Description
The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) at the University of Denver (DU), one of the premier graduate schools of social work in the country, is ranked #12 by U.S. News and World Report, and #1 in Colorado. It is the largest graduate program at DU with over 1,250 students and offers a Master of Social Work degree at three Colorado campuses (Denver, Durango, and Glenwood Springs) and online. GSSW’s PhD program is competitive with small cohorts designed to be rigorous and supportive. GSSW also provides MSW students with access to wide-ranging and unique certificate programs and dual degree opportunities.
GSSW is a vibrant center for intellectual development with five Centers, Institutes, and Labs: Butler Institute for Families, Center for Equity Research (formerly Equity Lab), The Center for Housing and Homelessness Research, Cross-National Behavioral Health Laboratory, and the Institute for Human-Animal Connection. We are a leader in promoting public impact and community engagement in Denver, across Colorado, and beyond. Our commitment is to uphold and promulgate the mission and values of the Council of Social Work Education.
Position Summary
The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a thoughtful and progressive community of scholars who conduct research spanning wide ranging populations and topics and who are equally committed to excellence in teaching. GSSW’s curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social work values and ethics, with an understanding of and respect for the need to engage at the local, state, national, and global levels. GSSW provides a supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and community- based, engaged, and embedded research as demonstrated by the faculty’s role in collaborative projects in each arena. Notably, the Denver metropolitan area and state of Colorado offer excellent opportunities for research with a variety of populations and organizations. Cross-disciplinary opportunities abound as demonstrated by the University’s Impact 2025 strategic plan. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the breadth and depth of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Essential Functions
- Teach up to five courses per academic year (quarter system) in-person, hybrid, and/or online
- Disseminate research findings in scholarly publications, research reports, policy briefs and other venues to maximize impact
- Present research at scholarly conferences, to community organizations and partners, and legislative bodies
- Provide service to the school, university, community, and discipline including work on various committees
- Provide students with mentoring and academic advising
- Continue and develop new scholarly and research interests
- May occasionally supervise additional independent studies or directed research
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated commitment, knowledge, and ability to effectively engage individuals from all communities
- Ability to teach at the graduate level while reflecting GSSW and discipline’s commitment to social work values
- Potential to secure external funding to support one’s research agenda
- Evidence or promise of high impact, funded scholarship
- Evidence of a commitment to publishing in impactful and referred academic journals
- Ability to write extensively
- Ability to travel to professional meetings
- Excellent communication skills for classroom teaching, student advising, and mentoring
- Excellent writing skills for publishing research findings
- Extremely high reasoning ability is of the utmost importance given the extent and complexity of a faculty member’s role
- Ability to be a positive and contributory member of a faculty and as a part of a broader university community
Required Qualifications
- Candidates must have an earned doctorate in social work or a related discipline by September 1, 2026.
- Qualified applicants must exhibit a developing agenda of publication, research, and external funding reflective of the rank of an Assistant Professor, in addition to excellence or potential for excellence in teaching across the MSW and PhD curricula, and demonstration of leadership skills and potential.
Preferred Qualifications
- An MSW in addition to a doctorate degree.
- Two or more years of post-MSW practice experience.
Working Environment
- Standard office environment.
- Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
- Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
- Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.
Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).
Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin December 8, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply by December 8th for priority consideration. The position will close at 4:00 p.m. (MDT) January 9, 2026.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $83,000-$85,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter. Please include a cover letter that details your qualifications for the position with an emphasis on your teaching and research experience and skills.
- Names and contact information for three professional references
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's NonDiscriminationStatement.
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
