AssistantAssociate Professor of Mental Health Counseling

Assistant/Associate Professor of Mental Health Counseling

About The University of Texas at El Paso:

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1 Opportunity and Community-Engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health culture education and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 26000 students 84% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 169 bachelors masters and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access top-tier research university in America.

The citys location on the Rio Grande in the Southwest where two countries and three states meet makes it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest including bilingual education/language acquisition health and health disparities international relations international trade migration and environmental sustainability and infrastructure. The University enjoys strategic partnerships with two Department of Energy national laboratories in the region multiple national laboratories beyond the region and sits on the edge of White Sands Missile Range making engineering and scientific research both a priority and an opportunity.

Along with its designation among the top 5% of universities in America for research UTEP is also nationally recognized as an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Classification for its positive impact on economic mobility for students after 2024 Forbes found that UTEP students graduate with the lowest average debt of any college or university in Texas.

Located at the westernmost tip of Texas El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. The citys active arts and culture community features the states longest-running symphony orchestra a nationally recognized chamber music festival a vibrant street art and mural scene art galleries museums and a full schedule of seasonal events and 2024 El Paso opened La Nube a unique hybrid institution that merges the educational aspects of a science center with the interactive experiences of a childrens museum. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with concerts and live events at the citys largest indoor and outdoor venues; theater music and dance productions; contemporary and student art galleries; and a natural history museum and desert gardens. El Paso residents can also easily travel to the sister city of Ciudad Juárez Mexico to enjoy great food markets and cultural events.

El Paso/Juárez is the fifth largest manufacturing region in North America and the center of commerce education and health services for the region. A family-oriented community the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable for a large metropolitan area with the average home value of $224000 in 2025. In 2026 U.S. News and World report named El Paso the best big city to live in the has no state income tax and when it comes to public safety El Paso is consistently ranked among the safest large cities in the United States.

El Paso is also an ideal location for people who love the outdoors. It is home to one of the nations largest urban parks - Franklin Mountains State Park - and many options for year-round hiking mountain biking and rock climbing at Hueco Tanks State Park and nearby White Sands Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks.

For sports fans the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues including Sun Bowl Stadium - where one of the oldest football bowl games takes place annually - and the Don Haskins Center arena. Southwest University Park located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the San Diego Padres and the El Paso Locomotive FC a professional soccer team founded in 2019.

The College of Education consists of three departments - Counseling and Special Education Educational Leadership and Foundations and Teacher Education which has two divisions: Bilingual Education Early Childhood Education Literacy/Biliteracy Sociocultural Studies (BELSS) and Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. These departments employ more than 60 tenured and tenure-track faculty members and enroll more than 1800 undergraduates and 1200 graduate students.

The Department of Counseling and Special Education offers programs at the masters level in special education educational diagnostics clinical mental health rehabilitation and school counseling. The department also provides the content courses for the generic special education specialization in the Bachelor of Independent Studies (BIS) degree addition the department provides three service courses (EDPC 2300 EDPC 3300 and SPED 3310) to all education majors. The department offers a core course (EDPC 1301) that focuses on career development for incoming students.

Job Description:

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor for our CACREP accredited Counseling Programs beginning in Fall 2027 housed in the Department of Counseling and Special Education in the College of Education. The successful candidates will be committed to excellence in teaching research service and community engagement as well as collaboration across the university. Teaching assignments will be based on candidates experience and expertise. The successful candidates will assume a range of responsibilities including the following: (1) teaching graduate level courses including in-person hybrid and online courses; (2) developing a sustained program of research and scholarship; (3) participating in efforts to seek external funding; (4) participating in broad-based university college and departmental committee work as well as professional and community service; (5) collaboration with colleagues (6) advising students; and (7) supervising students field experiences. Teaching in summer is generally available.

Requirements:

1. An earned doctorate in Counselor Education from a CACREP approved program or closely related field ABD considered but doctorate must be completed before employment
2. Evidence of teaching effectiveness in graduate-level courses.
3. Evidence of a sustainable program of scholarship and research.
4. Relevant experience in the field of Mental Health Counseling
5. Evidence of the ability to work collaboratively with other faculty professionals and community organizations.
6. Commitment to maintenance of CACREP standards.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Bilingual in English and Spanish
2. Experience as a clinical mental health counselor
3. An understanding of and commitment to community and globally engaged scholarship
4. Certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor
5. Licensed as a Professional Counselor in Texas or eligible to be Licensed as a Professional Counselor in Texas
6. Ability and flexibility to teach both foundational and advanced Counseling courses

Additional Information:

In keeping with its access excellence and impact mission The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open diverse and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents respects the differences and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex religion age disability genetic information veteran status or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employees or prospective employees right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator who can be reached by phone at by email at or by mail at 500 W. University Ave. El Paso TX Kelly Hall Room 312.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities please contact UTEPs Equal Opportunity Office at .

To the extent that this position involves research work or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48 being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Application Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The successful applicant will commence duties Fall 2027.

Applicants must submit the following information:

1. Curriculum vita;
2. Letter of application that addresses the required and preferred qualifications;
3. A sample of research publications;
4. A statement of contributions to inclusive excellence; and
5. Names and contact information of three references (references will not be contacted without the applicants approval and not until he/she has been selected for an on campus visit).

For questions about the position you may contact: Dr. Johana Rocha Search Committee Chair: or .

Required Experience:

IC