University of Denver

About the University of Denver

Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is an independent, R1 doctoral-granting university with robust undergraduate and graduate education. DU has become increasingly known, nationally and internationally, for its creative, 21st-century approaches to problem-based scholarship, as well as its holistic, student-centered approach to learning and its dedication to the public good through local, national, and international partnerships. The University plays an integral role in the cultural, social, economic, and educational vibrancy of the fast-growing city and region it calls home. Of note for this position, Colorado leads the country in the “psychedelic renaissance” among scientific researchers, clients, and the general population. In 2023, Colorado’s Proposition 122 decriminalized the growing and sharing of five psychedelics for personal use: psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline and cleared a pathway for the use of psychedelics in facilities licensed by the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies that are expected to open in 2024.

DU has a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The DEI Action Plan serves as a guide to DU’s abiding commitment to truly embodying a forward-looking institution and community where all can belong, contribute, and thrive and includes three senior administrators in the chancellor’s cabinet who have direct accountability for DEI work. The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a pilot University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email inclusion@du.edu and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.

About the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

At the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP), our goal is to transform the way we think about and approach mental health and wellness. We do so through groundbreaking academic programs and experiential training that aims to ensure we can better meet the needs of the communities we serve. We are dedicated to developing exceptional practitioners and scholars by offering a well-rounded approach to education. Every single one of our programs blends valuable academic offerings, intensive field-based training, cutting-edge applied research, and constructive community engagement. Our academic programs are rooted in our history of service and have developed over time to meet the growing needs of society. For more information, please visit http://psychology.du.edu.

GSPP was created in 1976 to house one of the first Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs in the country, under the Vail (practitioner-scholar) training model. GSPP currently also offers four specialized master’s programs: Forensic Psychology, International Disaster Psychology: Trauma and Global Mental Health, Sport and Performance Psychology, and Sport Coaching, as well as online certificates and continuing education. GSPP also has a partially affiliated, APA-accredited internship consortium and several in-house and satellite psychology training clinics that serve Denver and the surrounding communities. As a professional school, GSPP promotes and utilizes high-level pedagogy that integrates applied practice, theory, research, and scholarship.

GSPP seeks to train students to provide culturally competent services to clients and the community. Although more progress is needed, GSPP endeavors to create an accessible, affirming, and safe climate by actively engaging in the process of systemic transformation and accountability.

About the MAFP Program

The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology (MAFP) Program was founded in 1999 to incorporate master’s level clinical training with coursework and practicum experiences at the intersection of psychology and law. The program ties the application of psychological theory, knowledge, skills and competencies to the civil and criminal legal systems. It is designed to train mental health professionals to work effectively in a variety of roles across systems and settings, and with members of diverse, often minoritized and under-resourced, communities.

The MAFP Program academic year runs from September to June and consists of three quarters. MAFP students typically take 5-6 courses per quarter under a “lockstep” model in which cohort members take required courses together, in sequence. Students are generally in class 2 days per week and participate in field placement (practicum) on other days. MAFP classes are generally held between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday through Thursday, although specific schedules vary by quarter and are subject to change. MAFP courses range from 1 to 5 quarter credits; most required courses are 2-3 quarter credits. Cohort sizes are generally 30-35 students.

About Denver FIRST

The University of Denver’s Forensic Institute for Research, Service, and Training (Denver FIRST) serves as a regional hub for expertise in forensic mental health. Operated within GSPP and integrated with the MAFP program, Denver FIRST fosters community and university partnerships through a host of research, service, and training opportunities. We foster community and university partnerships through a host of research, service, and training opportunities. Current projects and partnerships include work with adults and juveniles involved with the criminal justice system. Areas of particular expertise include forensic mental health evaluations, outpatient competency restoration, immigration/asylum issues, and forensic neuropsychology. Our policy and advocacy work focuses on improving forensic mental health systems, ensuring standards for professionals and evaluations, and advocating for legislative reform for marginalized persons. Our accomplished faculty members hold a wide range of forensic psychology expertise. By engaging in research, clinical services and training, we aim to improve forensic mental health practices locally and globally.

About the GSPP COST Program

In 2019, GSPP was awarded a three-year Graduate Psychology Education grant from HRSA to support doctoral student training in Opioid Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder treatment; this grant was renewed for 2022-2025. Known as the Colorado OUD/SUD Training Program or COST Program, this project combines the unique expertise of faculty and students in the GSPP along with internal and external community partners to deliver substance abuse services to underserved populations in Denver and rural Colorado.

