Adjunct Professor, Doctoral Research Instruction (EdD Program)

About Pacific Oaks College and Children's School

Pacific Oaks College and Children's School, located in Pasadena, California, is a nonprofit institution rooted in Quaker values and a strong social justice heritage. The College offers bachelor’s, master’s, a doctorate, and certificate programs in education, human development, counseling, and related fields, while the Children’s School is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution. Together, they foster inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor the unique potential of every individual. Employees join a mission-driven community committed to respect, diversity, social justice, and lifelong learning.

About the Position

This position and course assignments will be delivered online through remote instruction. The course offerings are offered per semester and based on available offerings within the department of EdD in Early Childhood Education. Other duties of dissertation/doctoral research project advising may be offered based on additional qualifications, availability (long-term time commitment), and needs of the EdD program.

The role is estimated at 7.5 hours per week during the 7-week semester, with an additional 5-7 hours per week allocated for pre- and post-course preparation.

Responsibilities

• Synchronous instruction, to be administrated weekly on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings, 6-9pm, for the 7-week fall semester
• Instruct doctoral-level courses (per semester contract and per available offerings) in research theory/methods and/or applied statistical analysis within the EdD in Early Childhood Education program.
• Facilitate engaging learning experiences that promote critical inquiry, scholarly writing, and applied research.
• Instruct and support students in the conceptualization of research topic ideas, development of literature reviews, research proposals, and doctoral-level projects.
• Provide timely, substantive, and constructive feedback on student work.
• Engage adult learners through inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy.
• Foster respectful, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous learning environments.
• Assess student learning and maintain academic records in accordance with institutional policies.
• Communicate professionally and regularly with students, faculty colleagues, and academic leadership.
• Be available (for approximately 2 hours) and hold weekly office hours over Zoom or teams.
• Contribute to program quality through participation in faculty meetings, curriculum discussions, doctoral seminars, faculty development, and assessment activities, as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (EdD, PhD, or equivalent) in Early Childhood Education, Education, Human Development, Educational Leadership, or a closely related field.
• The completion of a doctoral dissertation or applied research project of equivalence.
• Experience teaching graduate or doctoral-level courses in higher education.
• Commitment to Pacific Oaks College's mission and social justice values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching doctoral research methods, dissertation seminars, capstone courses, or dissertation supervision.
• Record of scholarly publications, presentations, or applied research in early childhood education or related fields.
• Experience mentoring doctoral students and supporting dissertation development.
• Proficiency in Canvas LMS, Microsoft Office Suite, and online teaching technologies.
• Administrative, policy, leadership, or practitioner experience within early childhood education settings.

Location

• Flex: This position is eligible for flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to choose their work location based on role requirements and team needs.

Anticipated Salary

$35.00 per hour

Compliance with Federal Antidiscrimination Guidance

Pacific Oaks College is committed to providing equal employment and educational opportunity to all people and strictly adheres to federal anti-discrimination laws. In accordance with DOJ guidance, the College affirms that no programs, hiring practices, promotions, admissions, or other decisions shall provide preferential treatment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics without appropriate lawful rationale. The College will also ensure compliance of its third-party contractors or program partners in this regard.

Disclaimer

The duties listed above describe the general nature and level of work expected of faculty in this position and are not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The College reserves the right to amend or modify the job description as institutional needs evolve. Pacific Oaks College provides equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $ base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.pacificoaks.edu/about/careers-pacific-oaks/

Pacific Oaks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pacific Oaks participates in E-Verify and verifies identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired.

Working at Pacific Oaks College & Children's School

Mission

Grounded in its social justice heritage, Pacific Oaks College prepares students to be culturally intelligent agents of change serving diverse communities in the fields of human development, education, and related family studies.

Pacific Oaks College is a nonprofit, accredited higher education institution offering bachelor’s completion, master’s, and certificate programs in human development, counseling, education, early childhood education, and teacher credentialing. The school offers classes at its main campus in Pasadena and at a number of convenient instructional sites throughout California, as well as online.

Founded more than 60 years ago by a small group of Quaker families, Pacific Oaks College has remained dedicated to the fundamental Quaker principles of inclusion, social justice, and the valuing of every human being. Three basic concepts underlie the educational philosophy at Pacific Oaks:

• that every individual has a fundamental worth;
• that growth is a dynamic and life-long process;
• and that every individual has a unique identity and human potential.

Pacific Oaks has a long history of serving non-traditional and adult students and has become known and recognized for its progressive approach to teaching and learning—valuing real-world experiences in addition to academic achievements. This philosophy is embodied in the school’s Experiential Learning, approach, and opportunities such as the Credit for Life Experience option which allows students to gain academic credit for real-world experiences.

Pacific Oaks is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and has been since 1959.