Department/Organization
224102 - Social Work
Rank
Professor
Position Summary
The School of Social Work at The University of Alabama invites nominations and applications for the Endowed Academic Chair for Social Work and Health. Applicants should be eligible for appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure. The position is a nine-month, full time, academic appointment. We seek a colleague with a doctorate in social work or a related discipline who has: an exceptionally strong record of scholarship in the field of health, with a particular focus on promoting health equity and supporting vulnerable groups, ideally across the lifespan; evidence of interdisciplinary or interprofessional collaboration; a vibrant history of ongoing mentorship with colleagues and students; meaningful work in social determinants of health and community-based approaches; and an ongoing chronicled narrative of externally funded research. Review of applications begins December 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. This is not a remote position.
Detailed Position Information
The School of Social Work at The University of Alabama invites nominations and applications for the Endowed Academic Chair for Social Work and Health. Applicants should be eligible for appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure. The position is a nine-month, full time, academic appointment. This is not a remote position.
Qualifications
We seek a colleague with a doctorate in social work or a related discipline who has: an exceptionally strong record of scholarship in the field of health, with a particular focus on promoting health equity and supporting vulnerable groups, ideally across the lifespan; evidence of interdisciplinary or interprofessional collaboration; a vibrant history of ongoing mentorship with colleagues and students; meaningful work in social determinants of health and community-based approaches; and an ongoing chronicled narrative of externally funded research.
Expectations
We seek an innovative scholar who is actively engaged in research and will bring depth to teaching of courses, and service to the university, community and profession. As is expected of all senior faculty members in the School, the chair holder will be expected to seek external funding and mentor junior colleagues and students in developing and carrying out their research and scholarship activities. Classroom and or online teaching in the chair's area of expertise will also be expected. The school will provide generous resources in support of the chair holder's program of scholarly research and external funding. As a community of knowledge builders, we are looking for a productive, collegial, and creative colleague who, through their scholarship, research and teaching, will bring new perspectives to the synthesis of health practice, policy, theory and research to our school and university.
Application Process
We invite applications from well-qualified individuals who meet the scholarly and research qualifications.
Salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. New faculty are provided a generous start up package.
To apply, candidates should go to https://careers.ua.edu to complete an online application and upload the following:
• A cover letter (2-3 pages) addressing how your application meets the qualifications and expectations and what you would bring to this position;
• Statement- Teaching Philosophy and Experience;
• Statement- Research Philosophy and Trajectory;
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g. student evaluations; peer observations of teaching);
• A curriculum vitae;
• Two articles exemplifying scholarly activity; and
• Contact information for four professional references.
Timeline
Review of applications begins December 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
Inquiries
Confidential inquiries may be directed to:
Daphne Cain, Professor; Chair, Search Committee,
The University of Alabama School of Social Work,
Box 870314, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487-0314
dscain@ua.edu or 205-348-9902
Minimum Qualifications
We seek a colleague with a doctorate in social work or a related discipline who has: an exceptionally strong record of scholarship in the field of health, with a particular focus on promoting health equity and supporting vulnerable groups, ideally across the lifespan; evidence of interdisciplinary or interprofessional collaboration; a vibrant history of ongoing mentorship with colleagues and students; meaningful work in social determinants of health and community-based approaches; and an ongoing chronicled narrative of externally funded research.
Preferred Qualifications
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, candidates should go to https://careers.ua.edu to complete an online application and upload the following: • A cover letter (2-3 pages) addressing how your application meets the qualifications and expectations and what you would bring to this position; • Statement- Teaching Philosophy and Experience; • Statement- Research Philosophy and Trajectory; • Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g. student evaluations; peer observations of teaching); • A curriculum vitae; • Two articles exemplifying scholarly activity; and • Contact information for four professional references.
About the Division/College/School
The School of Social Work was established in 1965 by an act of the Alabama Legislature to address the state’s critical shortage of and pressing need for professionally trained social workers. Now, it stands as the only one of its kind in the state of Alabama, offering BSW, MSW, DSW, and Ph.D. degrees in social work. Additionally, the college is the only school outside Washington, D.C., with semester-long internship opportunities in the nation’s capital.
Since our founding, we have been proud to lead the charge in training students for tomorrow’s workforce. Our distinguished faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their research and exceptional advancements in the field of social work. During the previous year, we received 23 million dollars in external funding to support our school’s research efforts.
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
