The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) is a vibrant community of scholars and teachers committed to having a diverse faculty and student body. The school's curriculum, research, and community partnerships emphasize social and economic justice, along with an understanding of and respect for social, political, and cultural diversity both nationally and internationally. GSSW provides an intellectual, collegial, and supportive environment that fosters interdisciplinary and international educational opportunities, and GSSW engages in collaborative projects locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. GSSW and the University of Denver are committed to enhancing the diversity of faculty and staff.

Equity Labs

Equity Labs is one of five institutes and centers that enhance the mission of GSSW by serving the public good. Equity Labs traditionally offers diversity, equity, and inclusion programming that catalyzes meaningful workplace change through training and application. That goal has been accomplished by supporting organizations - and teams and individuals within them - to make their workplaces equitable for all employees and stakeholders. Methods of engagement include immersive workshop activities and expertly facilitated conversations to shift participants' perspectives in addition to pre-work and follow-up engagement with additional opportunities to practice, reflect, and deepen learning over time.

Due to increased need and the demand for expertise focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a social justice core, Equity Labs will be expanding their impact by supporting and conducting research, engaging in policy analyses and program evaluation, providing technical assistance, and disseminating data and evidence-based knowledge. Equity Labs will also be developing and sustaining partnerships with entities that can support and facilitate extending their reach while simultaneously creating and sustaining meaningful and impactful outcomes.

Position Summary

The Associate or Full Professor and Executive Director (ED) of Equity Labs is a tenure-track faculty line with an additional faculty administrative position. The faculty line is a nine-month 100% tenure-track faculty position with the first three years serving in the faculty administrative role of Executive Director for Equity Labs (EQL). The administrative role includes a $15,000 annual salary stipend and 2 course releases to allow for 50% dedication to the EQL role throughout the year, including during the su If renewal of the administrative role does not occur after the initial term, the faculty role will be maintained at the 9-month base salary with no additional stipend, course releases, or responsibilities related to the Executive Director role, with full time dedication to a standard faculty course load and responsibilities.

As ED the primary role is to be a visibly engaged and connected leader who brings experience, purpose, and intention to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice to the work proffered by Equity Labs. The ED reports to the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) Dean and is responsible for the overall leadership, programming, and financial well-being of the Center. The ED is responsible for identifying opportunities for Equity Labs including potential partnerships, research opportunities, gaps in knowledge and practice that can and should be addressed by Equity Labs, and sustaining relationships. The ED coordinates among new and existing clients, program staff, and facilitators to identify diversity, equity, and inclusion needs and develop impactful solutions.

The ED has expertise in and/or knowledge about how to drive change related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that centers social justice and racial equity. The ED is the primary steward of all Equity Labs enterprises and works with diverse teams of stakeholders to identify and utilize new ave ues to develop offerings that meet external audience needs and ensures financial stability for Equity Labs. Responsible for the financial oversight and management of Equity Labs, the Executive Director also works closely with the Dean, GSSW Executive Director of Development, the GSSW Director of Budget and Operations, and an advisory council to meet fundraising and operational goals and targets.

This executive leadership role includes personnel management with the Executive Director overseeing the student interns, doctoral and post-doctoral students, support staff, and all additional staff including those focused on research, evaluation, curriculum, operations, etc. Additionally, the Executive Director collaborates with the GSSW Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Dean to identify and select an advisory council.

Equity Labs is an entity of GSSW; thus, the ED must respect and value inclusive excellence in the broadest sense as well as GSSW's commitment to being anti-racist as a school, a discipline, and a profession as it strives to create an ever more inclusive and anti-racist culture. An intersectional approach to the work of Equity Labs is expected. The ED must be culturally aware and responsive, emotionally intelligent, results-oriented, able to motivate and lead in accomplishing objectives, and skillful in helping diverse groups reach a working consensus. The individual should demonstrate from previous experience the expertise and ability to lead effective inclusive excellence initiatives. This role also requires a strong aptitude for business development (i.e., working to identify and secure contracts with organizations or groups; seeking and spearheading the submission of federal and foundation research proposals; seeking, creating and sustaining partnerships with appropriate p artners, etc.).

Essential Functions

Tenured Associate or Full Professor