Program Director, Master of Science in Mental Health Practice

Principal Functional Responsibilities

• Teaching, Academic Leadership, and Curriculum Development: Provides instructional leadership and oversees graduate education within their area of expertise. Leads the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of a rigorous, innovative curriculum aligned with best practices, accreditation standards, and professional competencies in mental and behavioral health. Ensures integration of didactic, experiential, and clinical learning; collaborates with faculty and partners to address curricular gaps and incorporate emerging evidence; and advances teaching innovations such as simulation, interprofessional education, and hybrid learning. Develops students’ clinical reasoning, ethical practice, cultural humility, and collaborative skills, using program outcomes and feedback to guide ongoing quality improvement.
• Faculty Leadership and Development: Leads the recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of a diverse, high-quality faculty team across mental and behavioral health disciplines. Fosters an inclusive, collaborative academic environment that supports excellence in teaching, mentorship, and scholarship. Mentors faculty in educational best practices, assessment, and curriculum design; promotes professional development and educational research; and cultivates a cohesive, interprofessional faculty community grounded in collaboration and shared governance.
• Student Recruitment, Advising, and Success: Works with admissions and enrollment teams to recruit and select a diverse, mission-aligned student body, overseeing admissions standards, applicant review, and onboarding. Ensures strong advising, mentoring, and professional development to support student success—from engagement and retention through graduation, licensure readiness, and workforce entry. Uses outcomes data to guide continuous improvement.
• Clinical Education and Community Partnerships: Builds and maintains partnerships with healthcare and community organizations to ensure high-quality clinical and community-based learning experiences. Oversees clinical education to ensure training meets professional and regulatory standards and supports integration of classroom learning with practice. Advances community engagement and service-learning initiatives that strengthen student learning and address regional workforce and public health needs.
• Administrative Leadership and Program Operations: Provides overall administrative leadership for the MS-MHP program, overseeing budgeting, staffing, scheduling, resource management, and strategic operations. Supervises program staff and ensures efficient processes, accreditation compliance, regulatory reporting, and outcomes assessment. Partners with college and university leadership and governance bodies to advance program quality and institutional objectives.
• Service and Professional Engagement: Participates in college and university governance, committee service, and strategic initiatives. Engages with state, regional, and national professional organizations in mental health and health professions education. Represents the program across academic, professional, and community settings and contributes to efforts that advance the university’s mission, reputation, and impact.

Qualifications

• An earned doctoral degree is required in a relevant field such as psychiatry (MD/DO), psychology (PhD or PsyD), social work (PhD or DSW), counseling, behavioral health, public health, education, or a closely related discipline.
• Candidates must demonstrate significant experience in graduate or professional education, academic leadership, curriculum development, or program administration.
• A minimum of five years of experience in higher education teaching, training, or leadership is required.
• Candidates must demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusive excellence, interprofessional collaboration, student success, and workforce development.
• Experience working across disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing, or allied health fields is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical licensure or certification in a mental or behavioral health profession.
• Experience directing or coordinating graduate or professional education programs.
• Demonstrated success in accreditation, regulatory compliance, and continuous quality improvement.
• A record of educational scholarship, curriculum innovation, or program development; and experience building community-based training partnerships.