Criminology (GIS and Spatial Analysis), Assistant Professor

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty  position in the Department of Sociology. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 22-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our Principles of Community can be found here. 

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

The Department of Sociology seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Criminology specializing in GIS and spatial analysis. The successful candidate will support the Criminology major and broader Sociology curriculum through teaching, advising, scholarship, curriculum development, and service. We are especially interested in a GIS methodologist whose teaching and research connect spatial analysis to criminology, social inequality, and applied public or community problems.

Areas of expertise may include crime mapping and spatial analysis, spatial dimensions of policing and other criminal legal systems, environmental criminology and neighborhood effects, urban inequality and spatial segregation, demography and population studies, quantitative methodology, and community-engaged or policy-relevant geospatial research.

The position requires excellence in teaching, advising, professional and scholarly achievements, and service to the department, university, profession, and community. CPP faculty are expected to teach the equivalent of four courses per semester, with junior faculty provided one course release each semester for their first two years. The prospective hire will contribute to high-demand courses in Criminology and Sociology, develop GIS-related curriculum, and integrate applied geospatial modules into existing courses such as Crime Analysis, Research Methods, Statistics, Urban Sociology, Quantitative Analysis, and Introduction to Criminology. Candidates are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with our program, department, university, and mission.

• Ph.D. in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Sociology or a closely related social science field from an accredited university. Doctoral degree must be completed by the start of the appointment.
• Specialization in GIS, spatial analysis, or geospatial methods as applied to criminology, public safety, urban inequality, demography, or related social science questions.
• Evidence of an active or developing scholarly agenda in criminology or a related field that uses GIS, spatial analysis, quantitative methods, mixed methods, or applied geospatial research.
• University teaching experience as instructor of record and/or teaching assistant.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, staff, and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Evidence of ability to teach GIS, crime mapping, spatial data analysis, research methods, statistics, quantitative methods, crime analysis, demography, or other methods-intensive courses.
• Evidence of ability to teach courses across the Department’s curriculum.
• Evidence of teaching excellence through student evaluations, peer observations, examples of pedagogical innovation, or other evidence of a commitment to teaching.
• Evidence of experience using specialized GIS or spatial analysis tools, such as ArcGIS, QGIS, R, Python, GeoDa, spatial SQL, or related software.
• Evidence of an active scholarly agenda that can provide opportunities for undergraduate student research.
• Evidence of ability to serve as an academic advisor and research mentor to a diverse undergraduate student body.
• Experience with community-engaged, agency-based, public-sector, or policy-relevant research in criminology, justice, public safety, urban inequality, or related areas.
• Evidence of curriculum and/or program development experience, especially applied methods, GIS, digital humanities, data science, or career-readiness curriculum.
• Potential for interdisciplinary collaboration with programs such as Geography, Political Science, Economics, Urban and Regional Planning, or Architecture.

Pursuant to 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.

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

A completed application will consist of:

• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications (2-page maximum);
• Curriculum vitae;
• Teaching Philosophy Statement (2-page maximum) that addresses Cal Poly Pomona's commitment to excellence in education;
• Research Statement (2-page maximum);
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate; official transcripts will be required of finalists);
• Names and contact information for three references.

Semi-finalists for this position will be required to:

• Appear for a 1-hour interview on Zoom

Finalists for this position will be required to:

• Appear for a 1-day on-campus interview;
• Provide official transcripts for highest degree prior to campus interview;
• Provide three letters of reference; and
• Make a teaching demonstration and research presentation.

Please direct inquiries to Dr. Peter Hanink, pahanink@cpp.edu.

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than September 30, 2026.

Applications accepted only via PageUp - online application portal - for University hires.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be satisfactorily completed.  Offers of employment are conditional and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.  Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.  It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.

The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly Pomona is not currently sponsoring faculty for H-1B work status if they are subject to the $100,000 fee established under the Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers issued on September 19, 2025. For faculty already in the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1, J-1, or O-1), Cal Poly Pomona is able to consider filing a petition to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at avpfa@cpp.edu. We strongly recommend that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with their personal immigration legal counsel.

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly Pomona, excellence is built on talent, merit, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

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