"Assistant Professor-School of Social Work"

Job Details

Assistant Professor-School of Social Work

Job Class Code:

FLSA:

Posting Number: FRGV1857

Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position:

Tenture Status: Tenure Track

FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job: We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's student body as an Assistant Professor of the School of Social Work beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. The successful candidates will possess a record of research and scholarship, teaching, service, community engagement, commensurate with early career faculty. Our faculty members are expected to actively engage in research and scholarship and to seek external funding to support their research. Faculty in the School of Social Work engage in broad collaborations with health, mental health, counseling, rehabilitation, and nursing colleagues, as well as those in sciences, technology, engineering, and arts units across the university. These collaborations have been fruitful and have resulted in ongoing educational initiatives, grant-funded research, and community-engagement projects. As such, the successful candidate will have a track record of inter-professional collaborations.

Applicants' research should be at the intersection of social work, public health, and population health, and blend micro and macro issues. Expertise in some of the areas salient in the School of Social Work's growing research portfolio is welcome, including health and behavioral health issues in populations similar to those of the Rio Grande Valley (i.e., 94% Hispanic, primarily Mexican-American; bilingual and bicultural; borderland communities); gerontological social work; sustainability; human mobility; U.S.-Mexico border issues; and global issues. Faculty members are encouraged to engage in basic, applied and/or translational research that addresses critical community and state needs.

Service to the School of Social Work, University, community, and professional organizations locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally is an integral part of the faculty member's responsibilities. The successful applicant will teach in our BSW, MSSW, and dual-degree programs; contribute to the development of our doctoral program and teach doctoral courses; and work with our Office for International Social Work and our Human Mobility Institute. We are seeking well-rounded, early career academics who can make an impact in all areas: teaching, research and scholarship, service, and community engagement.

UTRGV is a distributed university with campuses and teaching sites from Brownsville to Laredo. This is an in-person position and faculty may be assigned to teach in other locations either in person or using remote technologies. The School of Social Work has students in Edinburg, Brownsville, and Laredo, and is exploring offering classes in Rio Grande City.

About UTRGV: UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website.

About the School of Social Work: The School of Social Work was established in 2018 as an independent School and is under the leadership of Founding Dean Dr. Luis R. Torres. Previously, the department of social work existed since the 1970s, most recently as part of the College of Health Professions. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Social Work (SSW) is the only institution to offer programs leading to both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and the Master of Science in Social Work (MSW) degree south of San Antonio. Both programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The BSW Program prepares students for generalist social work practice. Building on the generalist foundation, the MSW program prepares social work practitioners using an Advanced Generalist Model that blends Direct Practice and Community Practice, with a focus on the populations of the Rio Grande Valley and similar populations (e.g., 94% Hispanic/Latino, binational and bilingual border communities, high levels of poverty and social determinants of health, etc.).

The MSW Program goals are to prepare graduates to practice with diverse, vulnerable, and at-risk populations to promote health, human well-being, and social and economic mobility, especially in the Texas-Mexico border region; to prepare graduates for leadership in developing and implementing policies and services for at-risk populations with an emphasis on the Texas-Mexico border region; and to develop the knowledge base of the social work profession, particularly as it relates to addressing the needs of at-risk populations with an emphasis on the Texas-Mexico border region. The BSW program is in-person. We offer all MSW programs in two modalities, traditional on-campus, and online. The School of Social Work is committed to preparing generalist and advanced professional social workers to meet the needs of a binational and multicultural community, and to increasingly make an impact on the national stage. The Rio Grande Valley is a natural laboratory for the demographic shifts being seen around the country.

Minimum Qualifications: Qualifications for Assistant Professor: Earned doctorate in social work or a related field; Master in Social Work from a CSWE accredited program; record of research and scholarship, teaching, service, and community engagement, commensurate with the rank sought; evidence of teaching effectiveness; record of sustained research and publication commensurate with rank; record of grant writing with success in securing external grants commensurate with rank; record of peer-reviewed presentations at social work professional conferences and related professional conferences commensurate with rank; evidence of university and community service commensurate with rank.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:

Preferred Qualification: Preference will be given to applicants with: mixed methods, qualitative, and quantitative skills; Post doctoral training in a Social Work research intensive environment; 5+ years of direct or community social work practice experience; social work licensure or license-eligibility in Texas; experience working with populations similar to those of the Rio Grande Valley (i.e., 94% Hispanic, primarily Mexican-American; bilingual and bicultural; borderland communities); teaching expertise in advanced clinical or macro practice; experience with online teaching and distance education programs; bilingual (English and Spanish); knowledge of the cultural, social and economic characteristics of the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience. The appointment is contingent upon the enrollment and scheduling needs of the School of Social Work.

License or Certification Required?: No

Number of Vacancies: 2

Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026