Adjunct Faculty: Leadership Theory at San Francisco Bay University

About San Francisco Bay University: San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), an independent, nonprofit, WASC-accredited university situated in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fremont, California, seeks multiple innovative and experienced adjunct faculty members to provide pedagogical leadership in our general education. Positions are non-tenure track, adjunct appointments. SFBU is a challenger brand that aims to disrupt higher education by removing common barriers to help students succeed. SFBU’s mission is to provide diverse learners with inclusive, innovative, and inspirational education for lifelong personal and career success. Our vision is to establish a benchmark for engaged and transformative higher education, serving as a model both nationally and internationally, all in pursuit of the common good. 

At SFBU, students come first. We prioritize students’ needs by fostering personal engagement among students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to providing affordable quality education with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. SFBU is experiencing a dynamic and exciting period of growth, and we are looking to make a difference in our communities by enhancing access to affordable education for all students.

Position Overview: San Francisco Bay University is seeking dynamic, and dedicated adjunct faculty in leadership theory and history to support the design and delivery of an innovative, new course in our General Education curriculum. The course is titled, How to Lead: Transforming Insights from History into Modern Movements. This course provides an overview of modern leadership theory, exploring up-to-date ways of thinking about leadership in contemporary contexts and lessons drawn from a historical survey of leaders over time.  Students will analyze leadership case studies, contemporary examples, and social impact movements (from Gangus Khan to Colin Kaepernick) to explore and make sense of the complexities of leadership in today's world and the role of leaders in fostering change. The course endeavors to deepen students’ self-awareness of their current leadership skills, analyze movements that they care about, and then put it all into practice with a final course project outlining what movement they will create, what leadership skills and strategies they will need to support it, and create a model campaign to get their movement off the ground.  

Teaching Excellence: Teaching Excellence: Possess deep subject knowledge, pedagogical expertise, and the ability to engage students actively while adapting to their diverse needs. As we transition away from traditional lecture-based instruction, we seek faculty who understand and appreciate student-centered design and can adopt pedagogical practices stemming from this approach. These practices include active learning strategies, collaborative projects, problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning, flipped classroom models, and the use of formative assessments to inform and adjust teaching. We are looking for faculty with the skills and motivation to create a supportive and dynamic learning environment that emphasizes clear communication, collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. Faculty should be proficient in facilitating interactive discussions, promoting critical thinking, and guiding students to apply concepts to real-world scenarios. This approach aims to foster deeper understanding, engagement, and long-term retention of material among students.

Curriculum Development: Collaborate with colleagues and consultants on the development and refinement of the general education curriculum, incorporating the latest advancements in technology, ensuring alignment with disciplinary and community/industry needs and emerging trends, and leveraging best practices to position SFBU students for success throughout their academic and professional careers.

Inclusive Education: Implement innovative and inclusive teaching best practices that reflect our core value of providing access and inclusion to a diverse student body.

Quality Improvement: Active engagement in course and program-level assessment design, data collection, review, and reporting. 

Professional Learning: Attend teacher training and professional learning activities offered by SFBU’s Center for Empowerment & Pedagogical Innovation (CEPI). Participate in student-centered formative and summative assessments of teaching performance. Remain current with emerging developments in general education, pedagogy, and related fields.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters Degree required; Doctorate Preferred in leadership theory or closely related field.
• Previous Successful Collegiate Teaching Experience
• Demonstrated teaching experience in general education and a commitment to excellence in pedagogy.
• A passion for mentoring and guiding students in their academic and professional growth.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, students, and community partners.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and practice.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in general education curriculum development. 

Salary-  SFBU compensation for 3-credit course delivery is $10,395/ semester ($148.51 per hour) for 70 hours. Additional compensation for curriculum development required pedagogical training. 

Modality/ Location:Face-to-face in Fremont, CA.

Application Materials:

Interested candidates must submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter detailing candidate qualifications to teach How to Lead: Transforming Insights from History into Modern Movements. The letter should also briefly discuss the candidate’s teaching philosophy, and show alignment with our mission and core values (
  https://www.sfbu.edu/strategic-plan
  ).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references.
• Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately, and continue until the position is filled.

San Francisco Bay University is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We encourage candidates who will contribute to our mission of fostering a diverse and inclusive educational environment to apply.

Join us in our mission to provide innovative, inclusive, and transformative education, and help us shape the future of higher education in the heart of Silicon Valley. We look forward to welcoming a passionate Professor of Practice to our academic community.

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

SFBU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer: SFBU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. SFBU does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.