Assistant Professor of Social Work

DepartmentSocial Work

About MSU Denver

MSU Denver enrolls over 16,000 students, where nearly 60% are first generation and over 55% are students of color. Located in downtown Denver, we are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. As the third largest institution of higher education in Colorado and the only institution with an open access mission, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students. Nearly 80% of MSU Denver students work while going to school and the University is focused on making sure they have the well-rounded educational experience and wraparound services they need to excel. 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, followed by career and life success.

MSU Denver is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented and historically minoritized groups.

About the Department of Social Work

MSU Denver's Department of Social Work 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's Department of Social Work’s mission is to prepare social workers to engage in skillful, ethical, justice-oriented, and effective practice in their communities. We accomplish this by:

• Educating and training students to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities, including those who are members of historically excluded populations
• Building community centered and strategic partnerships with organizations, co-creating relationship-centered learning and working environments to foster growth and collaboration
• Utilizing the NASW Code of Ethics to inform teaching and practice, while adapting to changes in the field and world, drawing from a vast knowledge base informed by multiple perspectives

Position Summary

The Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver invites applications for one full-time, tenure track Assistant Professor position to teach primarily in our BSSW Program.

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 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 demonstrated commitment to MSU Denver’s priority of serving underrepresented communities. We seek candidates who can provide leadership in teaching, research, and service related to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI).

MSU Denver has a robust mentoring program for tenure-track faculty. The candidate will be enrolled in the Roadrunner Faculty Academy during their first year. This is a year-long course designed to support new faculty navigate faculty life and thrive in teaching, scholarly activity and service.

Responsibilities

The successful candidates will serve in the areas of departmental need, candidate qualifications and expertise.

Teaching will consist of 24 credits per academic year (four courses per semester). Teaching may include online face to face, and hybrid instruction delivery options. The successful candidate will take on lead faculty coordination responsibilities for specific courses and be responsible for updating online and on campus courses including materials, design and course templates within Canvas, the learning management system. Release time from teaching can be given to faculty for significant administrative duties that require time above and beyond service. Advising responsibilities include a designated load of students and providing professional advising for students in the program.

A Scholarly Agenda is expected and supported, and production of quality scholarship is required for promotion and tenure.

Service work is required for promotion and tenure, 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, Teaching, Scholarship, and Service of all faculty we have an expectation of a demonstration of conscientious participation in diversity, equity & inclusion efforts work within the department and in service of students.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited institution
• Two (2) years of 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 18, 2025)

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 experience in teaching, practice, and/or research about issues of privilege and oppression, social justice, racial justice, social inequalities, and/or anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) initiatives
• Proven experience in teaching and/or practice, along with a strong commitment to supporting first-generation, marginalized, and historically underrepresented students, in line with our university goals as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and our Department’s focus on preparing diverse students to engage with Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in practice
• Demonstrated ability and interest in teaching research courses and conducting research with BSSW students
• Demonstrated ability and interest in teaching at all levels of practice

Salary for Announcement

The salary range for this position is $62,000 - $70,000 at Assistant Professor rank. 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, specialty and training.

MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, please visit our Benefits section.

Instructions to Apply

Interested applicants must apply online at MSU Denver's career site, https://msudenver.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MSUDenver, and search for JR103160. Click on Apply to submit the following required materials:

Complete an application and attach the following required documents:

1. Curriculum vitae

2. Letter of application

3. References. Please include the names and contact information for three professional references.

4. Diversity statement (see instructions below)

Diversity Statement Instructions:

We encourage applicants to reference Pillar IV of MSU Denver's Strategic Plan (https://www.msudenver.edu/strategic-plan-2030/), CSWE's 2022 Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and/or CSWE's 2022 Accreditation Standards.

Themes that may be addressed in a candidate’s diversity statement may include, but are not limited to:

• A candidate’s lived experiences and/or identities that align with the department and university’s commitment to inclusion and diversity;
• Areas of expertise (pedagogy, scholarship, etc.) that demonstrate a knowledge of past and current inequity practices for historically minoritized student populations in education, scholarship, research, creative work, or other areas;
• Diversity and diversity-related approaches in a candidate’s research, pedagogy, and/or service;
• Why a candidate believes diversity is a critical focus for higher education and ideas or strategies the candidate could enact as a member of the MSU Denver campus community to support the university’s efforts.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Deadline

Applications accepted until position filled; priority given to applications received by Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting RepresentativeTanya Rogowsky

Posting Representative Email[email protected]Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.