Assistant/Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy

Faculty Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible FLSA: Exempt Hiring Range: Salary commensurate with experience and rank. $93,333-$102,667 per year (12 mo base) + benefits package if hired at the rank of Assistant Professor; $102,667-$116,000 per year (12 mo base) + benefits package if hired at the rank of Associate Professor. Location: Tacoma, Washington 98447 Department: Marriage & Family Therapy Dept Posting Date: 09/25/2026 Closing Date: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Work Schedule: Full time, Assistant/Associate Professor position available June 1, 2027. 12-month position (June-May). Faculty load equal to 8 courses with a mixture of teaching and program administration. Position is in-person. General Description: The Department of Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Lutheran University seeks an Assistant/Associate Professor to begin June 1, 2027 or September 1, 2027. The position may be tenured/tenure-track (hiring at the level of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor based upon qualifications). The position includes a combination of teaching, supervising, and administrative responsibilities in a COAMFTE-accredited program equivalent to eight four-credit courses. The MFT Program at Pacific Lutheran University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the AAMFT (COAMFTE). The program consists of four full- time faculty, who teach a diverse student body of approximately 45 students, and provide on-site clinical supervision to second-year students. The program focuses on in-depth training in systemic clinical skills, utilizing the benefits of small student cohorts, strong faculty-student relationships, and an on-site clinic with live faculty supervision. Additionally, the program partners with program clinical supervisors at various community mental health agencies where students complete their practica training and expand their clinical experience. The program’s commitment to inclusion and equity is infused throughout the curriculum. Further information about the program can be found on the website at https://www.plu.edu/mft/ Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Teach couple and family therapy graduate courses with an emphasis on inclusive teaching practices. Provide clinical supervision of MFT graduate students. Assist in administrative responsibilities of the program, which may include overseeing practicum, internship site coordination, clinical training & development, and internship placements. Advise graduate students. Participate in the larger life of the university through governance, committees and other service activities. Develop and advance a program of scholarship. Hold regular student hours. Attend regular department meetings. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: We seek faculty who view themselves foremost as educators, possess a commitment to effective and inclusive teaching strategies, and are open to feedback and growth. Our students come from diverse backgrounds with different values and beliefs, but unite in a commitment to systemic, contextual, and equitable care for clients. Many are first-generation college students, non-traditional students, students of color, and LGBTQ+ students. We especially encourage applications from individuals who can hold space for conversations across differences and who share our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in their teaching, research, and service. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from a COAMFTE-accredited program or its equivalent. ABD will be considered, but Ph.D. must be in hand by the start date of the position. Evidence of strong teaching and supervisory skills, and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with students and colleagues. Commitment to using inclusive and anti-racist pedagogy. Clinical or research emphasis on marginalized populations. American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor or Approved Supervisor Candidate. Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship. Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants should submit the following: Letter of Interest. The letter should include your teaching philosophy, scholarly interests, commitment to systemic thinking, and how you create a learning environment that is attuned to inclusion and equity. Curriculum vitae. List of three references. Teaching evaluations will be requested from semi-finalists. For questions or more information, please contact David Ward at warddb@plu.edu Other Information: Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2025-26 academic year, 45 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 51.4 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant–eligible. Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,800 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound. PLU administration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty-shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu. Click here for detailed benefits information.