Position Summary:
New Mexico Highlands University is an open admissions university with over 70% minority population (Hispanic, Native American, or African American), 40% of whom study at the master’s degree level. The University is committed to student success and improved retention and graduation rates. NMHU serves approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students at the main campus in Las Vegas, NM (one hour east of Santa Fe) and another 1,300 students at centers in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Farmington. The University student body’s catchment area includes 42 states, 25 regional Native American pueblos and tribes, and 35 foreign countries. For more information about the University, please visit the website at www.nmhu.edu.
New Mexico Highlands University Facundo Valdez School of Social Work is the oldest school of social work in New Mexico, dating back to 1974. It is also one of the oldest schools in the Southwest accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), with fully accredited BSW and MSW programs, and fully accredited MSW program concentrations in Clinical Practice, Bilingual/Bicultural Clinical Practice (with monolingual Spanish speakers), and Leadership and Administration, in addition to Online MSW and BSW Program. Each social work program is situated near one or more of the 19 Native American pueblos and the four tribes (Navajo Nation [Diné]), Jicarilla Apache, Fort Sill, and Mescalero Apache) present in New Mexico. Given the demographics of New Mexico, The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work has a primary commitment to Hispanic/Latinx and Indigenous (Native American) populations.
The School prepares students to practice social work sensitively and competently with the diverse multicultural populations of New Mexico and the Southwest in both rural and urban environments. The curriculum grounds students in social work skills, values, ethical principles, and awareness of and respect for culture, language, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, social class, and spiritual beliefs and practices. The School prepares undergraduate and graduate students for generalist and advanced clinical or macro practice through the integration of classroom knowledge and field practicum instruction.
Applications are invited for two nine-month, tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, with contracts starting August 2026. One faculty position will be based at the Albuquerque Center and the second in Las Vegas, NM (main campus). Faculty primarily assigned to the Online MSW Program may work remotely but are expected to attend periodic meetings in person.
Qualifications
The following is required for all positions:
A doctoral degree (DSW, Ph.D., Ed.D., or PsyD) in social work or a related discipline and an earned MSW or MSSW from a CSWE-accredited social work program, with a minimum of two years post-masters professional social work practice experience.
Familiarity with the generalist, person-in-environment, and diversity models of social work practice.
Experience with and interest in online learning and teaching.
Valid New Mexico social work licensure, or eligibility for social work licensure during the term of the teaching appointment, is required for those interested in teaching courses in social work practice with individuals, families, and groups.
Preferred Qualifications
Teaching experience at a post-secondary institution.
Demonstrated participation in community partnerships, professional practice experience, and/or teaching and curriculum/program development focused on Spanish-speaking, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Indigenous populations of New Mexico and the Southwest, and/or diverse and vulnerable populations, generally.
A record of accomplishment in the areas of (a) research, (b) scholarly, peer-reviewed publication, (c) community intervention, and/or (d) clinical social work practice, that demonstrate specialized knowledge of and social work practice with Hispanic/Latinx and/or Indigenous communities of New Mexico and the Southwest.
Knowledge of equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in social work education. This includes principles related to anti-racist practice and teaching, as supported by CSWE and other social justice teachings.
Preferred Skills
Effective written and oral communication with faculty, staff, students, agency administrators, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.
Skills Required
- Doctoral degree in social work or related discipline
- Earned MSW or MSSW from CSWE-accredited program
- Minimum of two years post-masters social work experience
- Familiarity with generalist and diversity models of social work
- Interest in online learning and teaching
- Valid New Mexico social work licensure or eligibility
What We Do
New Mexico Highlands University is a public comprehensive university serving local and global communities, providing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to attain an exceptional education by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and research in the liberal arts, sciences, and professions within a diverse community.
