Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling

Posting Details

Posting Number: FRGV2078
Working Title: Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling
Number of Vacancies: 1
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

Scope of Job

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites nominations 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 director provides 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 the school’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 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas and is 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 all health-related programs, and create a stronger framework for collaboration and impact among health-related programs. The goal of the 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 preparing professionals to assist people with disabilities to live full and independent lives. The School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling currently has 18 full-time (tenured, tenure track, and non-tenured) faculty teaching in the program and over 350 students enrolled. Located in a modern facility (Edinburg Health Affairs Building West) featuring dedicated classrooms and a state-of-the-art Counseling & Wellness Center and Research Center, the school prides itself on preparing students to enter a rewarding field of helping others to achieve their own goals of independence and productivity.

Leadership Role of the Director

The Director of the School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling serves as the academic and administrative leader of the school, equivalent to a department chair, at UTRGV. This role requires visionary leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to advancing the mission of the university and the College of Health Professions.

The Director is expected to:

• Provide strategic academic leadership to advance the school's mission 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 status as designated by the Carnegie Commission.
• Cultivate a collaborative and inclusive academic community, promoting shared governance, transparency, and mutual respect among faculty, 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 culture of academic excellence.
• Oversee faculty evaluation, promotion, and development processes, ensuring alignment with university standards and best practices in higher education.
• Strengthen external partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations, enhancing the school's visibility and impact within the 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 productive academic 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 an active role in teaching (with a reduced load), research, and service, modeling the values of academic engagement and leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate will:

• Have a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling, PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences, PhD in Counselor Education, PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision, or similar (e.g., PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology, ScD in Rehabilitation Science, RhD in Rehabilitation, PhD in Mental Health Counseling, EdD in Educational Leadership, EdD in Counseling, etc.).
• Be a tenured associate professor or higher.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to student success and satisfaction.
• Have strong organizational and management skills
• Have experience with faculty governance.
• Have a demonstrated ability to secure grants and external funding.
• Have a proven record of scholarship and current knowledge of the state of the field.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Tenured, full professor.
• Experience as chair, assistant chair, or program director.
• Experience at a Carnegie classified R2 doctoral university – high research activity – or higher.
• Experience and/or knowledge of distributed campus models.

License or Certification Required? Yes
Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience.
Desired Start Date: 07/01/2027

EEO Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date: 10/12/2026
Close Date:

Additional Information

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first time, please complete all biographical information including address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application. Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

Please Note

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

Quick Link: https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/52819

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Certifications and Licenses
• List of 3 References
• Letter of Interest

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Reference Letter 1
• Reference Letter 2
• Reference Letter 3
• Resume
• Teaching Philosophy
• Training Certificates
• Other Document