Chair of the School of Social Work

Chair of the School of Social Work at the University of St. Thomas  

The University of St. Thomas, Minnesota’s largest private university, seeks an inclusive, dynamic, and visionary leader for its renowned School of Social Work. Grounded in social justice and inspired by Catholic social thought, our mission is to educate and engage students to learn, grow, and develop their professional skills as they prepare for social work practice in support of health, well-being, and the common good.  

As part of the Morrison Family College of Health (MFCOH), the School of Social Work collaborates with the School of Nursing, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, and the Department of Health and Exercise Science to prepare highly skilled and caring professionals who are culturally responsive, practice with ingenuity, and proactively advance health equity and social justice. 

Reporting to the Vice President and Founding Dean, the Chair of the School of Social Work will provide mission-driven and values-based direction to distinguish the School of Social Work among a wide field of related programs while also providing leadership to further build the interprofessional collaboration between the schools and departments of the MFCOH. The role serves on the leadership team of the Morrison Family College of Health and is a critical leader in helping to set the strategic direction of the college. 

Position Summary  

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for the Chair of the School of Social Work, a 9-month faculty appointment with administrative compensation which goes 12-months.  This position will begin in the summer of 2026. Candidates will build on the strengths of the School of Social Work and chart a path forward. The Chair will support the success of all social work students, faculty, and staff through their leadership and guidance. They will have a track record of excellence in teaching and scholarship, success in operations and talent management, and experience in managing many stakeholders to provide clear communication and execute high-profile initiatives.  

The Chair of the School of Social Work will play an integral role in establishing the vision, strategic priorities, program direction, and administration with the 2030 Strategic Plan. A mission-driven and values-based leader, the Chair will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and key stakeholders to develop and execute the core and strategic priorities of the School of Social Work in alignment with the strategic plan of the MFCOH and the University. 

The University of St. Thomas 

The University of St. Thomas is a vibrant, mission-driven, urban university. The main campus is located in a historic St. Paul neighborhood with easy access to downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. In addition to being Minnesota’s largest private university, we are one of the largest Catholic colleges or universities in the nation, with more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students at our  eight schools and colleges. Learn more about life as a faculty member at St. Thomas.   

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity, and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission. 

Key Responsibilities 

Teaching and Scholarship 

• Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses within the School (reduced teaching load). 

• Maintains active professional engagement or scholarly research agenda in their area of expertise.  

Vision and Strategic Planning 

• Leads the development and implementation of a strategic vision for the School of Social Work, collaborating with faculty and staff to ensure it reflects the School’s mission  

• Positions the School of Social Work at the forefront of the field, evaluating trends and applying knowledge to cooperatively revise programs  

• Guides the academic and curricular development of the SSW to ensure it remains current, impactful, responsive, and aligns with community needs 

• Anticipates and responds to the needs of the students, faculty, and staff of the School of Social Work 

• Leads the overall direction of the School of Social Work, setting management structures to ensure goals are met 

• Promotes the vision, values, and guiding principles of the Morrison Family College of Health 

• Serves in a leadership capacity with assigned projects and committees to integrate college- and university-level strategic plans into the School of Social Work 

Day-to-Day Operations 

• Provides oversight, planning, forecasting, and implementation of the School of Social Work budget 

• Assures that social work policies, operating frameworks, curriculum, and practices align with university and college-level decisions and those of external regulatory entities 

• Responsible for the review of contracts, agreements, and learning affiliations 

• Sets goals, processes, and work controls to ensure efficient and effective funding of the School of Social Work 

• Responsible for academic infrastructure and shared governance activities to ensure optimal functioning and ethical generation and use of resources in support of the University’s mission 

Supervision of Faculty and Staff 

• Actively recognizes employee behaviors that exemplify innovation, collaboration, and equity 

• Consistently ensures an inclusive and welcoming culture for faculty, staff, and students 

• Supervises and supports key academic and administrative staff within the School of Social Work 

• Participates in tenure and promotion activities consistent with the University policies and handbook 

• Oversees the recruitment, hiring, and evaluation of adjunct faculty and consultants, in concert with the Program Directors 

• Reviews faculty performance and evaluates requests from faculty (e.g., new hires, leaves, sabbaticals, professional development) when making recommendations to the Dean and Provost 

• Actively fosters professional growth and learning opportunities for faculty and staff, while cultivating a positive and supportive work environment 

Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Management 

• Serves as a thought leader about social work and is the primary spokesperson for the School of Social Work at St. Thomas. 

• Serves on the Morrison Family College of Health Leadership Team, and key standing committees. 

• Communicates openly and transparently with both internal and external stakeholders. 

• Cultivates and stewards new and existing partnerships between the School of Social Work and external entities. 

• Initiates, writes, and reviews materials, reports, and communications 

• Actively engages in advocacy for the School of Social Work, including initiating and supporting stakeholder financial support initiatives 

Minimum Qualifications 

• A PhD or DSW in social work, or a terminal degree in a closely related field 
• MSW degree from a CSWE accredited institution 
• Licensed in the State of Minnesota (or license-eligible and gaining such licensure within a year of residency) 
• Record of teaching and scholarly achievements, supporting appointment at the rank of Associate Professor with possibility for expedited tenure review upon hiring 
• Minimum of five years of administrative or management experience in an academic institution of a comparable profile 
• Understanding of CSWE accreditation standards and process, including curriculum alignment and compliance 
• Demonstrated experience with student recruitment and retention 
• Ability to guide academic and curricular development responsive to community needs and professional trends 
• Experience with shared governance to support the institutional mission 
• Experience with budget oversight and planning 
• Strong communication skills  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Rank of Full Professor or qualifications to support promotion to full professor 
• Record of external funding, including successful grant writing and administration 
• Track record of serving on college or university leadership teams 
• Experience leading through change in higher education  

The annual salary range for this position is $83,000 - $122,000 with a 9-month contract, depending on determined rank. Additional administrative compensation for the Chair role is between $6200-$18,000 and depends on the scope of responsibility throughout a 12-month period. One term as Chair of SSW is 4 years, with this appointment renewable upon mutual agreement with formal consultation from the faculty.  

The University of St. Thomas has provided a salary range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information. 

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online at www.stthomas.edu/jobs. The application process is in two steps: first, creating an online profile and second, completing four application forms. 

When first creating your oline profile, please upload the following:

• letter of application (cover letter) 

• curriculum vitae 

• written statement discussing their philosophy of leadership, vision for the School of Social Work, and commitment to the mission of the Morrison Family College of Health and the University 

• list of 3 references (no references will be contacted without first getting the permission of the candidate) 

Established in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is located in the major metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and is Minnesota’s largest private university. Its 10,000 students pursue degrees in a wide range of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs.

Official job posting is available at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/.