Associate Professor or Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work

The University of Texas at El Paso•El Paso, TX

About The Position

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Department of Social Work in the College of Health Sciences invites applications for an Associate Professor or Professor who will serve as Chair of the Department of Social Work. The anticipated start date is mid-August 2027. The department seeks an accomplished social work scholar and experienced academic leader to provide collaborative leadership, advance teaching and research, and strengthen community and binational partnerships. Candidates must have a record of scholarship, teaching, and service commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and be eligible for tenure at UTEP. Located in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez binational region, the department prepares practitioners and scholars to address the strengths and needs of border communities and beyond. It offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) for generalist practice, a Master of Social Work (MSW) for advanced practice with a concentration in Social Work in the Border Region, and an online MSW program. The Chair will guide the continued development of these programs in collaboration with program directors, faculty, staff, students, and community partners. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences, the Chair will provide strategic direction and oversee academic and administrative operations. The role includes strategic planning; budget and resource management; recruitment, supervision, and evaluation of faculty and staff; faculty mentoring and support for promotion and tenure; curriculum and program development; CSWE accreditation and outcomes assessment; and coordination of teaching, advising, and field education. The Chair will promote student recruitment, retention, and degree completion; strengthen externally funded research and interdisciplinary collaboration; cultivate community, agency, alumni, and binational partnerships; and represent the department within and beyond UTEP. The successful candidate will support shared governance, communicate transparently, manage conflict constructively, and sustain a respectful, productive workplace while maintaining an active scholarly agenda and contributing to teaching and mentoring. The department’s BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Its faculty conduct research in areas including behavioral health, child welfare, migration and refugee experiences, intimate partner violence, aging, and health disparities. Community-engaged teaching, research, and service connect social work education with regional needs and support partnerships across the El Paso and Ciudad Juárez border. Faculty also contribute to the College’s PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences through doctoral mentoring, dissertation committee service, and dissertation direction.

Requirements

PhD in Social Work, DSW, or an earned doctorate in a closely related field.
MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
At least two years of post-MSW experience as a practicing social worker.
Sustained scholarly publications, teaching effectiveness, and professional and institutional service commensurate with appointment at Associate Professor or Professor rank and eligibility for tenure at UTEP.
Demonstrated research productivity and experience securing or leading externally funded research, with expertise relevant to mental or behavioral health, health disparities, policy practice, and/or community-based research.
Demonstrated successful academic leadership and administrative experience as a department chair, program director, associate chair, or in a comparable role, including responsibility for personnel, budgets or resource allocation, and academic planning.
Ability to lead collaboratively through shared governance, mentor faculty and staff, support student success, and work effectively with communities whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the border region.
Licensure or eligibility for licensure as an LMSW or LCSW.
Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Sound judgment, constructive conflict management, and commitment to social work ethics, social justice, and a respectful learning and working environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a department chair or in a comparable academic administrative role with responsibility for strategic planning, budget management, personnel evaluation, and faculty development.
Experience leading CSWE accreditation or reaffirmation, curriculum development, and assessment of student learning and program outcomes.
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish and experience building binational or international academic and community partnerships.
Experience leading BSW and MSW programs, including online graduate education, field education partnerships, and initiatives supporting recruitment, retention, and degree completion.
Experience at a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a research-intensive university.
Experience mentoring graduate and doctoral students, supporting faculty advancement, and advancing interdisciplinary research.
Record of developing community-engaged scholarship, securing external resources, and cultivating partnerships with agencies, alumni, donors, and other stakeholders to advance departmental priorities.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and oversee the department’s academic and administrative operations.
Lead collaborative strategic planning.
Manage departmental budgets and resources.
Recruit, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff.
Mentor faculty and support promotion and tenure.
Guide curriculum and program development, CSWE accreditation, and outcomes assessment.
Coordinate teaching, advising, and field education with program leaders.
Promote student recruitment, retention, and degree completion.
Strengthen externally funded research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Cultivate community, agency, alumni, and binational partnerships.
Represent the department within and beyond UTEP.
Support shared governance, transparent communication, constructive conflict management, and a respectful and productive workplace.
Maintain an active scholarly agenda and contribute to teaching and mentoring.