DSW Program Director, Associate Tenure-Track Faculty

University of St Thomas • St. Paul, MN

23d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of St. Thomas, Minnesota’s largest private university, seeks an Associate tenure-track faculty member to serve as the Doctor in Social Work (DSW) Program Director for the School of Social Work (SSW). This is a 9-month faculty appointment with administrative compensation extending to 12 months, beginning August 2027. The role involves building on the SSW’s strengths, leading the DSW Program, and supporting students, faculty, and staff. The ideal candidate will have a record of excellence in teaching and scholarship, and success in managing social work programming. Responsibilities include teaching courses, advising doctoral students, and leading program accreditation and curriculum development. The position is grounded in social justice and Catholic social thought, aiming to educate students for practice in support of health, well-being, and the common good. The SSW collaborates with other health-focused schools within the Morrison Family College of Health (MFCOH) to prepare culturally responsive professionals who advance health equity and social justice. The University of St. Thomas is a vibrant, mission-driven, urban university with over 9,000 students. The DSW Program, established over a decade ago, is the first fully online DSW program of its kind, offering emphases in higher education and transformational leadership. The SSW itself is a nationally respected school with over 50 years of history. The program is designed for experienced social workers with an MSW, balancing academic rigor with flexibility for working professionals. The University of St. Thomas is committed to belonging and equal opportunity, fostering an inclusive environment consistent with its mission.

Requirements

• A PhD (U.S. or foreign equivalent degree) or DSW in social work, with a minimum of two years post-MSW practice experience.
• Record of teaching and scholarly achievements.
• Administrative or management experience in an academic institution of a comparable profile.
• Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited institution.
• Licensed in the State of Minnesota (or license-eligible and gaining such licensure within a year of residency).
• Understand CSWE accreditation standards and process, including curriculum alignment and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience with student recruitment and retention.
• Ability to guide academic and curricular development responsive to community needs and professional trends.
• Experience with shared governance to support the institutional mission.
• Familiarity with budget oversight and planning.
• Strong communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of three years of administrative or management experience in an academic institution of a comparable profile.
• Rank of associate professor, with scholarly work that could be counted toward the rank of full professor.
• Record of external funding, including successful grant writing and administration.
• Track record of serving on college or university leadership teams.
• Experience leading through change in higher education.
• Possibility for expedited tenure review upon hiring.

Responsibilities

• Teaches graduate doctoral courses and advises doctoral students within the school (reduced teaching load).
• Maintains active professional engagement or scholarly research agenda in their area of expertise.
• Innovates curriculum development and revision processes.
• Oversees DSW accreditation and program assessment processes and reporting.
• Generates course and faculty scheduling for the program in consultation with the SSW Chair.
• Guides directed and independent study proposals for the program as needed.
• Facilitates transfer credit decisions and updates the transfer credit tool.
• Develops the Academic Program budget and provides planning, oversight, and forecasting of the DSW budget.
• Oversees the program budget and provides regular updates to the Chair.
• Assures that social work policies, operating frameworks, curriculum, and practices align with university and college-level decisions and those of external regulatory entities.
• Responsible for DSW program academic infrastructure and shared governance activities to ensure optimal functioning and ethical generation and use of resources in support of the University’s mission.
• Addresses student academic concerns.
• Supports recruiting and marketing efforts, conducts informational sessions, and meets with prospective students.
• Supports faculty, staff, and adjunct faculty hiring processes and onboarding for the program as requested by the SSW Chair.
• Contributes to annual evaluations of adjunct faculty and to the academic unit reporting as requested by the SSW Chair.
• Serves as a liaison between program faculty/staff and Chair/Dean’s Office.
• Represents the academic program, SSW, and MFCOH both in and outside of the university.
• Provides thought leadership about social work and is the primary spokesperson for the SSW’s DSW Program at St. Thomas.
• Participates on the MFCOH Leadership Team, and key standing committees.
• Communicates openly and transparently with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Cultivates and stewards new and existing partnerships between the SSW and external entities.
• Initiates, writes, and reviews materials, reports, and communications.
• Actively engages in advocacy for the DSW Program.

Benefits

• Tuition remission benefits for employees, spouses, and dependents upon eligibility
• A generous employer retirement contribution upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits
• Paid parental leave benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree