Social Work PhD Program - Adjunct Instructor

About Sacred Heart University

As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. 

Adjunct Instructor

School of Social Work PhD Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Sacred Heart University

Start Date: Fall 2026

The School of Social Work in the College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University invites applications for an Adjunct Instructor, beginning Fall 2026, with opportunity to be online or on-ground.

About the School of Social Work

Our mission is to prepare social workers—through instruction in integrated social work theory, research, methods, and practice—to identify, dismantle, and resist all forms of social inequality and oppression, particularly racism. The School offers a BSW, MSW (on-ground and online), and PhD in Social Work, all guided by a deep commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive approaches to education, research, and practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a learning environment welcoming to all learners.
• Provide instruction in the PhD program

• Mentor PhD students and coordinate the advancement to candidacy through the dissertation process.
• Support and collaborate with fellow faculty.
• Attend and participate in PhD student summer residency.
• Maintain an active research agenda aligned with the School’s mission.

Qualifications

• MSW from a CSWE-accredited program and a PhD in social work, social welfare, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of two years post-MSW social work practice experience.
• Minimum of five years post PhD.
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist, anti-oppressive pedagogy, research, and practice.
• Evidence of teaching excellence, especially in quantitative research methods, statistical analysis, and mixed methods.
• Familiarity with doctoral education and GADE standards.
• A strong commitment to collaboration.

Application Instructions

Applications should include:

1. Letter of interest (including a statement of research agenda)
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Statement of teaching philosophy
4. List of three professional references (letters will be required from final candidates)
5. One peer-reviewed publication (as a sample of scholarship)
6. Graduate transcripts (copies acceptable at this stage)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please direct any questions to Maura Rhodes, Associate Dean and Assistant Clinical Professor at rhodesm@sacredheart.edu.