Career Track or Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Public Health Psychology, Vancouver Campus

Career Track or Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Public Health Psychology, Vancouver Campus 

Collaborate on a new Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program at WSU! WSU Vancouver has two positions in the behavioral health track, a Career Track Assistant Professor and a Tenure Track Assistant Professor.

Summary of Duties

This is a full-time (9 month) permanent Tenure-track or continuous Career Track Assistant Professor of Psychology position in the College of Arts and Sciences. This role is a unique opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team across Washington State University in the establishment and ongoing implementation of a new Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree program at WSU. Specifically, these faculty will be responsible for delivery and oversight of a Behavioral Health degree track in collaboration with faculty on the WSU Spokane Campus.

The Department of Psychology at Washington State University (WSU) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in Vancouver, WA seeks to fill two full-time (9 month) faculty positions to help build a newly state-funded undergraduate program in public health. This new degree is an interdisciplinary degree program with multiple threads, including a behavioral health track with an emphasis on addiction. WSU-wide, this program will include current faculty as well as new tenure-track (research) and career-track (clinical and teaching) faculty focused on educating a public health workforce serving the needs of rural, remote and underserved communities.

In collaboration with partners in the State of Washington department of public health and other industry stakeholders, this program is designed to develop creative academic solutions to workforce needs with a specific interest in underrepresented and/or marginalized communities. Long term, WSU will be developing a Masters in Public Health program. Areas of expertise include infectious disease, behavioral health, global health, one health and epidemiology. Departmental home will be based in CAS Psychology. 

RESPONSIBILITES:

Tenure Track

As part of the larger public health program, this position will be focused on addressing needs related to research and teaching for the behavioral health track, with an emphasis on substance use and addiction. This position will have a shared emphasis on undergraduate teaching and scholarly research activity. Candidates will be expected to maintain a productive research program and have opportunities to incorporate graduate and undergraduate students into their scholarly activities. Additionally, candidates will be expected to teach advanced undergraduate courses on public health methods and psychology-related addictive behavior topics. Opportunity to design and teach new classes as determined by programmatic needs may be available. Departmental camaraderie and collegiality through participation in academic service is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required:

1. Advanced degree (PhD or DrPH) in the field of psychology, public health, behavioral health, addictive behavior, epidemiology or a related discipline by the time of hire.
2. Evidence of ability to develop/maintain a rigorous and productive program of research.
3. A successful record or demonstrated potential of teaching at the undergraduate level and a commitment to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.
4. Demonstrated commitment to campus diversity efforts, social justice, and inclusion (https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/strategic-plan).
5. This position does not provide U.S. work visa sponsorship.

Preferred:

1. Research interests addressing inequities in public health in underserved populations, including the homeless, those with mental health challenges, those with persistent pain, those with chronic and/or communicable health conditions, and those with substance use disorders ranging from those who are actively using to those in recovery.
2. Evidence or potential for securing external funding.
3. Demonstrated ability to work with interprofessional, collaborative teams.

Career Track

As part of the larger public health program, this position will be focused on addressing needs related to teaching for the behavioral health track of the public health program. This position will have a heavy emphasis on undergraduate teaching, with a reduced emphasis on scholarly activity. Duties include: 60% instruction, teaching three courses/semester; 20% departmental, university, and professional service; and 20% scholarly activity (e.g., research/scholarship, educational leadership, outreach, practice). The successful applicant will be a scholar in public health/psychology who is strongly committed to developing quality educational experiences while also being deeply interested in mentoring and outreach practices and contributing to campus diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Opportunity to design and teach new classes as determined by programmatic needs may be available. Departmental camaraderie and collegiality through participation in academic service is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required:

1. Advanced degree (PhD or DrPH) in the field of psychology, public health, behavioral health, addictive behavior, epidemiology or a related discipline by the time of hire.
2. A successful record or demonstrated potential of teaching at the undergraduate level and a commitment to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.
3. Demonstrated commitment to campus diversity efforts, social justice, and inclusion (https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/strategic-plan).
4. This position does not provide U.S. work visa sponsorship. 

Preferred:

1. Experience successfully teaching public health courses, including advanced undergraduate methods courses, and/or topics related to behavioral health/addiction.
2. Experience in the broad discipline of public health, including academia, industry or government experience.
3. Demonstrated ability to work with interprofessional, collaborative team.

Area/College:

Washington State University Vancouver

Department Name:

College of Arts and Sciences Psychology

City, State, Zip:

Vancouver, WA 98686

Department Link:

https://news.wsu.edu/news/2024/08/07/wsu-announces-new-public-health-degree/

https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/psychology

Work Location and Schedule: 

This position is not eligible for remote/hybrid work assignments.

9 Monthly Annual Salary:

Career Track $67,000 to $70,000

Tenure Track $77,000 to $80,000

Benefits: 

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. Locally, we have an on-site daycare option.

For a summary of benefits offered by WSU for faculty visit: https://hrs.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023-Benefit-Overview-for-Faculty-and-AP.pdf

Find total compensation information here: https://hrs.wsu.edu/managers/recruitment-toolkit/total-compensation/.

FTE:

9-month position, 100%

Application deadline and screening date:

For full consideration, applications must be received by November 25, 2024, however the position will be open until filled. 

Background Check

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need.  A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Application Instructions

Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements. Applicants are required to include contact information for professional references within the application.   

For full consideration applicants must attach the following documents to their online application in the “Resume & Cover Letter” section of your application.

1. A letter of application stating the desired faculty rank, short- and long-term goals, and qualifications for the position, including research, teaching, and program building interests.
2. A statement of relevant experiences and commitment to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
3. A statement of teaching interests and experience.
4. A curriculum vitae.
5. Names and contact information of three (3) professional references able to provide a letter addressing qualification relative to this position. References will not be contacted without first informing the candidate.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Benjamin Ladd, Chair of the Search Committee, by email at benjamin.ladd@wsu.edu.  

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY VANCOUVER: 

Washington State University is a multi-campus Tier 1 research university with faculty in the Department of Psychology on three campuses (WSU Vancouver, WSU Pullman and WSU Tri-Cities). WSU Vancouver is an inclusive and non-residential research university dedicated to offering premier undergraduate educational and research experiences. Situated on 351 scenic acres, WSU Vancouver is in the homeland of the Chinookan and Taidnapam peoples and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

The campus provides its approximately 3,000 students a personal atmosphere and interaction with world-class faculty. WSU Vancouver offers many opportunities for community engagement, close student-faculty collaboration, and an excellent quality of life. The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate majors in Psychology as well as a unique minor certification in Addiction Studies. Tenure-track faculty also have the opportunity to work with and serve on committees for graduate students in the Ph.D. program in Experimental Psychology. The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate majors in Psychology as well as a unique minor certification in Addiction Studies. Opportunities for graduate teaching and mentoring also exist. The Department of Psychology is committed to promoting social equity and social justice within the department and academia as a whole. We strive to build an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming community in which all faculty, staff, and students are inspired to achieve their highest potential. Our department is dedicated to empowering its students, staff, and faculty from all backgrounds, including those from minoritized groups, in their pursuit of knowledge and their service to their academic, regional, and national communities.