Scholar Educator Assistant Professor in Counseling

Job Title: Scholar Educator Assistant Professor

Department: Counseling

Reports To: Provost and VP of Academic & Student Affairs 

Location: Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.

Employment Status: Full time Summary

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. PAU’s core values include social justice and cultural competency. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead.

PAU is committed to faculty success. The Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) provides resources and training in evidence-based teaching strategies for instructors at all stages of their career to advance a culture of continuous learning and growth. PAU has launched an onboarding process and two-year program for early career faculty to promote mentorship and support development. The University is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. Additionally, PAU supports faculty research through grants and other sources of funding to fulfill our vision to improve the well-being of others and contribute to just and inclusive communities.

Position Description

The PAU Department of Counseling is excited to search for a Scholar Educator Assistant Professor to support our Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling program with the expectation that the candidate will contribute to the other specializations in the department. The selected candidate will be required to demonstrate teaching and professional experiences that contribute to the specialization area, including teaching and supervision experiences in clinical practice courses (practicum and internship) and student mentoring. The selected candidate will also need to demonstrate the ability to enhance the Counselor Education Programs' mission to integrate advocacy, social justice, cultural competence, and ethical practice into the preparation of counseling professionals. This includes demonstrated engagement in professional service and leadership in counseling and community organizations.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Teaching and Advising

• Teach 36 units per year over 9.5 months. (2-3 classes per quarter)
• Advise/mentor master’s students
• Teach virtual synchronous courses and be available for in-person teaching (e.g., on- campus courses and teaching at clinical residencies weekly)

2. Service and Engagement

• Serve on department and university committees
• Participate in department and university faculty meetings.
• Serve in leadership roles regionally and nationally in recognized counseling profession associations and organizations.

3. Scholarly Engagement

• Active engagement in the field of counseling through participation in counseling professional associations and/or presenting at conferences or communities.

4. Faculty are expected to attend university events, such as convocation, commencement graduation, and other major events.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Counseling Education and Supervision preferably from a CACREP- accredited program;
• Professional identity as a counselor and a counselor educator demonstrated by affiliation with relevant professional counseling associations, including the American Counseling Association and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision;
• License or license eligible as a Mental Health Counselor or Marriage, Family, Child Counselor or related counseling discipline.;
• Potential for excellence in teaching in virtual synchronized and residential formats;
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge and skills;
• Demonstrated capacity to engage in scholarly presentations;
• Demonstrated engagement in leadership and/or service in the counseling and/or counselor education profession, such as committee members and chairs;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with students both face-to-face, and connecting online through email, video conferencing, and chat;
• Evidence of inclusive excellence, as well as training and experience with multicultural competence in counseling;
• Demonstrated commitment in facilitating conversations related to culture, power, and oppression and increasing cultural sensitivity in students.

Application Procedures:

PAU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse, equitable, and inclusive population. In your cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to be in an environment that holds equity and inclusion core to its mission and values. The expected start date for this position is September 2023. Interested candidates should submit:

• A letter of interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• One-page statement of teaching philosophy
• One-page statement of equity, diversity, and inclusion
• A list of 3-5 references with contact information
• One-page summary of teaching evaluations and TA, student, and/or peer comments/observations of teaching. Tables of teaching evaluation scores can be provided.

The position is open until filled. All applications received by Nov 30, 2022 will receive full consideration. Please direct questions to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Szu-Yu Chen (dchen@paloaltou.edu)

EEOC Policy:

The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer- related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.