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Boston University School of Social Work

Associate Professor Tenure Line Position in Macro Social Work

Appointments beginning in Summer or Fall 2024 Semester

As one of the nation’s top schools of social work, Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, and evidence-based practice to solve the most pressing societal problems of the 21st century. BUSSW views the racial, cultural, and social diversity of our faculty, staff, and students as essential to the excellence and distinction of our MSW and PhD programs. Thus, we are seeking and value candidates that represent a variety of social identities, including those who have been underrepresented in higher education, who possess skills that spark innovation, and who, through their research, scholarship, teaching, and service experiences, bring expertise that will contribute to a vibrant, inclusive community. BUSSW is a dynamic school with an extensive research portfolio with funding from NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, private foundations, and supportive alumni. Boston University’s 17 schools/colleges and numerous research centers create a rich environment for interdisciplinary research. (For additional information please visit our website).

We invite persons with a strong commitment to justice-based research, scholarship, and teaching in macro social work to apply to join our faculty in the 2024-25 academic year. Candidates for this position should have a nationally recognized research portfolio focused on addressing the root causes of social problems, including racism and inequality, through the transformation of communities, organizations, and government and political entities. Successful applicants will apply a critical lens to structures, systems, and policies at the community, city, state, national, and/or global levels and their impacts on marginalized populations.  Primary teaching responsibilities include MSW core macro social work practice courses that focus on topics such as: leadership development, coalition building and grassroots community organizing; planning and development of community-based programs and organizations; participatory action research, needs and assets assessment, and program evaluation; and legislative advocacy and/or other forms of policy practice.

Applicants’ research and scholarship should focus on large-systems practice in areas such as:

• Addressing racism against black, indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and other communities of color as well as other forms of oppression based on social identities such as gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, and physical and/or behavioral health through community and/or organizational practice as well as policy advocacy.
• Advancing community development and asset-based, resident-driven interventions focused on the creation and/or expansion of environmentally just and economically and socially diverse neighborhoods (i.e., accessible, affordable housing; green spaces).
• Supporting organizations’ social justice missions including the incorporation and/or deepening of their equity, inclusion, and anti-oppressive practices and ability to deliver services that are highly relevant to constituents’ needs and aspirations.
• Promoting community led interventions, transformative strategies, and policy advocacy to address inequities in work, health, education, and carceral systems, such as policing, prisons, child welfare, and/or immigration.
• Resident activism, mutual aid, and civic engagement across the lifespan.

Requirements: Candidates must have a PhD in social work, a relevant social science discipline, or public health. For appointment as associate professor with tenure, the successful candidate  will have established scholarship, research, and practice in macro social work or a closely related area and a strong record of publication and externally funded research.

Application process: Applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter which includes statements of research accomplishments and goals as well as teaching interests and experiences; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a diversity statement outlining experiences and commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence; 4) two peer-reviewed articles; and 5) the names and contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Questions about the position can be directed to the SSW Search Committee/Dean’s Office: (swsearch@bu.edu).

BU conducts a background check on all final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions. The background check includes contacting the final candidate’s current and previous employer(s) to ask whether, in the last seven years, there has been a substantiated finding of misconduct violating that employer’s applicable sexual misconduct policies. To implement this process, the University requires a final candidate to complete and sign the form entitled “Authorization to Release Information” after execution of an offer letter.