Assistant Professor of Social Work at InsideHigherEd

Valparaiso University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Social Work in the Department of Education and Social Work at Valparaiso University (“Valpo”), a community of learning grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith, that prepares students to lead and serve both church and society. Position is designed and budgeted for an Assistant Professor, however Associate Professors may apply with that understanding. This is a 9-month position with some non-mandatory teaching opportunities in the summer. Located one hour southeast of Chicago on a 310-acre campus, Valpo is a comprehensive university with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Valpo is consistently recognized as one of the best private universities in the Midwest and has an increasingly diverse student body.

The successful candidate will ideally teach some practice courses as well as content courses, typically with a 21-credit teaching load, plus additional research and campus citizenship activities. The applicant will have primary responsibilities at the graduate level (both generalist and specialized) in teaching face-to-face and online courses, and have occasional teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate level in face-to-face courses. There is some flexibility as to which specific courses are taught due to the variety of backgrounds in the department. Although faculty are supported in having primary teaching areas, we cultivate an environment in which we are not overly dependent upon one person for a content area. Furthermore, students have nine hours of electives in the MSW, which facilitates faculty teaching some specialty courses. Please mention areas of specific teaching or practice experience that may enhance the versatility of our curricular offerings (e.g. school social work, experience in geriatrics).

The department environment is extremely collegial and accurately characterized by high interaction with students. A hallmark of the department is developing meaningful, supportive, mentoring relationships with students. Physical presence in the region is necessary in that this is not a 100% remote position. Candidates are preferred who have knowledge of CSWE EPAS, program development, program assessment, and curricular development. The candidate must demonstrate and maintain an active program of research.

Candidates should have an MSW plus either a Ph.D. or DSW in Social Work or a closely related field. Additionally, candidates should have two years of practice experience. Clinical licensure is preferred but not required. The expected starting salary will be in the range $60,000 to $70,000, depending on experience.

As a campus with an increasingly diverse student body, we encourage applicants with a commitment to, and experience in, mentoring students from an array of backgrounds.

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching statement, research statement, and contact information for three references to Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/177577. In your cover letter, please include brief statements of (a) how you might contribute to the university’s distinctive mission, (b) what experiences you have had which will enable you to mentor a diverse student body. Candidates who submit names of references should expect that the search committee will contact these references in confidence and that credentials will be confirmed prior to hire. Candidates should also expect that the search committee will review their LinkedIn profile. Employment will require a satisfactory criminal background check. Applications will be considered until the position is filled; however, applicants are encouraged to apply by December 15, 2025 for timely consideration. Valparaiso University does not unlawfully discriminate and aims to recruit persons of various backgrounds and experiences to develop and support its culturally diverse intellectual community. Its entire EOE policy can be found at  http://www.valpo.edu/general-counsel/policies/equalopportunity-policy/ .