Description
Announcement – Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Job Title: Assistant Professor of Social Work
Department/School: School of Social Work
Location: Fayetteville, AR
Start date: August 16, 2027
Position Summary:
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
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).
- 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:
- Two (2) 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.
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 mshobe@uark.edu or lnfields@uark.edu .
For a complete position announcement and information regarding how to apply, visit https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UAF_External_Career_Site/details/Assistant-Professor-of-Social-Work_R0090762
Applicants must submit the following documents through our Workday platform:
- A cover letter
- Narrative detailing teaching philosophy, research agenda, and qualification fit
- A curriculum vitae
- A sample of scholarly writing or publication
- Teaching evaluations when applicable
Applicants must send the following documents to scsw@uark.edu:
6. Three (3) Professional Reference Letters (including name, title, institution, email, and phone number)
We will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue until the position is filled.
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Annual Salary/Benefits Package: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
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.
EMPLOYER INFORMATION
The University of Arkansas: Founded in 1871 as a land grant institution, the University of Arkansas is classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the top two percent of universities in the nation with the highest level of research activity. Ten colleges and schools serve more than 27,100 students with more than 200 academic programs. University of Arkansas students earn nationally competitive awards at an impressive rate and represent 50 states and more than 120 countries. The University of Arkansas is committed to providing an educational and work environment that stipulates thought, creativity, and growth, and that individuals to realize their full potential.
Fulbright College: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is a vital public good. We provide a transformational education that prepares all students to lead and thrive in a complex world. Our research, scholarship, and creative expression address society’s great challenges and push the boundaries of human understanding. As the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus, with 3 schools, 16 departments, and 43 academic programs and research centers, Fulbright College brings the world to Arkansas and Arkansas to the world.
The Community: Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas campus and is known for its spectacular views and ample green spaces. Fayetteville is considered one of the country’s finest college towns, and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas region is regularly ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. Some of the nation’s best outdoor amenities and most spectacular hiking trails are within a short drive of campus.
For more information, visit: https://diversitynwa.com/
Culture in Northwest Arkansas
About Fayetteville
About University of Arkansas
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. Federal law prohibits the University from discriminating on these bases. Send questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, 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.
