Description
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.
The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.
As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.
Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.
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Department:
School of Social Work
Department's Website:
https://socialwork.uark.edu/
Summary of Job Duties:
The School of Social Work in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor to start in August 2027. This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment.
This faculty position is part of the Arkansas Health Research and Solutions cluster hire at the University of Arkansas. Driven by three Fortune 500 companies, booming steel and lithium sectors, world-class museums, and rich natural beauty, Arkansas is becoming a vibrant hub of opportunity and innovation. Yet Arkansas also faces significant health challenges. Too many Arkansans experience chronic disease, high rates of infant and maternal mortality, mental health crises, and limited access to healthcare. Through this cluster hire initiative, the University will advance its land-grant mission by expanding capacity to address our state’s most pressing challenges. Building on existing campus expertise, these new faculty members will advance their research agendas through collaborative work—both with other scholars and with communities across the state—that yields peer-reviewed publications, external funding, and new approaches to healthcare. The successful candidate for this position will join a multidisciplinary community of scholars committed to confronting major issues, generating new knowledge, and providing research-based solutions that improve health outcomes for people living in Arkansas and beyond.
This is an in-person position. The School of Social Work offers both face-to-face and online courses, and extensive in-person and online engagement in activities such as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetingsis essential to advancingstudent success and departmental effectiveness.
Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
About the Department:
The School of Social Work at the University of Arkansas, housed within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, advances social, economic, and environmental justice through excellence in education, research, and community engagement. As part of Arkansas' land-grant institution, the School prepares ethical, competent, and evidence-informed social work practitioners committed to improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities across Arkansas, the Ozark region, nationally, and globally.
The School offers fully accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs, delivering rigorous curricula across traditional face-to-face and online learning platforms. Our faculty lead dynamic research programs in rural health disparities, health equity, child welfare, aging, the criminal justice system, macro policy analysis, and behavioral health. The School emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, robust community partnerships, and student-centered mentorship in an academic environment that values research excellence and applied practice.
We are dedicated to fostering a community of culturally competent social work leader-practitioners. Through student-centered experiential learning, rigorous research, and committed community engagement, we prepare our students to become advocates for social and economic justice and equity. Our program integrates classroom knowledge with real-world application. We aim to empower social workers who will enhance the quality of life for individuals, families and communities in Arkansas and globally, believing that through our efforts, Arkansas can truly be a land of opportunity for all.
Duties will include:
40% Teaching or Professional Performance
40% Research/Scholarly and/or Creative Activities
20% Academic Service Activities
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Social Work or a closely related field from an accredited institution (ABD considered, provided doctorate is completed prior to the start date) conferred by the start of employment
- Eligibility for social work licensure in Arkansas
- Demonstrated potential for excellence in university-level teaching
- Demonstrated potential for developing a strong, sustainable research agenda and securing external funding
Preferred Qualifications:
- At least two years of post-MSW practice experience
- Demonstrated track record of community-engaged research or interdisciplinary collaboration
- Strong record of successful publication and/or external funding in the thematic and/or methodological areas of position focus
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
- Deep knowledge of social work history, ethics, theory, and macro/micro practice frameworks.
- Strong commitment to effective pedagogical practices and student mentoring.
- Practical literacy in modern educational technologies (including LMS platforms and synchronous video conferencing).
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Additional Information:
This position is a Designated Research Position and is regulated by the Arkansas Research Education Protection Act of 2025. Prior to issuance of an offer of employment, the University is required to request and obtain additional information about an applicant’s background and, if required, conduct an additional review of that background information.
Salary Information:
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Required Documents to Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, Other (see special instructions for details), Writing Sample
Optional Documents:
Proof of Veteran Status
