Job Posting - CIIS

California Institute of Integral Studies

San Francisco, CA

Women’s Spirituality, Part Time Core Faculty — Assistant or Associate Professor (0.6 FTE)

Deadline: Until filled

Department: Women’s Spirituality

Type of Appointment: Tenure-Track/ Tenured

The Women's Spirituality program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) announces a part-time core faculty position, effective July 1, 2025.

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco is a pioneer in integrative higher education, providing interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and applied studies in psychology, philosophy, religion, cultural anthropology, transformative studies and leadership, integrative health, and the arts. The school offers master's and doctoral degrees, as well as a Bachelor of Arts completion degree. We are conveniently located in the SOMA district of San Francisco, which is a quick walk from BART, Muni and other public transportation.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Women's Spirituality graduate program at CIIS offers a transdisciplinary feminist and womanist approach to the study of spirituality and religion in historical and socio-political context. Our curriculum incorporates scholarship from women's/gender studies, anthropology, ethnic studies, religious studies, theology, philosophy, and other related fields. We offer two degrees: an MA in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice (WGS) and a PhD in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women's Spirituality (WSE). We are the first MA and PhD program in the nation to integrate a study of the sacred feminine with an examination of contemporary social, political, and ecological issues. Faculty and students generate innovative ways to combine rigorous academic scholarship with the passionate pursuit of personal transformation, community healing, and social justice.

Our program is committed to resisting and transforming hierarchical systems that have been constructed on the basis of sex, race, class, religious identity, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, ability, and nationality. Students are invited to examine issues of power and privilege within both spiritual traditions and societal institutions. They are also invited to view social and ecological justice work as forms of sacred practice. The program emphasizes the historical, political, and spiritual experiences of women and recognizes and affirms diverse gender identities.

Courses are delivered in an online format blending synchronous and asynchronous teaching using the Instructure Canvas platform and Zoom.

CORE FACULTY DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Full-time CIIS core faculty members are responsible for teaching 18 units of graduate-level courses, or their equivalent, per academic year. Therefore, a 0.6 FTE core faculty member will teach 10.8 units per academic year. Core faculty also advise students, serve on dissertation committees, and participate in CIIS faculty meetings and institutional committees. Core faculty are expected to stay engaged in academic production through publication, presenting at academic conferences, and other scholarly activities.

An individual with the rank of Assistant Professor must meet the following criteria:

  • A doctoral degree or its equivalent and at least 2 years teaching or directly relevant professional work experience combined with part-time teaching; or a Master's degree and at least 4 years of teaching, or a combination of 4 years of directly relevant professional work and teaching experience

  • Scholarly contributions to a field of specialization through scholarship

  • Contribution to the field of specialization through professional activities.

An individual with the rank Associate Professor must meet the following criteria:

  • A doctoral degree or its equivalent and further evidence of career development in their area of specialization

  • At least 5 years full-time equivalent (FTE) of college-level teaching or a combination of 2 years of directly relevant professional work experience and teaching

  • Continuing scholarly activities

  • Significant contributions to the field of specialization through professional activities (presentations, etc.)

  • Evidence of university service through governance activities or other efforts on behalf of the university

Because we are a relatively small program, all core faculty in the Women's Spirituality program are expected to contribute to administrative aspects of the program. The ideal candidate will have administrative experience in higher education and may be considered for the position of Program Chair when the position opens up. In addition, the candidate should have the ability to fill in for the current Chair during sabbaticals.

Candidates are to be conversant with current scholarship emerging from the fields of women's spirituality and women's studies. We are particularly looking for candidates whose research and teaching focus on Africana, African Diasporic, Latina/Chicana and/or Indigenous frameworks and spiritualities. In addition, they should have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

  • Historical and contemporary issues in women's spirituality and/or feminist/womanist theology Feminist and womanist theory and their intersections with critical race theory, postcolonialism, and decolonial thought.

  • Queer, lesbian, and trans feminisms

  • Spiritual, transpersonal, decolonial, and/or endarkened epistemologies

  • Ecofeminism and environmental justice

  • The scholarship of sacred mysteries, arts, ritual, and healing

  • Feminist, holistic, and/or trauma-informed pedagogies

  • Women and gender in heretical, subaltern, or submerged religious traditions (e.g. pagan, Gnostic, Goddess Studies)

  • An additional area of expertise related to our field (e.g. gender-based violence, mythology, modern matriarchal studies)

The ideal candidate will have a record of publication, online teaching experience, strong facilitation skills, experience teaching in a multicultural classroom, and a commitment to feminist pedagogy. Expertise in one or more methods of transformative dialogue (e.g., restorative justice, non-violent communication, or intergroup dialogue) would be particularly valuable.

Requirements:

ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

Occasional work performed alone with ability to work remotely from time-to-time. Collaboration and constant work around and with other people.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

This position requires attention to detail, good memory, ability to work under deadline pressure, sitting and standing for long periods of time, oral and written communication, keyboarding for significant portions of the workday, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, reaching, patience, and tact to perform the essential functions.

LOCATION

This position may be remote or onsite. Remote faculty are required to travel for a 4-5 day in-person retreat every fall semester and for commencement activities every spring semester.

Additional Information:

WAGES AND BENEFITS

Commensurate with qualifications and experience (Salary Range from $44,044 to $56,984). CIIS offers a comprehensive array of benefits and accommodations to its faculty and staff.

POSITION

This position is 0.6 FTE.

NOTES TO CANDIDATE

Working Conditions - Duties are primarily performed in an office environment at a desk or computer terminal, typically Monday through Friday.

Background Check - Due to the sensitivity and requirements of this position, you should expect to undergo and be cleared of an employment background/criminal check, if extended an offer for employment. You may also be asked to provide proof of educational degree(s), licenses, or credentials pertinent to the position. If your job requires driving on behalf of CIIS you will be required to provide proof of a valid driver's license.

Visa Sponsorship - Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

Relocation Assistance - This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY

CIIS strives to cultivate and preserve a culture of inclusion and belonging as part of its Seven Commitments. More than accept difference, we honor and celebrate our staff's diversity of experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community creates and maintains working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, accessible, and welcoming.

CIIS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an open, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory environment for all individuals across differences of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, socio- economic status, ethnicity, age, physical ability, or medical condition. We seek to increase the presence, representation, and inclusion of U.S. historically under-represented people of color, international, bilingual, and bicultural students, faculty, and staff; and, to provide an environment that will attract and retain individuals identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex (LGBTQQI+). CIIS is committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Link to apply is here: https://ciis.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=182806

Position Start Date: 7/1/25

HR Application Link: https://ciis.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=182806

Interfolio Letters: Accepted

Teaching Load: 10.8 units

Starting Salary: $44,044 to $56,984