Description

Proposed Faculty Rank:            Associate Professor/Professor

Department:                            00166 – College of Social Work

Track:                                        Tenure Track

New Position to Begin:           July 1, 2024

Requisition Number:               PRN01092CF (Open Until Filled
)

The University of Utah College of Social Work invites applications for a scholar at the Associate Professor/Professor level to serve as Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The faculty member hired into this position will spend 50% of their time in an administrative role focused on College initiatives related to equity, diversity, and inclusion; their remaining time will be spent on research, teaching, and service as a tenured faculty member. The position will be filled by an individual with prior leadership experience and a demonstrated record of success in leading initiatives related to equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic social work settings. The ideal candidate will share the College of Social Work’s commitment to scholarship, teaching, and service that advances social justice and equity, positively impacts the field, and fosters community and collegial relationships. (socialwork.utah.edu/about)

Duties And Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will provide leadership for the College of Social Work’s faculty, staff, and students, including working with the College’s program directors and support staff to advance social justice and equity within and beyond the College. This Director position reports directly to the Dean.

• Create a vision and strategy for supporting the College’s commitment to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment;
• Develop and implement initiatives to enhance the recruitment, retention, and success of diverse faculty and staff, with emphasis on groups historically underrepresented in higher education;
• Develop and sustain diversity initiatives among faculty to broaden the inclusion of diverse voices in the BSW, MSW, and PhD curricula.
• Build capacity among faculty to engage with diversity and diverse students critically and effectively;
• Support and develop initiatives to enhance high-quality research, outreach, and advocacy that advances human rights in the College and in the surrounding communities;
• Enhance efforts to conceptualize, assess, nurture, and cultivate equity, social justice, and diversity within the College;
• Work with the University’s Office of the Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion on behalf of the College of Social Work faculty and staff.

Requirements

Applicants must have a doctorate in social work or a related field; an MSW is also preferred. The successful candidate will have a strong scholarly record, a fundable research agenda, and documented excellence in teaching that merits appointment as a tenured faculty member at the rank of Associate Professor/Professor. Members of groups traditionally under-represented in higher education are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Process:

Candidates must apply online at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/153045, submitting:

• A letter of application that details your leadership experience with equity and diversity initiatives in higher education settings; your qualifications in teaching and scholarship; your ability to prepare, facilitate, and lead diversity-related content in an inclusive classroom; and a list of the social work courses you are qualified to teach;
• A complete and current curriculum vitae;
• A list of three professional references with contact information (all external to the University of Utah); and
• Copies of teaching evaluations for the last three years for in-person and online courses.
  
  

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until positions are filled. Inquiries regarding the position may be directed to the Faculty Search Committee Chair, Dr. Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, at (801) 587-7600 or Joanna.Schaefer@socwk.utah.edu. Please visit our faculty recruitment page (socialwork.utah.edu/imagine-more) for more information about the College of Social Work and our current and upcoming initiatives. 

College, University, and Environment:

The University of Utah has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the 115 research universities with the “highest research activity” in the nation and is the flagship of the Utah System of Higher Education. The University is located in Salt Lake City at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. This location offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with ten world-class ski resorts and five national parks within hours of the city. Salt Lake City is the center of a metropolitan area with a population of approximately one million residents, has extensive arts and cultural activities, and has a major international airport with a Delta Airlines hub and direct flights to most U.S. cities and direct international flights to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Mexico City. The area has received international recognition for its new light rail system, foodie culture, downtown renewal, and increasing diversity. In 2017, U.S News and World Report ranked Salt Lake City as the 10th best place to live in the nation. Utah is home to 8 federally recognized Native American Tribes, and the University has recently published its Indigenous Land Acknowledgement (https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/indigenous-landacknowledgement/).

The College of Social Work (CSW), established in 1937, is the only institution in the Intermountain West that offers all three degrees in social work: BSW, MSW, and PhD. In 2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked the College of Social Work #28 in the nation, and Academic Analytics ranked the CSW #19 in the nation for NIH grant funding. The CSW houses several research entities providing faculty and students research opportunities and support for the development and implementation of funded research projects including: the Social Research Institute; the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development; and the Utah Criminal Justice Center. Currently, CSW faculty are conducting several federally funded, state-funded, and foundation-funded translational research projects to advance social work research and innovate evidence-based practices for vulnerable populations. The College’s Goodwill Humanitarian Building features state-of-the-art clinical training suites equipped with one-way mirrors and audio-visual technology for real-time clinical supervision and feedback, as well as a sophisticated psychophysiology lab for cutting-edge social work neuroscience.

The College is committed to removing barriers that have been traditionally encountered by individuals from underrepresented groups; we strive to recruit faculty who will further enhance our diversity, and make every effort to support their academic, professional, and personal success while they are here. The University of Utah recognizes that a diverse faculty benefits and enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community. This institution offers benefits to same-sex and to different sex domestic partners. This institution offers benefits to spouses.

EEO/Diversity Information:

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students, staff, faculty and patients from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education, employment opportunities, and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented groups. Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, such as minorities, women, qualified persons with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities. The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action: Director/ Title IX Coordinator Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA), 135 Park Building Salt Lake City, UT 84112, 801-581-8365, oeo@utah.edu. Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu. For more information: https://www.utah. edu/nondiscrimination/. To inquire about this posting, email: employment@utah.edu or call 801-581-2300.

Notice:

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at 801-581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at 801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at 801-581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules. This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/ or drug screen and immunizations.