Faculty Specialist II- Professional Specialist

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1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA

Western Michigan University's School of Social Work invites applications and nominations for the position of Faculty Specialist II- Professional Specialist . This is a tenure-track full-time fiscal-year Faculty Specialist II appointment, based on the main campus in Kalamazoo, Ml. This position will have the role and responsibility of Director of the BSW program, and will provide academic and administrative leadership for the BSW program, ensuring alignment with the mission and vision of the school, college, and university, the CSWE accreditation standards, and the evolving needs of students, faculty, and community partners. This position (a) oversees curriculum development and updates, ensuring rigor, relevance, and alignment with CSWE competencies; (b) ensures accreditation compliance, manage ongoing program assessment, and implement continuous improvement strategies; (c) leads marketing, outreach, recruitment, and student retention initiatives to strengthen program visibility and enrollment; (d) focuses on academic coordination, program leadership and collaborative support for faculty teaching within the BSW program; (e) fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered academic environment; (f) cultivates and sustain community partnerships that enhance student learning and workforce development; (g) champions a culture of academic excellence, equity, inclusion, and innovation; and (h) leads the ethical and strategic integration of artificial intelligence (Al) into the BSW curriculum to prepare students for the future of social work practice. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a visionary and collaborative leader to shape the future of undergraduate social work education at one of Michigan's leading public universities.

Major Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Administration:

Provide strategic leadership for the BSW program by overseeing operations, student support structures, and program evaluation. Ensure full compliance with CSWE accreditation standards, including preparation of self-studies, annual reports, and coordination of site visits. Develop, implement, and assess strategic initiatives that promote program quality, relevance, growth, and community impact. Lead continuous improvement processes by managing program-level assessment and ensuring alignment with university expectations.

Curriculum & Instruction

Guide the design, review, and enhancement of the BSW curriculum to remain responsive to accreditation requirements and workforce needs. Collaborate with faculty to strengthen evidence-based, culturally responsive pedagogy across all BSW courses. Lead efforts to thoughtfully and ethically integrate artificial intelligence (Al) into teaching and learning to prepare students for contemporary and emerging social work practice.

Recruitment And Retention

Oversee student recruitment, admissions processes, academic advising structures, and retention strategies to sustain a strong and diverse student body. Foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment, ensuring timely and empathetic responses to student concerns. Champion student success through innovative initiatives that promote academic achievement, professional preparedness, and well-being.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

Cultivate and strengthen relationships with community agencies, educational partners, and professional organizations. Serve as an ambassador for the BSW program, representing it to external stakeholders and advancing collaboration. Develop and sustain partnerships that enrich student learning, field opportunities, and workforce development.

Other Duties

Teach courses in the BSW program as assigned, ensuring high-quality instruction and student engagement. Contribute to departmental, college, university, and professional committees, supporting institutional development and policy making. Advocate for program needs with School, College, and University leadership. Promote equity, access, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practices in social work education. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Director of the School of Social Work.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: The ideal candidate should:

• Hold a doctorate in Social Work or a related field, or be an ABD doctoral candidate with the expectation of completing the degree within one year of hire.
• Hold a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program, with at least two years of post-MSW social work practice experience.
• Meet eligibility requirements for appointment at the rank of Faculty Specialist II.
• Demonstrate experience with CSWE accreditation and reaffirmation processes, including competency-based curriculum development.
• Demonstrate successful teaching experience in hybrid, online (asynchronous, synchronous, or partially synchronous), and other technology-enhanced formats.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and planning skills, with the ability to effectively mentor and support students.

Desired Qualifications:

Preference will be given to candidates who:

• Exhibit strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative skills.
• Bring expertise in innovative and effective pedagogical uses of technology. Demonstrate experience with collaborative leadership, conflict resolution, and solution-focused approaches.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage diverse populations and content areas.
• Maintain an active awareness of emerging trends, best practices, and technological advancements in social work practice and social work education.

The University:

Western Michigan University (WMU), located in Southwest Michigan, is a vibrant, nationally recognized student-centered research institution with an enrollment of over 18,000. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate division, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies WMU as a doctoral university and one of just 185 public universities in the nation conducting research at a high level.

The College: In 1976, pioneering allied health and human services professional programs united in the WMU College of Health and Human Services, carrying on a tradition of excellence and innovation that began in 1922 with the establishment of the occupational therapy program. That tradition continues today. The College of Health and Human Services has high-quality, nationally ranked academic programs; exceptional students and faculty; unmatched clinical education; many regular opportunities for inter-professional education; state-of-the-art teaching facilities; outreach, service and community engagement; and a strong research record that is helping shape the future of health care.

The college is composed of departments, schools, centers and clinics. Departments include Blindness and Low Vision Studies; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Physician Assistant; and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. The college's schools include Interdisciplinary Health Programs, with programs in Gerontology, Healthcare Administration, Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness, Healthcare Services and Sciences, and Public Health; Nursing; and Social Work. The college also houses the Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Program. The college also operates the Center for Disability Services, Aging Services, the Resiliency Center for Families and Children, and the Unified Clinics, a multidisciplinary service/training clinic. CHHS is housed on east campus in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with online and regional programs that extend the depth and breadth of the college's access and influence.

Approximately 100 board appointed faculty serve approximately 1,202 undergraduate and 715 graduate students, with majors and programs that lead to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. A number of graduate certificate programs and undergraduate minors are also offered.

The students and faculty of the College of Health and Human Services extend the energy of the college and University through significant efforts toward community engagement and service. With required internships, field placements and clinical rotations alone, faculty-supervised CHHS students provide more than 600,000 hours of service annually to children and families in the community, region and across the nation. Substantial volunteerism increases this positive impact.

The mission of the College of Health and Human Services is to engage every person in an experiential, interprofessional and inclusive academic environment that inspires compassion, integrity and advocacy. We prepare all learners to thrive in health and human services careers that are high in demand, high in purpose, high in satisfaction and unsurpassed in impact.

The Department: The School of Social Work at Western Michigan University is home to high-quality bachelor's and master's degree programs in social work. Our curriculum emphasizes social, economic, racial, and environmental justice and is grounded in evidence-based practice to prepare students for effective, ethical, and compassionate professional work. With a dedicated team of 16 full-time faculty members, the School serves approximately 500 social work students across both undergraduate and graduate programs. Courses are offered at two locations-Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids-providing flexible access and strong community connections for students throughout West Michigan.

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, with an excellent benefits package.

Expected Start Date: July 1, 2026

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Required application documents: Cover Letter, Teaching Philosophy, Curriculum Vitae, and References

• Cover Letter: Include information related to the reason for interest in the position, and a description of the qualifications, accomplishments, and professional experiences related to the position (address the items listed under the major duties, minimum qualifications, & desired qualifications sections).
• Teaching philosophy: include an overall teaching philosophy that should contain information regarding online pedagogy and ethical Al integration.
• Curriculum Vitae: include information related to, but not limited to, education, work history, leadership and mentorship experience, teaching history, research, and scholarship, and grantsmanship.
• References: include at least three professional references (e.g., academia, field, colleague). The references should include names, titles, telephone number/s, and postal & e-mail addresses.

Chair of Search Committee:

Dr. Mioara Diaconu ([email protected])

WMU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and all other qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.