Overview

The College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) at New Mexico State University (NMSU), a Hispanic- and minority-serving land-grant institution, seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as the next director of the School of Social Work (School). With the School being the recent recipient of a $16.5 million endowment aimed at increasing the number of social workers in the State, the next director will have a unique opportunity to grow and shape the future of social work education at NMSU for a significant impact on New Mexico’s workforce. To propel the School towards achieving its mission, the director will foster a supportive, transparent, and welcoming community for all faculty, staff, and students with a focus on impact in Las Cruces, the Borderlands region, and the State of New Mexico.

As one of the most diverse land-grant universities in the nation, NMSU is situated less than an hour from the US-Mexico border. Rooted in its dedication to mobility, justice, and transformation, the university embodies this commitment in its culturally rich geographical context. In addition to its main campus in Las Cruces, the institution includes community colleges across the state, cooperative extension offices in New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 agriculture research and science centers, and an expanding distance education program. NMSU is the institution of choice for more than 21,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries, with approximately 12,730 students enrolled at the Las Cruces campus, with New Mexico residents comprising approximately 70% of the student population. The institution’s diverse student population includes many first-generation, Pell-grant eligible, part-time, and working adult students through in-person and online programming.

The College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) was created in 2021 to enhance collaborations and improve individual, societal, and policy outcomes by addressing systemic issues of access, quality, and equity within health, education, and society, and to achieve a more community-grounded financially sustainable future. The School of Social Work is one of nine disciplines represented within HEST and is strongly committed to promoting social and economic justice and serving a culturally diverse student population to enhance the social work profession locally and more broadly. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the School of Social Work serves approximately 225 undergraduate and 166 graduate students and has 18 faculty and three dedicated staff positions. It emphasizes the principles of empowerment and cultural competence to prepare students for ethical, evidence-informed social work practice.

This is an opportune time to join as the director, as the School seeks a strategic and visionary leader to shape and rejuvenate their culture and operations for a more impactful future. Given the state’s mandate to double NMSU’s social work student enrollment by 2027, the director will recruit additional faculty and ensure the internal operations that can best support a thriving enterprise. The director will bring effective leadership skills and administrative experience to position the School as a regional and State leader in advancing social work science, education, practice, and policy. To accomplish this, the director will be expected to address the following opportunities and challenges:

  • Thoughtfully steward the School’s community for an even greater impact
  • Strengthen the School’s administrative infrastructure for improved effectiveness and growth
  • Enhance educational excellence and the student experience
  • Recruit, retain, and support a talented, diverse, and collaborative faculty and staff
  • Serve as an effective representative and advocate for the School in support of its ambitions

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and an application (CV with cover letter) can be submitted via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/new-mexico-state-university-director-social-work. Please submit all materials directly to the Isaacson, Miller website.

New Mexico State University is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities in all areas of occupation without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, mental or physical disability, serious medical condition, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, sexual identity, spousal affiliation, veteran status, or genetic information according to state and federal laws.