).

• Supervise master’s projects related to the area of public policy and administration.

• Provide service to the community around public policy and administration.

• Provide service to the department, college, and university.

• Embrace the mission of the California State University and its students
(https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/about-the-csu/Pages/mission.aspx). Our students are diverse and represent populations that have been historically underserved in both undergraduate and graduate education. A successful applicant must be excited to serve our student populations.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED
• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree (e.g., Doctorate in Public Administration, Juris Doctorate) in public
policy or a discipline (Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Urban
Studies, etc.) closely related to it.

• Knowledge, experience, and commitment to diversity and issues of just, equitable, and inclusive education and practice.

• Experience in public service with a commitment to working with the Sacramento community through California State University, Sacramento’s Anchor Initiative and Downtown Center.

• Teaching experience and success in at least one of the core topics in the MPPA
curriculum that includes public policy, public administration, qualitative or quantitative research methods, political environment of policymaking, and public budgeting and finance.

•Professional experience (outside of the classroom) and success in areas related to
public policy and administration.

• Strong commitment to master’s level university teaching and project supervision to a diverse student body and broader community.

PREFERRED
• Experience working in an interdisciplinary academic department.

• Interest in experimenting with different forms of student engagement in the classroom.

• Publications (peer-reviewed journal articles and/or professional articles) in areas
related to public policy and administration.

• Teaching experience and success in more than one of the core topics in the MPPA
curriculum that includes public policy, qualitative or quantitative research methods,
political environment of policymaking, and public budgeting and finance; or the elective
courses of collaborative governance, urban public policy, or urban land development.

A LIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY TO THIS POSTING CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POSTING UNDER “Documents Needed To Apply”.

•A current curriculum vitae with references. References should include three individual names and contact information for people who can speak to the candidate’s ability to fulfill the required (and if relevant, preferred) duties/responsibilities and qualifications. At least one reference must be from a non-academic.

• A cover letter that addresses the candidate’s ability to fulfill the required (and if relevant, preferred) duties/responsibilities and qualifications listed above.

• Writing Sample: representative samples of three publications, scholarship, and/or creative works (combine into one PDF).

• Statement of interest, focused on scholarship, service to students, and impact on the community (broadly defined). (750 words or fewer) (Upload as the “Statement of Scholarly Interests” file)

• A statement of professional plans consistent with the purpose and nature of the Endowed Chair. (750 words or fewer) (Upload as the “Portfolio” file)

• Teaching Effectiveness: Official copies of aggregated results of evaluations provided anonymously by students in previous classes taught as well as copies of recent peer reviews, if relevant/available. (Combine into one PDF)

• Diversity statement: Please describe how you would develop and apply your commitment to diversity and inclusion at California State University, Sacramento? (750 words or fewer)