"Assistant Professor - Counseling - 000809"

Assistant Professor - Counseling - 000809

Western Carolina University

Department: Human Services

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including: 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina... [abridged for brevity, full details in original]

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

Western Carolina University (WCU) invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position in the graduate Counseling program. Anticipated starting work date is August 1, 2026 (with the possibility of January 1, 2027 depending on candidate availability).

The Counseling Program is located in the Human Services Department in the College of Education and Allied Professions... The successful candidate will teach, supervise, and advise students in a CACREP-accredited, masters degree program in Counseling (school and clinical mental health counseling specialties) at the WCU instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC. Courses are offered to students in day and evening sections with the expectation of faculty working 1-2 nights per semester.

Duties:

• Teach three courses per semester (Fall/Spring; 60%) and advise students in the Counseling Program. Summer teaching opportunities for additional compensation. Teach courses such as group counseling, helping skills, theories, assessment, lifespan development, and practicum/internship, among other CACREP core courses or self-developed electives.
• Conduct scholarship and research activities according to the department and university guidelines (20%).
• Provide program, department, college, and university service (20%). Assist with student recruitment activities, review student admissions applications, monitor student progress, and collaborate with clinical agencies on professional development and outreach services. Serve as Clinical Mental Health field placement coordinator. Perform other related service duties as requested.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate in counselor education by August 2026*. Special consideration may be made for those with an earned doctorate by December 2026.*
• Experience as a professional counselor in agency setting and/or private practice.
• Licensure/license eligibility in clinical mental health counseling.
• Evidence of, or potential for, expertise in masters-level teaching in CACREP core curriculum and school counseling specialty area.
• Experience and commitment to working with a wide variety of populations.
• Evidence of, or potential for, scholarship and service.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in counselor education from a CACREP-accredited doctoral program.
• North Carolina LCMHC licensure or eligibility.
• Experience or interest in teaching courses: group counseling (highest priority), helping skills, theories, assessment, lifespan development, and practicum/internship.
• Experience in agency field placement.
• Demonstrate promise for excellence in teaching, a record of scholarship, and service.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include the following: letter of application, current CV, list of three professional references with complete contact information, and unofficial transcripts showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*.

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Lisen Roberts, Search Committee Chair, at: lroberts@wcu.edu