Position Summary

We seek a colleague who is passionate about preparing students in a clinically-focused, master’s-level training program to become ethical, competent, and culturally informed practitioners, scholars, leaders, and advocates in the forensic psychology field. A successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of equity-focused research, teaching, and service, with the knowledge and experience to teach courses on substance treatment across GSPP programs. A solid understanding of statistical and research methods, community engaged scholarship, the U.S. criminal and civil systems, and legal, ethical, and professional standards of practice is expected. Competency in assessment, prevention, intervention, and consultation is also preferred. This is a full-time, benefited position.

The appointment will commence on September 1, 2024.

This tenure-track position will be filled at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level and will be appointed at the rank appropriate for the candidates documented experience and excellence in the field:

• Assistant Professors will be candidates in the first two to seven years of experience post-doctorate with strong, documented potential for excellence in teaching and research. Appointments at this rank will have a maximum of six years of service prior to consideration for promotion and tenure, and a mid-tenure review will occur half-way through the appointment time at the assistant rank.
• Associate Professors will be candidates who are mid-career teacher/scholars with a strong, documented record of excellence in research, teaching, and service.
• Professors will be candidates at the top of the profession as teacher/scholars with an extensive, strong, documented excellence in research and teaching. Often candidates will have received awards for their research and teaching and have evidence of functioning as a mentor to other faculty.

If the chosen candidate is deemed to have background and experience commensurate with the rank of Associate or Professor, consideration for credit of years of experience toward tenure or, in exceptional situations, tenure may be completed at the time of hire if the candidate meets GSPP and DU criteria.

Essential Functions

The University, through its faculty, engages in a variety of professional functions, such as teaching, scholarly research and/or creative activity, shared governance, and professional/public service. The relative priority of these functions carried out by colleges, schools, divisions, departments, centers, and individual faculty members should and does vary.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience and versatility in inclusive pedagogy. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion through their teaching, service, student mentorship, and community-engaged research. Duties in these areas include, but are not limited to:

• Teaching, as a tenure-line faculty member, 6 courses at the graduate level (because DU operates on the quarter system, this equates to an average of 2 courses in a single quarter, or the equivalent of 4 three-credit hour courses over an academic year in a traditional semester system);
• Mentoring GSPP PsyD students enrolled in the Colorado OUD/SUD Training (COST) Program;
• Advising, supervising, and mentoring students in the MAFP Program;
• Performing meaningful institutional service and participating in governance at the program, college, and university level, as well as professional service to local, national, and/or international communities. Service includes participating in the “life cycle” of the academic unit, including assisting with the admissions process, orientation, and competency exams for the MAFP Program, as well as weekly meetings, periodic retreats, and any required trainings;
• Engaging in and sustaining a research agenda in applied and community-based research, including seeking external funding;
• Contributing to a model workplace to promote mutual respect;
• Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice across various aspects of the position; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the capacity for outstanding teaching at the graduate level.
• Initiative and ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, collegial environment.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with diverse communities or evidence of a commitment to incorporate inclusive teaching methods and/or pedagogies to effectively engage broadly diverse student populations.
• Relevant knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence, social justice, equity, and access in education.
• Ability and willingness to incorporate relevant, timely, and inclusive course material.
• Ability to effectively receive and incorporate feedback.
• Ability to meet changing course and program needs (e.g., modality changes in course delivery; varying licensure and credentialing requirements across jurisdictions and time; evolving legal statuses of substance categories).
• We seek candidates with PsyD or PhD degrees (or their equivalent), relevant professional experience and licensure, and a commitment to outstanding, inclusive, and culturally-informed classroom teaching.

Required Qualifications

• An earned doctorate in clinical or forensic psychology or a closely related field
• Licensed or license eligible as a psychologist in Colorado
• Licensed or license eligible as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in Colorado (https://dpo.colorado.gov/AddictionCounselor)
• Experience with teaching, supervision, research and scholarship, service, and/or relevant professional experience, commensurate with rank, particularly in the area of substance treatment
• A demonstrated commitment to teaching, clinical service, research, and/or training appropriate to the missions of the MAFP program and Denver FIRST
• Knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to effectively engage with diverse individuals and communities, including those with substance use disorders

Preferred Qualifications

• Five to ten years post-doctoral experience in the field of forensic psychology
• Experience conducting forensic mental health evaluations
• Practical knowledge about competency restoration, traumatic brain injury, justice-involved youth
• Accomplished graduate level teaching and mentorship that reflects a variety of instructional approaches and/or curricular perspectives to engage diverse populations and learning styles
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and social justice advocacy in education
• A demonstrated record of institutional and professional leadership
• A demonstrated record of successful grant acquisition and external funding
• Strong network in substance abuse treatment field or clinical community
• Strong record of publication and presentation in substance abuse psychology

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.

2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.

3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.

2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule

While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 1, 2023.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $78,000 - $135,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Cover Letter

3. A brief statement (1-2 pages) describing your perspective on integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice into your professional work, particularly as it relates to culturally-informed substance treatment.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

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