Core Faculty, Expressive Arts Therapy (Open Rank)

Lesley University•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Lesley University seeks a Core Faculty member for its Expressive Arts Therapy program in the Expressive Therapies Department. The faculty member will teach graduate-level courses in Expressive Arts Therapy and Mental Health Counseling and contribute to a program that integrates the arts, theory, and clinical practice. Instruction may be delivered in person, in hybrid formats, and online as assigned. The role also includes advising and mentoring graduate students, contributing to curriculum and program assessment, participating in accreditation and continuous-improvement work, maintaining relevant scholarly, creative, or clinical activity, and serving the department and university. Lesley’s Expressive Therapies programs were founded in 1973 and bring together five specializations: Music, Art, Dance Movement, Drama, and Expressive Arts Therapy. The department’s 60-credit Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate programs meet Massachusetts academic and field-training requirements for LMHC licensure. Programs are offered in on-campus and low-residency formats. Faculty are artist-practitioner-scholars who support students in developing as creative practitioners and clinical providers. The position calls for a faculty member able to articulate expressive arts therapy theories and the influences, values, and principles shaping their practice. Candidates must hold a master’s degree in expressive arts therapy or a related mental health field, have or be eligible for the REAT credential, and have or be eligible for Massachusetts LMHC licensure. The university prefers a doctoral degree and experience teaching general counseling courses, administering an Expressive Arts Therapy program, and working and teaching in diverse cultural contexts. Lesley University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Core Faculty positions are governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The university describes its environment as creative and emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Requirements

Master’s degree in expressive arts therapy or a related mental health field.
Hold the REAT credential from IEATA or be eligible to apply upon being hired.
Hold Massachusetts LMHC licensure or be eligible for LMHC licensure.
At least 2 years of graduate-level teaching experience and proficiency in higher-education teaching.
At least 5 years of clinical experience as an expressive arts therapist, with a record of scholarly activity.
Ability to teach in multiple formats, including in-person classroom teaching and distance learning.
Ability to teach courses in expressive arts therapies.
Ability to articulate expressive arts therapy theories and identify the significant influences, values, and principles that shape one’s practice.

Nice To Haves

PhD or equivalent doctoral-level degree in expressive arts therapy or a closely related discipline.
Ability to teach general counseling courses, such as theories, psychopathology, professional ethics, assessments, and vocational counseling.
Experience related to administration of an Expressive Arts Therapy program.
Experience working and teaching in diverse cultural contexts, including a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice through professional practice and instruction.

Responsibilities

Teach graduate-level courses in Expressive Arts Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.
Deliver instruction across in-person, hybrid, and online modalities as assigned.
Incorporate arts-based inquiry, experiential learning, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Advise graduate students on academic progress, professional development, and licensure pathways.
Mentor students in developing artistic identity, clinical competence, and reflective practice.
Contribute to curriculum development, revision, and assessment within the Expressive Arts Therapy specialization and the broader Expressive Therapies department.
Participate in accreditation activities, program evaluation, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
Maintain an active agenda of scholarship, creative work, or clinical practice relevant to Expressive Arts Therapy.
Participate in departmental and university service, including faculty meetings, committees, governance, and strategic initiatives.