DESCRIPTION

The School of Social Work (SSW) in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University invites applications for three full-time, benefits-eligible, tenure-track Assistant Professor positions, with appointments beginning August 16, 2026.

We are seeking three exceptional early career scholars, each with expertise in one of the following areas:

• Social policy research and analysis, with an emphasis on advancing knowledge of policies that impact economic and social well-being. Areas of focus may include poverty and economic security, housing and homelessness, environmental policy, family and child policy, health services utilization, or immigration policy
• Social work practice research, focused on examining current practices and developing, testing, or evaluating interventions across varied settings and populations.
• Health and/or behavioral health, with an emphasis on research addressing mental health, physical health, substance use or integrated health systems.

Across all three positions, we seek candidates with clearly defined research agendas and demonstrated potential for producing high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship. We value varied methodological approaches and are especially interested in scholars with advanced research skills whose work is community-engaged, applied, and meaningful to the populations and communities we serve.
The School of Social Work and the Watts College are deeply committed to addressing the needs and strengths of communities across Arizona and the Southwest, including Hispanic, Indigenous, borderland, and other historically marginalized populations. Faculty in the School frequently engage in interdisciplinary and community partnerships with public agencies, health systems, and nonprofit organizations to inform policy, advance social justice, and improve service delivery.
ASU’s School of Social Work is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the country, serving more than 2,500 students across our campuses in downtown Phoenix, West Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma, as well as through synchronous and asynchronous online programs. The School is ranked #20 among MSW programs (U.S. News & World Report) and #11 in research productivity (National Science Foundation).
Our more than 70 tenure and career-track members are deeply engaged in innovative, interdisciplinary research and scholarship advancing social and economic justice in collaboration with communities locally, nationally, and globally. Many of our faculty are recognized leaders in the field, with distinctions such as induction as fellows in both the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and the Society for Social Work and Research, as well as selection as Fulbright Scholars. ASU’s location in the Southwest, combined with its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), provides a distinctive context for scholarship focused on varied populations and pressing regional and global issues.

The SSW is home to 11 research centers and offices that engage deeply with communities, including:

• The Southwestern Interdisciplinary Research Center
• The Global Center for Applied Health Research
• The Center for Child Well-Being
• The Office of Gender-Based Violence
• The Family Violence Center
• The Office of American Indian Projects
• The Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research

Faculty regularly collaborate with colleagues across ASU, including the College of Health Solutions, the College of Global Futures, the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, the Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation, and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. ASU’s forthcoming School of Medicine will further expand opportunities for social work researchers to engage in interdisciplinary, health-related collaborations.
Recognized as the most innovative university in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report), ASU also ranks #1 in global impact (Times Higher Education), and #1 in sustainability (STARS tracking system). As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the country, ASU— and the School of Social Work— offer exceptional opportunities for research and scholarship that drive meaningful change locally, nationally, and globally.

For more information about the School of Social Work, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and Arizona State University, please visit:

• https://socialwork.asu.edu/
• https://publicservice.asu.edu/
• https://www.asu.edu/

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned PhD or equivalent research doctorate in Social Work or a related field (e.g., Public Affairs, Public Health, Political Science, Sociology) by time of appointment
• Demonstrated record of rigorous, independent research
• Record of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications
• Strong potential for securing external funding
• Potential for excellence in teaching within the BSW, MSW, and/or PhD programs
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence, consistent with ASU’s Charter
• Potential for meaningful professional and community engagement

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A well-defined and promising research agenda aligned with one or more areas outlined in job description
• MSW from a CSWE-accredited program or equivalent, as defined by CSWE, related to teaching practice classes
• Two or more years of post-MSW practice in area of expertise
• Robust record of publishing in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals
• Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level
• Commitment to community-embedded research with real-world impact
• Commitment to scholarship applicable to the populations of the Southwest

• Teach undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses in person, online synchronous and online asynchronous formats
• Mentor graduate students
• Conduct and publish research in peer-reviewed outlets
• Pursue external funding to support scholarship
• Engage in service activities to support the school, college, university, profession, and community