Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Social Work

University of Denver•Denver, CO

1d•$83,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) at the University of Denver (DU), one of the premier graduate schools of social work in the country, is ranked #12 by U.S. News and World Report, and #1 in Colorado. It is the largest graduate program at DU with over 1,250 students and offers a Master of Social Work degree at three Colorado campuses (Denver, Durango, and Glenwood Springs) and online. GSSW’s PhD program is competitive with small cohorts designed to be rigorous and supportive. GSSW also provides MSW students with access to wide-ranging and unique certificate programs and dual degree opportunities. GSSW is a vibrant center for intellectual development with five Centers, Institutes, and Labs: Butler Institute for Families, Center for Equity Research (formerly Equity Lab), The Center for Housing and Homelessness Research, Cross-National Behavioral Health Laboratory, and the Institute for Human-Animal Connection. We are a leader in promoting public impact and community engagement in Denver, across Colorado, and beyond. Our commitment is to uphold and promulgate the mission and values of the Council of Social Work Education. Position Summary The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a thoughtful and progressive community of scholars who conduct research spanning wide ranging populations and topics and who are equally committed to excellence in teaching. GSSW’s curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social work values and ethics, with an understanding of and respect for the need to engage at the local, state, national, and global levels. GSSW provides a supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and community- based, engaged, and embedded research as demonstrated by the faculty’s role in collaborative projects in each arena. Notably, the Denver metropolitan area and state of Colorado offer excellent opportunities for research with a variety of populations and organizations. Cross-disciplinary opportunities abound as demonstrated by the University’s Impact 2025 strategic plan. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the breadth and depth of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

Requirements

Candidates must have an earned doctorate in social work or a related discipline by September 1, 2026.
Qualified applicants must exhibit a developing agenda of publication, research, and external funding reflective of the rank of an Assistant Professor, in addition to excellence or potential for excellence in teaching across the MSW and PhD curricula, and demonstration of leadership skills and potential.
Demonstrated commitment, knowledge, and ability to effectively engage individuals from all communities
Ability to teach at the graduate level while reflecting GSSW and discipline’s commitment to social work values
Potential to secure external funding to support one’s research agenda
Evidence or promise of high impact, funded scholarship
Evidence of a commitment to publishing in impactful and referred academic journals
Ability to write extensively
Ability to travel to professional meetings
Excellent communication skills for classroom teaching, student advising, and mentoring
Excellent writing skills for publishing research findings
Extremely high reasoning ability is of the utmost importance given the extent and complexity of a faculty member’s role
Ability to be a positive and contributory member of a faculty and as a part of a broader university community

Nice To Haves

An MSW in addition to a doctorate degree.
Two or more years of post-MSW practice experience.

Responsibilities

Teach up to five courses per academic year (quarter system) in-person, hybrid, and/or online
Disseminate research findings in scholarly publications, research reports, policy briefs and other venues to maximize impact
Present research at scholarly conferences, to community organizations and partners, and legislative bodies
Provide service to the school, university, community, and discipline including work on various committees
Provide students with mentoring and academic advising
Continue and develop new scholarly and research interests
May occasionally supervise additional independent studies or directed research