Assistant Professor of Social Work

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Social Work

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 meetings is essential to advancing student 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

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.

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

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Completed applications received by October 25, 2026, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position. For additional inquiries, please contact the search committee co-chairs, Marcia Shobe and LaShawnda Fields at View email address on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter
• Narrative detailing teaching philosophy, research agenda, and qualification fit
• A curriculum vitae
• Three (3) Professional Reference Letters (including name, title, institution, email, and phone number). Please send references to View email address on click.appcast.io
• A sample of scholarly writing or publication
• Teaching evaluations when applicable

We will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University's Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.