Widener University's Center for Social Work Education invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor for a position starting August 2025. This faculty position carries a 3/3 teaching load as well as an active research and publication agenda along with university and community service responsibilities. Teaching assignments may be a combination of BSW, MSW and/or PhD courses.
We are seeking a faculty member who has a long history of social work experience at the macro and mezzo level with marginalized populations, and is knowledgeable about organizational dynamics and theory, social work and social welfare history, and/or policy analysis and development. We are seeking candidates with evidence of a strong research agenda that can contribute to collaborative research, including faculty-student research, PhD dissertations, and grant writing. Those with the ability to teach research methods and statistics at all degree levels are especially encouraged to apply.
The BSW program prepares students for generalist social work practice and/or graduate school. The MSW program has a single concentration in clinical social work with a trauma-informed curriculum. We currently have a campus-based MSW program and an on-line MSW program option. The MSW program also offers a dual degree option with human sexuality. The BSW and MSW programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The PhD program prepares candidates for academic and research careers.
Widener Social Work also runs a community-based clinic called Social Work Counseling Services (SWCS) that provides pro bono social work and capacity-building services to community-based organizations and community residents. SWCS is staffed primarily by social work interns and serves as a state-of-the-art internship site for BSW and MSW students. SWCS interns and faculty also provide capacity building and social work services in collaboration with grassroots community organizations that serve community residents but do not have MSW social workers on staff. For more information about Widener Social Work, please visit our website at www.widener.edu/socialwork.
Our students represent a multitude of diverse identities. We aspire to develop a graduate social work faculty, staff, and curriculum that is anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and reflects and respects our professional values. We seek to create an intentionally diverse educational community in which students, staff, and faculty perspectives are valued and meaningfully incorporated into our work.
Widener University is committed to fostering an environment in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. The Center for Social Work Education holds a deep commitment to an inclusive culture that supports the work of faculty and staff members across the institution, and works closely with the Chief Diversity Officer to facilitate that commitment. Faculty and staff are active participants in our work to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including through representation on the Faculty Council Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Diversity Leadership and Inclusion Council.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):
Essential duties:
Teaching:
- Teach a 3/3 course load in BSW, MSW (campus-based and/or on-line), and/or PhD program.
- Develop and teach courses as determined in collaboration with the Director.
- Ensure courses and syllabi are current and available to all students.
- Provide timely, individualized, and supportive feedback on student work.
- Demonstrate competency in teaching as evidenced by supervisor, peer, and student evaluations.
- Demonstrate expertise in areas of teaching responsibility and content delivery method.
- Participate in team and/or interdisciplinary teaching.
- Participate in curriculum development.
- Use faculty development opportunities and teacher effectiveness tools to improve teaching.
- Supervise students on dissertations and/or other special projects (e.g. interprofessional, research projects).
- Maintain regular office hours, guide or support students who reach out for assistance, and identify students who are struggling and need extra attention or support to be successful through use of email, phone or other appropriate means of communication.
Scholarship/Practice:
- Engage in scholarly work related to an area of interest on a regular basis and as required by expectations of the program.
- Maintain an active, highly visible, and ideally extramurally funded research program with outstanding scholarship.
- Maintain currency of professional knowledge through regular continuing education.
Service:
- Support administrative functions of the Center for Social Work Education programs as needed.
- Participate in PhD dissertation committees.
- Participate in student recruitment and admission activities.
- Serve as an academic advisor and/or mentor for students and/or student organizations.
- Attend all university academic events as required in the faculty handbook.
- Attend all university, college, and program faculty meetings.
- Engage with students via co-curricular activities.
- Assist in the accreditation process including preparation of documents for accreditation applications, annual reviews, and site visits.
- Demonstrate the ability to support the mission of Widener University as evidenced by teaching and research/grant initiatives, advising, and mentoring of students.
- Participate in professional activities and service to the university, college, program, community, and the profession.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the implementation of a philosophical stance of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice in scholarship, teaching, and service.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):
Required:
Associate Professor:
- PhD in Social Work or related field.
- 7-10 years teaching in higher education settings.
- Evidence of an active and highly visible scholarly agenda that can contribute to collaborative research.
- Expertise in quantitative research and translating this expertise into teaching at all degree levels.
- Expertise in organizational, policy, social work/welfare history, and/or macro/mezzo level social work.
- Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Interest and experience working with diverse student populations and commitment to creating inclusive learning environments.
- Superior communications skills - verbal and written - including phone, letters, email, voice-mail, one-on-one and group.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to quickly pick up new software systems, including Exxat – field planning software
Assistant Professor:
- PhD in Social Work or related field.
- Evidence of teaching in higher education settings.
- Evidence of scholarly agenda that can contribute to collaborative research.
- Expertise in quantitative research and translating this expertise into teaching at all degree levels.
- Expertise in organizational, policy, social work/welfare history, and/or macro level social work.
- Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- Interest and experience working with diverse student populations and commitment to creating inclusive learning environments.
- Superior communications skills - verbal and written - including phone, letters, email, voice-mail, one-on-one and group.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to quickly pick up new software systems, including Exxat – field planning software.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience and interest in academic program assessment.
- Interest in collaborative community intervention and research projects.
- Minimum 5 years of social work experience.
- Experience teaching in an MSW program, with excellent evaluations and preferably experience in teaching online.
- High attention to detail.
- Enthusiastic, organized self-starter and quick learner capable of working independently and as part of a team supporting social work students.
- Ability to anticipate problems and work collaboratively to propose and facilitate solutions.
- Excellent organizational and communication skills and exceptional attention to detail.
- Must be able to handle multiple tasks, identify priorities, and maintain attention to details.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS:
- Typical work environment
- Occasionally standing, walking, or climbing stairs. Ability to be mobile between workstations, various campus buildings, and all locations in the buildings.
- Some night and weekend work is occasionally required.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.
Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.
EOE M/F/V/D
