Associate/Full Professor in Health Social Work

The University of Tennessee College of Social Work (UTCSW) invites applications for an associate or full professor with a specialization in social work and health, with specific research interests in health, the social determinants of health, integrated health, and healthcare in community health settings. The ideal candidate should bring an interprofessional lens to community-engaged research and education. The position will mentor junior faculty, contribute to the college’s reputation for the highest-quality graduate and undergraduate education, engage with communities and professional organizations in collaborative ways, and help the CSW move forward in our commitment to anti-oppressive practice, access to education, inclusive excellence, and social justice, as defined by the Council on Social Work Education. The position will be located on the Knoxville campus.

The University of Tennessee (UTK) recognizes its role as a land-grant, flagship research institution as stated in its strategic vision that imagines “a world enriched by our ideas, improved through action, and inspired by the Volunteer Spirit of service and leadership.” (https://chancellor.utk.edu/vision/). The UTCSW is moving forward on this vision under the dynamic leadership of Dean Lori Messinger and our senior leadership team to deepen our impact as educators, researchers, and scholars. With over 850 students enrolled in undergraduate, MSW, DSW, and PhD programs in Knoxville, Nashville, and online, the College is preparing highly skilled and culturally sensitive social workers to address areas of need across the state, the country, and the globe. College faculty conduct interdisciplinary research that focuses on the needs of under-resourced groups. The person hired in this position would become a member of this exceptional, thriving academic community.

We seek candidates who can lead in the area of social work and health, build on the College’s existing areas of research strength, and contribute to our broadening interdisciplinary and community-based research collaborations. The College is an active partner in health-related research, with existing partnerships with several campus units (e.g., Departments of Public Health, Child and Family Studies, Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Psychology, and the College of Nursing), the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, and Cherokee Health Systems (CHS), a nationally known, federally qualified health center that is based in East Tennessee, utilizes an integrated care model, and participates as a Healthcare Provider Organization program partner in the NIH All of Us Research Program (allofus.nih.gov/). UTK has recently established an organizational memorandum of understanding with Cherokee Health Systems to target health inequities; current projects relate to maternal well-being, nutrition, health literacy, and community need through a multi-level approach.
The College is also home to The Center for Behavioral Health Research (CBHR), which conducts a broad array of behavioral health studies of children, adolescents, adults, families, and communities. The CBHR’s research incorporates faculty, staff, and students from a variety of disciplines at UTK and other universities. Since its founding in 1988, the CBHR’s work has been largely funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Other funders include the Health Resources and Services Administration, The W.T. Grant Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and other private foundations and donors.

Candidates for this position must have earned their doctorate in social work or a related health, social, or behavioral science field. The candidate must have an established record of scholarly activity; an established record of extramural funding (for professor level) or preliminary and indication of future sustained record of extramural funding (for associate level); and the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the access and engagement goals of the University. We also expect this candidate to act as a mentor to graduate students and junior faculty.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in social work, psychology, medicine, nursing, public health, or other behavior health-related field
• Evidence of a research agenda on social work and health that advances social, racial, economic, and/or environmental justice, among others
• Evidence of high-quality teaching at the graduate level, and across modalities
• Evidence of commitment to mentoring graduate students, junior faculty, and/or post-doctoral fellows who are developing programs of externally-funded research
• Evidence of commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive climate in classroom and research settings, which aligns with the mission and value of CSWE
• Candidates for Associate Professor should have preliminary evidence of external funding and clear potential for sustained external funding
• Candidates for Full Professor should have evidence of successful, sustained external funding and experience leading research teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work
• Specific research interests in health and healthcare in community health settings
• Commitment to interdisciplinary research and collaboration
• Experience teaching courses related to social work and healthcare
• Experience leading team-based research groups

The University of Tennessee Knoxville and the CSW offer a competitive benefits package, and 9-month tenure-track faculty are eligible for additional summer salary. UTK is Tennessee’s flagship land grant university and is currently in the midst of unprecedented growth in enrollment, with approximately 35,000 enrolled students. The University is also a Carnegie Foundation Research (R1) University with the designation of highest research activity and has achieved a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Forbes Magazine recently ranked UTK as one of the best places to work in the US, including a ranking of ninth among public higher education institutions in the United States.

The City of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, outstanding athletic opportunities, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. Knoxville enjoys the charm of a small city with activities that range from green energy initiatives and community greenways to thriving festival culture, music, culinary, and outdoor recreation scenes. Knoxville’s community brings events such as the Asian Festival, Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival, Kuumba Festival, Hola Festival, Dogwood Arts Festival to name a few. The city is also home to the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Beck Cultural Center, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Appalachia is a short drive from Knoxville. Citing affordability and quality of life, U.S. News and World Report ranks Knoxville among the best places to live.

Nashville is an action-packed and vibrant metropolis with so much more to offer than its famous Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. It is currently listed as #30 on the U.S. News and World report’s best Places to Live (2021) and offers events such as the CMA Festival, the Nashville Film Festival, Live on the Green, Tomato Art Fest, and the Nashville Pride Festival. Nashville is home to Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Belmont, Lipscomb, Meharry, Tennessee State, and Fisk Universities and there are strong collaborative opportunities. Outside of Nashville’s busy downtown Broadway scene, there are lots of unique neighborhoods filled with fantastic ethnic food options and cultural events, with unlimited opportunities to explore gorgeous parks and greenways, both inside and outside the city limits. Nashville is a short distance away from national parks that are great for camping and hiking.

Interested individuals should provide: (1) a cover letter addressing professional experience relevant to each required and preferred qualification, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) three sample publications, and (4) contact information for three professional references. Priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by December 15, 2023, though review may continue until an appointment is made. Materials should be submitted electronically https://apply.interfolio.com/132008. Inquiries may be addressed to the search committee chair, Dr. Courtney Cronley ccronle1@utk.edu

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.

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