Professor of Social Work
University of Denver
United States

The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a vibrant community of scholars and teachers committed to having a diverse faculty and student body. The school’s curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social and economic justice, along with an understanding of and respect for social, political, and cultural diversity both nationally and internationally. GSSW provides an intellectual, collegial, and supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and international educational opportunities. GSSW engages in collaborative projects locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the diversity of faculty and staff.

Position Summary

The Full Professor & Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADDEI) role is both a tenure-track faculty and administrative position that will advance the Graduate School of Social Work’s (GSSW) actionable and evidenced commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within higher education and the discipline and profession of social work. The ADDEI will be a visibly engaged and connected leader who brings experience, purpose, and intention to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. They serve a critical role in ensuring a vibrant and equitable experience and their efforts should impact a range of domains in the GSSW community including cultural, operational, and academic. The ADDEI will engage in meaningful actions that simultaneously build and nurture respectful, collaborative, and substantive relationships.

The ADDEI reports to, and is an advisor to, the dean, and will connect the school to local, national, and international community and social work efforts related to DEI. DEI is the responsibility of each member of GSSW’s community and the ADDEI is tasked with leading GSSW’s efforts to ensure that DEI is infused throughout GSSW’s work. This position is instrumental in supporting the school’s strategic efforts to evolve and thrive through a culture of belonging.

The ADDEI must respect and value inclusive excellence in the broadest sense as well as what it means to be anti-racist as a school, a discipline, and a profession, helping to lead the school as it strives to create an ever more inclusive and anti- racist culture. An intersectional approach to the work is expected.

The most qualified individuals for this position are culturally aware and responsive, emotionally intelligent, results-oriented, able to motivate and lead in accomplishing objectives, and skillful in helping diverse groups reach a working consensus. The individual should demonstrate from previous experience the expertise and ability to lead effective inclusive excellence initiatives.

Appointment: The appointment will commence September 1, 2025 with the initial appointment of Professor assignment tied to serving in the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion position; the latter carries a $15,000 annual stipend and is a 4-year term with the possibility of renewal. The faculty holder must meet the criteria for the tenure track series and be at the rank of full.

Essential Functions

• Teach up to five courses per academic year (two course reduction per academic year in the ADDEI role).
• Disseminate research findings in scholarly publications, research reports, policy briefs and other venues to maximize impact
• Present research at scholarly conferences, to community organizations and partners, and legislative bodies.
• Provide service to the school, university, community, and discipline including work on various committees
• Engage in service to GSSW that supports students and the ongoing academic enterprise.
• Continue to develop new scholarly and research interests.
• Occasionally supervise additional independent studies or directed research.
• Engage in ongoing training for those in DEI leadership roles in higher education.
• Commit to learning and seeking research and models to inform your role and advise the school on various approaches to DEI work.
• Foster a community with a strong anti-oppression ethos and be compassionate, courageous, empathetic, equity-minded, support a celebration of difference, and have integrity.
• Be willing and able to lead and engage in challenging conversations, interactions, and actions.
• Represent GSSW on the university-wide steering committee for DEI efforts and work closely with the Vice Chancellor for DEI and Office for DEI.
• Sit on GSSW’s Executive Advisory Council, and work closely with all associate deans, assistant deans, and directors of academic programs to advance DEI across the school, including advising on a range of matters such as enrollment, faculty and staff recruitment, student support, and marketing and communications.
• Serve as an ex-officio member to the Inclusive Excellence Committee, Culture and Climate Advisory Group, and Advisory Council on Racial Diversity (ACORD) and support each committee’s respective chair and/or coordinator to define goals and implement priorities.
• Support GSSW student groups and their related DEI efforts as needed.
• In coordination with the aforementioned groups, the ADDEI will assess the status of the school’s compositional diversity and current efforts to advance DEI across cultural, operational, and academic areas.
• In support of the school’s strategic plan and working with constituent groups, the ADDEI will define and oversee implementation and evaluation of specific goals, strategies, and assessment that will further DEI at GSSW.
• Assess the status of the school’s compositional diversity and current efforts to advance DEI across cultural, operational, and academic areas.
• Define and oversee implementation and evaluation of specific goals, strategies, and assessment that will further DEI at GSSW.
• Connect the school to larger national and international social work efforts related to DEI.
• Initiate and lead special projects as needed and prioritized by the school – projects will be focused on GSSW internally and its relationship to the broader community including local, university, national, and international levels.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated commitment, knowledge and ability to effectively engage individuals from broadly diverse communities
• Ability to teach at the university level, reflecting the school’s and discipline’s commitment to social justice
• Excellent oral and written skills enabling strong classroom teaching, student advising, and mentoring
• Excellent writing skills for publishing research findings
• Extremely high reasoning ability is of the utmost importance given the extent and complexity of a faculty members role
• Ability to write extensively
• Ability to present and engage in professional environments
• Ability to travel to professional meetings

Required Qualifications

• Candidates must have an earned doctorate in social work or a related social science discipline.
• Qualified applicants must demonstrate a strong history of publication, research, and external funding reflective of the rank of Full Professor, in addition to excellence or potential for excellence in teaching across the MSW and PhD curricula, and evidence of leadership at the school, university, and nationally levels. Applicants for tenured positions must meet the school’s tenure requirements for the rank of Full Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

• An MSW in addition to doctorate and two or more years post-MSW practice experience.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to be in front of a computer for an extended period.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance.

Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 1, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $130,000-$150,000 plus $15,000 for ADDEI position.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. DEIJ statement addressing the themes in this profile and your philosophy and approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.