Open Rank in Occupational Therapy

About The University of Texas at El Paso:

THE DEPARTMENT: Founded originally as the UTEP Occupational Therapy Program in 1993, the UTEP Department of Occupational Therapy (https://www.utep.edu/chs/ot/ ) received final THECB approval for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree and admitted the first cohort in fall 2022. The Department of OT's mission is to educate future professionals to become occupation-centered, evidence-based practitioners that are culturally and contextually responsive.  The Department currently admits approximately 27 students per year. Each cohort attends classes and clinical rotations for 9 consecutive semesters, graduating 36 months after entering the program. The current full-time and adjunct faculty have expertise in general medical, pediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health. Occupational Therapy faculty members hold a primary appointment in the Department of Occupational Therapy and have the opportunity to participate in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program. Faculty members are also encouraged to collaborate in teaching and research with other programs across the University as well as with clinical partners and other universities regionally, nationally, and internationally. The department thrives in newly renovated facilities with easy access to Fort Bliss, public transportation, major medical centers, and downtown El Paso.

THE COLLEGE: The College of Health Sciences prepares the next generation of health and human service professionals to improve quality of life and address health disparities in their communities. The College offers five undergraduate degrees in Clinical Lab Science, Health Promotion, Rehabilitation Sciences, Social Work and Kinesiology.  There are four master's degrees in the college: Speech-Language Pathology, Public Health, Social Work, and Kinesiology.  There are currently three doctoral programs in CHS: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy Doctorate, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. College faculty members actively participate in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program. High impact educational experiences enable students to develop leadership, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, as well as a strong sense of social responsibility through community and global engagement opportunities.

Faculty and students engage in teaching, research, and service incorporating Boyer's Model of the scholarship of discovery, integration, application/engagement, and teaching and learning, all related to the applied health sciences (https://www.utep.edu/chs/ ). The College's facilities and programs are designed to promote interprofessional teaching, learning, research, and community & global engagement initiatives.  The College of Health Sciences enjoys a strong and collaborative relationship with a range of local, national and global community partners.  Graduate and undergraduate students participate actively with faculty clinical and research mentors in conducting a variety of projects relevant to addressing health inequities and improving quality of life in the Paso del Norte region and beyond.

THE UNIVERSITY: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, opportunity, and community engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 25,000 students - 85% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America. 

The city's location on the Rio Grande in the Southwest where two countries and three states meet makes it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest, including bilingual education/language acquisition, health and health disparities, international relations, international trade, migration, and environmental sustainability and infrastructure. The University enjoys strategic partnerships with two DOE national laboratories in the region and sits on the edge of White Sands Missile Range, making engineering and scientific research both a priority and an opportunity.  

EL PASO: UTEP's award-winning, sustainably designed campus landscape and unique Bhutanese architecture create an energizing and tranquil oasis in the bustling El Paso-Juárez metroplex of more than 2 million residents. El Paso is a highly livable, bicultural community of more than 800,000 people that offers affordable homes and attractive neighborhoods. It has been repeatedly named among the safest large U.S. cities and is one of the largest bilingual communities in the Western Hemisphere.

El Paso experiences almost 300 days of sunshine annually, and residents enjoy outdoor activities year-round. The City of El Paso is adjacent to the state of New Mexico and the country of Mexico, making it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest, such as bilingual education/language acquisition, border environment and immigration, environmental sustainability and infrastructure, health disparities, and international trade and commerce.

El Paso's active arts and culture community features the state's longest-running symphony orchestra, a nationally recognized chamber music festival, art galleries, museums, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with award-winning theater, music and dance productions, contemporary and student art galleries, and a natural history museum.

For sports fans, the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues including Sun Bowl Stadium, the Don Haskins Center, Kidd Field, University Field and the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. Southwest University Park, located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso, is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the El Paso Locomotive, a professional soccer team founded in 2019.

Job Description:

This position represents an excellent opportunity for an outstanding individual to build on an established program with a new Occupational Therapy Doctoral program and to shape the direction of new initiatives. Multiple scholarly/research opportunities are available in community and clinical settings on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Teaching excellence and current scholarship/research will determine appointment at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level.

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates are required to have: (1) an entry-level degree in occupational therapy;  (2) an academic doctorate (preferably PhD) in occupational therapy or a related field (ABD will be considered if graduation is anticipated by August 2026); (3) a demonstrated record of scholarly/research activity and potential for securing external funding; (4) demonstrated experience with or potential for graduate teaching excellence; (5) at least 2 years of experience as an occupational therapist; (6) demonstrated skills or potential to develop proficiency in instructional technology; (7) eligibility for occupational therapist licensure in Texas; (8) experience in or potential for service to the program, college, university, community, and profession; and (9) ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preferred candidates demonstrate (1) a record of securing external funding; (2) post-doctoral research training; (3) a record of substantively involving undergraduate and/or graduate students in scholarship/research; (4) experience in areas aligned with departmental needs, including but not limited to assistive technology, mental and behavioral health, adult populations, community-based practice, underserved communities, and/or emerging areas of practice; (5) a record of activities aligned with the mission of UTEP, the College of Health Sciences, and the Department of Occupational Therapy; (6) current membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association; and/or (7) a record of leadership roles in occupational therapy.

QUALIFICATIONS WITHIN EACH RANK: In addition to the required qualifications delineated above, minimum qualifications for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor include excellence in teaching, a history of grant funding and quality publications in refereed academic journals, and a clear contribution to the discipline. Additional minimal qualifications for appointment at the rank of Professor include demonstrating that the applicant is a mature scholar in their discipline, evidenced by grant funding and publication of significant scholarly works at the same frequency as those holding the professorial rank at similar academic institutions.

Additional Information:

SALARY/BENEFITS: The initial salary is negotiable and based on qualifications and experience. The position comes with a research start-up package and excellent fringe benefits. 

Hiring decisions are based upon budget approval.

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu , or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu .

To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Application Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Candidates must submit the following 1) letter of interest addressing how candidate meets each required qualification, and any applicable preferred qualifications; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) abbreviated research plan (2 pages or less); 4) brief teaching philosophy (2 pages or less); 5) if applicable, copies of up to three first-authored or co-authored peer-reviewed publications relevant to current scholarly/research agenda; and 6) complete contact information for at least three references. Applicants will be notified before references are contacted.

For more information about the position, contact:
Dr. Bill Roberts, Chair, Search Committee Chair
Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Health Sciences
Wroberts2@utep.edu