Open Rank Professor of Social Work (Assistant, Associate or Full)

Department

Social Work

About the University

Established in 1965, Metropolitan State University ( MSU Denver ) was founded to serve students who were underrepresented in higher education whose life paths and experiences did not fit the traditional mold. Sixty years later, the University continues to serve over 16,000 of Colorado’s extraordinary and diverse students, providing them with the foundation on which to build their unique aspirations. As the third largest public institution of higher education in Colorado, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students.

Proud of its federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado, the University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success.

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.

About the Department of Social Work

The mission of the Department of Social Work is to provide an inclusive, inspiring environment for undergraduate, graduate, and community education in social work that is value driven, research informed, culturally responsive, academically rigorous, and which links theory with practice. The Department of Social Work has both an undergraduate and graduate program with a robust internship program (over 400 agency partners) and student support services. We have over 1000 students in our pre social work, undergraduate, and graduate programs offering in person and online modalities.

The Department of Social Work at MSU Denver prides itself on a richly talented faculty comprised of teacher-scholars who are highly dedicated to support students in growing as social work scholars, practitioners, and leaders in the multitude of settings. MSU Denver faculty have expertise in culturally responsive practice that is relationally based. We are actively interrogating and revising our curriculum to reflect anti-oppressive practices while educating our students for the provision of effective clinical social work services with diverse communities in micro, mezzo and macro settings serving vulnerable and underserved populations. We work to actively to engage in anti-racist practices in all aspects of our programming; faculty members are encouraged to actively engage in our aspirations to dismantle systems of oppression. While we seek demonstrated ability and experience teaching social work theory, practice, and/or research related courses, priority will be given to applicants with research methods, program evaluation and project-based learning course experience.

Position Summary

The Department of Social Work at MSU Denver invites applications for a tenure track/tenured faculty appointment in our MSW Graduate Program. This is a full-time faculty contract beginning Fall 2027 that requires presence in Colorado on MSU Denver's Auraria campus for in person teaching and other activities.

MSU Denver has a robust year-long mentoring program for tenure-track faculty. In their first year, faculty will be enrolled in the MSU Denver Roadrunner Faculty Academy , a course designed to support new faculty as they navigate faculty life and thrive in teaching, scholarly activity and service. Faculty can also choose to participate in university programs that help new faculty connect with diverse affinity groups and networks offering additional mentorship opportunities.

Responsibilities

Teaching will consist of 24 credits per academic year (four courses per semester). Teaching may include online, face to face, and hybrid instruction deliver options. The successful candidate will take on lead faculty responsibilities for specific courses and be responsible to update and modify online and on campus course material. Release time from teaching can be given to faculty for significant administrative duties that require time above and beyond service. Advising responsibilities include carrying a student advising load of approximately 40 students for which you are responsible to perform and document career and professional advising.

A scholarly agenda is expected and supported, and production of quality scholarship is required. Including the ability to produce scholarship such as published contributions, securing external funding, student research mentorship, program evaluation, development of community-serving resources, and presenting/attending at academic conferences.

Service work is expected, including work on Departmental, College and/or University committees as well as active service involvement in professional organizations and/or the community.

Per CSWE EPAS standards, all teaching, scholarship, and service expectations require intentional participation in and application of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the department and in service of students.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Master of Social Work (MSW/MSSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited institution (or evaluated by CSWE International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES)

Two (2) years relevant post-MSW experience

Earned doctorate degree in social work or other related discipline (ABD will be considered with evidence of degree conferral by August 20, 2027)

One year of teaching content relevant to social work using an online LMS (e.g., Blackboard, Canvas, etc.) for in person or online instruction

Preferred Qualifications

While candidates are not expected to possess all preferred qualifications, please address in your cover letter how you meet any number of the preferred qualifications below. Priority will be given to candidates meeting the first two preferred qualifications.

• •Demonstrated leadership experience in a higher education social work program, department, or school, such as directing or coordinating an academic program, mentoring and supporting faculty, leading curriculum or accreditation initiatives, supervising faculty or staff, or serving in a department chair, associate chair, program director, or comparable academic leadership role
• •Demonstrated experience in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through anti-oppressive, anti-racist, or liberatory approaches to practice, teaching, scholarship, curriculum development, administrative experience, or professional activities in social work

Previous teaching, practice, or research experience with first generation college students, historically underrepresented groups and/or experience serving within an HSI, HBCU, or Tribal College

Experience practicing across systems following Interprofessional Education frameworks and ability to partner with other disciplinary areas

Experience developing and organizing graduate level social work courses including in person/online/hybrid/asynchronous teaching, pedagogy, and curriculum design

Salary for Announcement

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, discipline, specialty, and training. The salary ranges for this position are outlined below:

Assistant Professor rank: $64,000 - $74,000

Associate Professor rank: $75,000 - $85,000

Full Professor rank: $94,000 - $104,000

MSU Denver offers e