Assistant Professor in Mental Health Counseling

Central Washington University; Ellensburg (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance for you and depend

Discounts across town

Employee assistance program

Wellness incentive program

Job summary

Central Washington University seeks an Assistant Professor in Mental Health Counseling to reestablish and grow the MA program within the Department of Psychology in Ellensburg, WA. The role emphasizes teaching graduate-level counseling and undergraduate psychology, supervising practica/internships, and mentoring students while engaging in scholarly activity.

The position is campus-based, in-person on the Ellensburg campus, with CWU's benefits package including health, retirement, tuition

Qualifications

• Meet one of the education requirements by Sep 16, 2027: CACREP doctoral; related doctoral with prior full-time faculty; CORE-accredited master's doctoral-level faculty; or rehabilitation doctoral program before 2018.
• License eligible as a counselor in Washington state.
• Professional identity as a counselor educator with scholarly activities and service.

Responsibilities

• Teach graduate-level counseling and undergraduate psychology/behavioral health courses.
• Supervise counseling practica and/or internships.
• Advise graduate students and mentor undergraduates in psychology.
• Contribute to department, university, community and profession through service.

Skills

Teaching university courses

Mentoring students in research

Supervising practica/internships

Education

CACREP-accredited counselor education doctoral program

Related doctoral degree with prior full-time faculty status

CORE-accredited master's program doctoral-level faculty

Rehabilitation doctoral program prior to 2018

Tools

CACREP standards knowledge

Job description

Job ID: 7535

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting an Assistant Professor in Mental Health Counseling to join our Psychology team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find robust academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.

The Role:

The Department of Psychology at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) seeks an Assistant Professor for a tenure-track position, specifically to support the reestablishment of the Mental Health Counseling master's program, which was relaunched in 2025. Candidates should exhibit a commitment to teaching, developing their individual scholarship, involving students in research, advising graduate students, and mentoring undergraduate psychology students. Candidates should be prepared to teach graduate-level counseling and undergraduate-level psychology and/or behavioral health courses, be eligible to supervise counseling practica and/or internship, and provide quality service to the department, university, community, and their profession.

This position is initially funded by a generous donation from Comprehensive Healthcare, a regional behavioral health services organization, after which it will be assumed by the university.

At CWU, we pride ourselves in upholding our mission and vision to create transformative educational environments that encourage personal growth and success. Faculty will integrate Central Washington University's vision which is "CWU will be a model learning community of access and opportunity". In order to build a community of access and opportunity, Central Washington University nurtures culturally sustaining practices that expand access and success to all students. We are committed to fostering high impact practices, sustainability, and authentic community partnerships that are grounded in meaningful relationships.

This position is an in-person position on the Ellensburg campus. The faculty member who accepts this position must be willing to commit to teaching on the Ellensburg campus and have the desire and skills to effectively teach in-person and online or in web enhanced courses via both synchronous and asynchronous formats.

Minimum Qualifications

Please address in your cover letter:

• Meet one of the following education requirements by September 16, 2027:
  • Have an earned doctoral degree in counselor education, preferably from a CACREP accredited program;
  • OR have a related doctoral degree and have been employed as a full-time faculty member in a counselor education program for a minimum of one full academic year before July 1, 2013;
  • OR have been employed as a full-time doctoral-level faculty member in a CORE-accredited master's program prior to July 1, 2017;
  • OR have graduated from a rehabilitation doctoral program prior to January 1, 2018.
• License eligible as a counselor in the state of Washington.
• Professional identity as a counselor educator, including participation in professional activities, scholarly activities, and/or service to the profession.

Preferred Qualifications (Please address in your cover letter):

• Demonstrated commitment and/or experience to mentoring students in undergraduate and/or graduate research and through teaching and/or mentoring activities.
• Experience as a licensed clinician in the field of counseling.
• Experience with teaching graduate and/or undergraduate level psychology courses that can engage and inspire students from a variety of identities and backgrounds.
• Record of scholarly productivity.
• Familiarity with CACREP requirements and the willingness to support the Program Coordinator in meeting all accreditation reporting requirements.
• Training and experience in the provision of distance-based education and clinical services.
• Research, teaching, and service that demonstrate an ability to contribute to Central's vision to create a model learning community of access and opportunity.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Ethics/Confidentiality: Adheres to ethical guidelines. Respect and maintains confidentiality.
• Judgment/Decision Making: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Conflict Management: Thoughtfully intervenes in conflicts to improve communication, diffuse tension, and resolve problems. Seeks to find common ground.
• Communication: Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner. Gives and receives constructive feedback.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing program needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

Annual Salary: $65,136 - $75,000, based on a full-time nine-month appointment.
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Appointment: Full-Time, Tenure-Track, 9 Month Appointment. Additional Summer teaching may be available. Central Washington University is on the quarter system with appointments from mid-September through mid-June.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance. CWU Benefits, Perks & Discounts Overview.

Additional Information: For additional information about the University, visit: http://www.cwu.edu For additional information about Ellensburg, visit: http://www.myellensburg.com OR http://www.kittitascountychamber.com

NOTE: Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Contact Information

Name: Dr. Meaghan Nolte
Title: Chair, MHC Search Committee
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Website: www.cwu.edu/academics/psychology/

Please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or 509-963-1202 if you require technical assistance with the on-line application process.

Conditions of Employment

Background Check/Reference Check Process:

Prior to employment, final candidate(s) will be required to sign a Sexual Misconduct disclosure in pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 and submit to a background check. All information obtained through background investigations will be strictly confidential and revealed only to those required to have access.

The conditions of employment with Central Washington University are set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Central Washington University and United Faculty of Central, University policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal laws.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement may be found here: CWU Faculty Relations.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

Central Washington University is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. Central Washington University's policies and practices affirm and actively promote the rights of all individuals to equal opportunity in education and employment. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or status as a protected veteran is prohibited. The university provides an internal procedure for reporting discrimination and affords protection against retaliation for participating in the complaint process. Central Washington University complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and executive orders including when soliciting bids and in the fulfillment of all contracts with governmental agencies. Direct related inquiries to Civil Rights Compliance, 202 Barge Hall, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501; Telephone [phone]; or email [e-mail].

Reasonable Accommodations

Central Washington University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 509-963-1202. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the Central Washington University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (i.e. Clery Report) which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, available online here or call CWU Police and Parking Services at 509-963-2959 for a paper copy.

Location:

Ellensburg, WA

Central Washington University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity/Title IX employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or protected veteran status.