Assistant Professor DUPH

Mission Driven, Community Focused  About | Charles R.Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of south Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for under-represented students.

CDU offers the only historically black Doctor of Medicine program west of the Mississippi and is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of south Los Angeles neighborhoods.

The Department of Health and Life Sciences at the College of Science and Health (DHLS) seeks to hire a full-time faculty at the rank of assistant professor. The primary responsibility is to conduct research but may be involved in teaching and service. The assistant professor will mentor students in research, provide academic and career advising, and participate in recruitment and retention activities. The assistant professor position reports to the Chair of the DHLS.  

Job Summary:

The Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Public Health (DUPH) is a full-time faculty member responsible for contributing to the department’s academic, research, and service missions. This role involves teaching and mentoring students, developing innovative public health curricula, and engaging in research that addresses the health needs of urban and historically underserved communities. The faculty member is expected to collaborate with community partners and public health professionals while supporting the growth and excellence of the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. This position offers the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to improving public health in South Los Angeles and beyond through education, scholarship, and community engagement.

Please submit the following with your application to be considered for the open opportunity:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Teaching statement
• Writing sample
• Recommendation letters (ideally at a minimum of 3).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advance DUPH’s mission and strategic goals in education, research, and service with a focus on health equity and social justice.
• Develop and deliver undergraduate and/or graduate public health curricula using inclusive, anti-racist, and community-informed pedagogical approaches.
• Maintain an active and sustainable research agenda aligned with urban public health, community-based participatory research, or related public health fields.
• Mentor and advise students in academic, professional, and research pathways, promoting their success and leadership in public health practice and scholarship.
• Participate in curriculum development and accreditation processes for public health degree programs.
• Engage in meaningful institutional, professional, and community service, including partnerships with community organizations and public health agencies.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrative leadership to enhance program excellence and equity.
• Contribute defined hours of teaching, service, and scholarship in accordance with department and college standards.
• Maintain scheduled office hours for student engagement and advisement.
• Participate in departmental and university-wide initiatives, committees, and strategic planning activities.
• Stay current with public health trends, best practices, and pedagogical innovations.

 

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications/Requirements:

 

EDUCATION:

• A doctoral degree (Ph.D., DrPH, ScD, or equivalent) in public health or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution is required.

 

EXPERIENCE:

• Record of, or potential for, excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Demonstrated commitment to scholarly activity, with a focus on urban health, racial health disparities, or related public health areas.
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, community engagement and public health practice in underserved urban communities.

 

KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY/SKILLS:

• Commitment to the CDU mission and to advancing health equity through education, research, and service.