Director School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

Job Class Code:

FLSA:

Posting Number: FRGV
2078

Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Division/Organization: Division of Health Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position:

Tenure Status: Non Tenure Track

FTE: 1.0

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invitesnominations and applications for the position of Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling
.Reporting directly to the Dean of the College of Health Professions, within the Division of Health Affairs, the directorprovides strategic leadership, fosters academic excellence, and ensures alignment with the goals of the College of Health Professions and the broader university. This position is equivalent to a department chair and plays a critical role in advancing theschool's mission in teaching, research, service, and community engagement.

The college seeks a dynamic leader who will collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to foster a culture of excellence. UTRGV was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 asthe first major public university of the 21st century in Texas andis the second-largest Hispanic-serving institution in the United States. The majority of its students are bilingual and bicultural.

UTRGV is located in a growing, vibrant region on the border with Mexico, which boasts many diverse cultural, ecological, and recreational activities. UTRGV established a Division of Health Affairs to help grow UT Health RGV, ensure the participation of allhealth-related programs, and create a stronger framework for collaboration and impact among health-related programs. The goal ofthe division is to boost interdisciplinary learning, enhance patient care, and support UT Health RGV's growing clinical services, including the Cancer & Surgery Center and Diabetes Center of Excellence.

The Division of Health Affairs aligns the Schools of Medicine, Podiatric Medicine, Nursing, Optometry(launching in 2027, pending accreditation), and the College of Health Professions.

The School of Rehabilitation Services &Counseling is a dynamic academic unit dedicated to preparingprofessionals to assist people with disabilities to live full and independent lives. Located in a modern facility (Edinburg Health Affairs Building West) featuring dedicated classrooms and astate-of-the-art Counseling & Wellness Center and Research Center, the school prides itself on preparing students to enter are warding field of helping others to achieve their own goals of independence and productivity.

• Provide strategic academic leadership to advance the school'smission in teaching, research, and service, with a focus on innovation, excellence, and impact.
• Drive enrollment growth at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a particular emphasis on expanding and strengthening the PhD program.
• Champion research development, fostering a culture of inquiry and scholarship that supports UTRGV's goal of achieving R1 statusas designated by the Carnegie Commission.
• Cultivate a collaborative and inclusive academic community,promoting shared governance, transparency, and mutual respect amongfaculty, staff, and students.
• Lead the school's administrative operations, including budget management, policy enforcement, and resource allocation to support strategic priorities.
• Recruit, retain, and mentor high-quality faculty and staff,supporting their professional development and fostering a cultureof academic excellence.
• Oversee faculty evaluation, promotion, and development processes, ensuring alignment with university standards and best practices in higher education.
• Strengthen external partnerships and interdisciplinarycollaborations, enhancing the school's visibility and impact withinthe university and broader community.
• Advance curricular innovation and student success initiatives,ensuring academic programs are responsive to evolving professional and societal needs.
• Foster effective communication and conflict resolution,addressing concerns and promoting a positive and productiveacademic climate.
• Engage stakeholders in shaping the school's direction,including faculty, students, alumni, community partners, and university leadership.

As a faculty member, the Director is also expected to maintain anactive role in teaching (with a reduced load), research, and service, modeling the values of academic engagement and leadership.

• Have a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling, PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences,…