Description:
The Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) at the University of
Houston, a Carnegie Designated Tier One Research University,
invites applications and nominations for an Associate or Full
Professor position with an appointment beginning September 1,
2027.
This position includes a secondary administrative role serving as
the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs (ADFA) that includes a
stipend, course release, and other support, this will be a one-year
appointment with renewal optional at the pleasure of the
dean.
Through exceptional education, innovative research, and meaningful
community engagement, the Graduate College of Social Work prepares
leaders in practice and research to address complex challenges. Our
students’ preparation will enable them to achieve sustainable
social, racial, economic, environmental, and political justice,
locally and globally in the social work profession. The GCSW is the
largest graduate social work program located in Houston, the fourth
largest city in the United States. The University of Houston is the
flagship campus of a state-assisted higher education system that
enrolls over 70,000 students (system-wide) and will celebrate its
Centennial Year in 2027. Likewise, the GCSW will celebrate its 60th
anniversary in 2027 as well. We invite applicants whose research,
scholarship, and teaching advance the social work profession and
contribute to achieving this mission, our vision, and strategic
priorities. For more information, please visit our web site at
www.uh.edu/socialwork.
We welcome candidates whose interests and experience in teaching,
research, or community engagement has prepared them to contribute
to our strategic plan, Charting Our Path To Excellence. Our MSW
program offers face-to-face, hybrid, and online curriculum options.
Our PhD program focuses on developing scholars that contribute to
evidence-based social work, research, and macro-level
initiatives/opportunities. As a Graduate-only College, the GCSW
serves approximately 547 MSW and 30 PhD students.
Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean for Faculty
Affairs provides strategic leadership for faculty affairs, faculty
and staff excellence, and professional development across the
College. The Associate Dean works collaboratively with College
leadership, faculty, staff, and University partners to strengthen
the systems, practices, and resources that support faculty across
the career lifecycle. Further, the Associate Dean provides
leadership in faculty workload planning and management; faculty
recruitment and onboarding; mentoring and professional development;
promotion and tenure preparation; career advancement; and the
development of initiatives that foster faculty and staff success,
engagement, and excellence. In addition, the position has
particular responsibility for strengthening mentorship and support
structures for junior, clinical, and tenure-track faculty. The
Associate Dean also partners with College leadership to advance
faculty and staff onboarding and professional development
initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness and
support the strategic priorities of the GCSW.
We are interested in a leader who will bring fresh ideas, a
commitment to advancing social work education, and an
interdisciplinary mindset that embraces collaboration. This is a
transformative leadership role designed to elevate the entire
ecosystem of the College—faculty, staff, and students—through
development, mentoring, recognition, and innovative practices that
align with the GCSW’s bold vision for national prominence. There
are also opportunities for this faculty member to collaborate with
UH Health as well as other Colleges on campus.
The selected candidate will teach graduate level social work
courses in the MSW and Ph.D. program while participating in
meaningful service at the College, University, and professional
organizations.
Successful candidates are expected to develop and maintain a
dynamic, externally funded research program and strong record of
high-impact scholarship (e.g., publications, presentations,
etc.).
We are especially interested in applicants whose teaching, research
and scholarship align with the following areas:
-Health equity/social determinants of health, Aging/Gerontological
Social Work, Behavioral Health, Substance Use and Addiction
Services,
-Intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), human-centered
design, and the future of social work—driving transformative
approaches to ethical use, practice, education, and research that
advance equity and impact.
-Macro practice/Workforce expansion, social policy/advocacy,
Community Innovation and Global Efforts, and leadership
development
In addition to the primary responsibility of being a full-time
faculty member, the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Faculty & Staff Development
o Design, curate, and oversee faculty and staff development
programs that promote growth, innovation, and career
advancement.
o Lead initiatives in mentoring, leadership training, and
succession planning that strengthen organizational culture.
o Support promotion and tenure processes with workshops, mentoring,
and resources.
o Establish structured faculty mentoring programs for tenure-track,
clinical, and adjunct faculty.
o Develop leadership training initiatives to prepare faculty for
administrative and academic leadership roles.
o Support cross-rank and cross-disciplinary collaborations to
strengthen scholarship and teaching.
Strategic Planning & Institutional Alignment
o Partner with the Dean and other Associate Deans to align faculty
and staff development with the College’s strategic priorities
regarding bold, and values driven leadership.
o Lead initiatives that enhance faculty contributions to the
College’s research, teaching, and service missions.
o Monitor and assess faculty development outcomes to ensure
continuous improvement.
Student Mentoring & Leadership Development
o Develop and coordinate structured mentoring programs for MSW and
PhD students to support academic success, professional growth, and
leadership pathways.
o Foster a culture of excellence through programming that enhances
student engagement, retention, and achievement.
Awards & Recognition
o Administer College-level awards and recognition programs for
faculty, staff, students, and community partners.
o Champion initiatives that elevate the visibility of GCSW’s
contributions locally, nationally, and globally.
Professional Development & Strategic Growth
o Identify and implement innovative professional development
opportunities aligned with emerging trends in social work
education, research, and practice.
o Collaborate with College leadership to strengthen organizational
effectiveness and advance the GCSW’s strategic priorities.
We seek a visionary colleague to join a dynamic faculty united in
advancing excellence, innovation, and student success. The
successful candidate will help shape the future of our programs
through engaged service, program leadership, and curriculum
design—anchored in a shared commitment to teaching and
transformative learning experiences that empower the next
generation of social work practitioners, leaders, researchers,
advocates, and healers. Therefore, we especially seek candidates
(Associate/Full Professors) who can provide leadership in CSWE
accreditation and advance innovative approaches to assessment that
strengthen social work education.
Qualifications
Required
• Ph.D. in Social Work, DSW, or an equivalent doctoral degree in a
related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Record of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed
publications
• Show clear evidence of potential for impact in research,
teaching, and community engagement
• Strong potential for securing external funding
Preferred
• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited
program
• A research agenda showing opportunities for collaboration with
the other units/disciplines on campus including UH Health and other
Colleges across campus.
• Leadership experience in higher education including roles as a
Program Coordinator, BSW or MSW Program Director, Assistant or
Associate Dean
• Experience developing and/or implementing leadership development
and mentoring programs
• Demonstrated scholarly activity including publications,
presentations, and invited talks
• Current funding or evidence of potential for external
funding.
• Five Years of teaching experience in higher education
• Two years of post MSW social work practice experience
Salary and rank commensurate with experience.
Application Instructions
The following documents are required to submit an
application:
•Letter of application that outlines how you are prepared to join
the faculty at the GCSW highlighting your interests and expertise
in research and teaching, and your alignment with our College
mission, and other qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Leadership Philosophy that addresses your approach
to faculty leadership and success, including mentorship and
professional development, faculty engagement and accountability,
career advancement, and supporting faculty across ranks and
appointment types within a complex academic environment.
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy that addresses how you are
prepared to instruct and mentor students.
• Statement of Research outlining their current scholarship, future
research agenda, and potential contributions to advancing the
mission of the Graduate College of Social Work.
• Information for three professional references (name, title,
organization, e-mail address, phone number). Please note that
references are not contacted until a candidate is identified as a
finalist for this position
Review of applications will begin immediately. For priority
consideration, applicants are encouraged to submit all materials by
October 30, 2026. Review will continue until the position is
filled.
Employees are expected to have a home address in the state of
Texas for the duration of their appointments.
Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and
will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.
All positions at the University of Houston-System are security
sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals
conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e.,
communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems,
electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water
treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the
security and integrity of the research is maintained.
The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal
Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.
