Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor – Occupational Therapy

School/Department Name: Occupational Therapy

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $105,000-$115,000.

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August, 2027

Application Deadline: (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Occupational Therapy Department at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor beginning in August, 2027. Experienced clinicians dedicated to preparing the next generation of occupational therapists are encouraged to apply. We are seeking clinical experts to teach in our OTD and MSOT programs covering foundational, professional development, practice and research courses. The ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter, with a passion for teaching and developing impactful university-community collaborations.

The Occupational Therapy Program at San Jose State University was founded in 1943 and is the oldest accredited Occupational Therapy program in the California State University. Our national reputation for excellence is based on a superior academic curriculum, distinguished faculty, and accomplished graduates. Our in-person program has strong community ties, and we take particular pride in our faculty-led programs, which provide services to children, adults with physical disabilities and mental health challenges, and older adults living in the community under the guidance of a skilled clinician instructor. We offer opportunities to engage in interprofessional research and collaboration on campus. Our highly recognized faculty hold advanced credentials in low vision, pediatrics, and physical disabilities, and are recognized for their deep commitment to the profession, with five current faculty awarded Fellow status by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). www.sjsu.edu/occupationaltherapy.

The Department of Occupational Therapy and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. San José State University has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education as an R2 research institution, reflecting the university’s growing research activity, commitment to innovation, and expansion of graduate education. This designation further strengthens opportunities for faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student engagement in research. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Earned research and/or clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science, or related field, and at least two years of clinical experience.
• Eligible for occupational therapy licensure in California
• Demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence, possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and exhibit a commitment to establish and interact effectively with community partnerships.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, research practices, scholarship, service engagement, and other comparable experiences that facilitate student success..
• Experience working in the field of pediatrics, mental health, physical disabilities, or gerontology across the continuum of care.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess two or more of the following:

• Research doctorate and/or demonstrated record of research and scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, research-related teaching, and/or student research mentorship, are preferred.
• At least two years of teaching experience and five years of clinical practice.
• Experience in interprofessional collaboration.
• Knowledge of the use and application of emerging technologies and AI in occupational therapy.

Key Responsibilities

• Duties include teaching, scholarship, and service to the university and profession.
• Teach practice courses related to the area of expertise, research-related courses, courses related to current and emerging practice areas, and adaptive technology in both didactic and clinical practice courses in the entry-level OT Master of Science (MSOT) and entry-level OT Doctorate (OTD) programs.
• Participate in student mentorship in the MSOT and OTD programs.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and student advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• institutional excellence statement (dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest)
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy
• research plan
• three letters of reference with contact information for the person writing the letters

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair or Search:

Gigi Smith, Professor and Chair of Occupational Therapy, gigi.smith@sjsu.edu,

Telephone: 408-924-3070.

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of background and reference checks (including criminal records and prior employment) are required. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Advertised: October 15, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled