Core Faculty, Expressive Therapies PhD Program (Open Rank)

Lesley University; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, life, and long-term

Significant paid time off

Generous retirement plan

Tuition programs for employees and dep

Job summary

Lesley University invites applications for a Core Faculty position in the Expressive Therapies Department. The focus is on the PhD in Expressive Therapies with additional teaching in the Master’s Art Therapy specialization.

The candidate will teach doctoral courses, advise PhD students, supervise dissertation research, and help develop the PhD curriculum. Additional responsibilities include teaching in Art Therapy at the Master’s level, supporting program initiatives that integrate theory,

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in Art Therapy or Expressive Therapies.
• Experience with doctoral-level teaching and/or dissertation advising.
• Expertise in expressive therapies research.
• Art Therapy credential (ATR/ATR-BC) and relevant licensure preferred.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success.
• Ability to teach across multiple formats including distance learning.

Responsibilities

• Teach doctoral courses in expressive therapies theory and research.
• Mentor PhD students, supervise dissertation research, and serve on committees.
• Teach Master’s Art Therapy courses and contribute to specialization initiatives.
• Support curriculum development, program assessment, and recruitment/retention.
• Participate in governance, service, and cross-program collaboration.
• Maintain active scholarly, creative, and clinical practice aligned with the role.

Skills

Terminal degree

Art Therapy

Expressive Therapies

Doctoral teaching

Dissertation advising

Research methods

Equity & inclusion

Distance learning

Education

PhD in Art Therapy

EdD or equivalent

Graduate level teaching

Job description

The Opportunity Lesley University invites applications for a faculty position in the Expressive Therapies Department, with primary responsibilities in the PhD in Expressive Therapies program and additional teaching in the Master’s Art Therapy specialization. The Core Faculty member will teach doctoral courses, advise PhD students, supervise dissertation research, and contribute to the ongoing development of the PhD curriculum. Additional responsibilities include teaching in the Master’s Art Therapy specialization and supporting program initiatives that strengthen the integration of theory, research, and creative practice across the department.

Lesley University Core Faculty positions are governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

About the Program

Founded in 1973, Lesley University’s Expressive Therapies program was one of the first graduate programs in the United States dedicated to training professionals in this emerging, creative, and vital field. More than 50 years later, the program continues to push the boundaries of expressive therapies knowledge, practice, and pedagogy. Our extraordinary faculty of artist‑practitioner‑scholars guide students in developing their identities as both artists and researchers, fostering a learning environment where creativity, inquiry, and therapeutic practice are deeply interconnected.

Primary Responsibilities

Teach doctoral courses in expressive therapies theory and research. Mentor PhD students, supervise dissertation research, and serve on dissertation committees. Teach master’s‑level courses in Art Therapy courses and contribute to specialization‑specific initiatives. Support curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment and retention, and other departmental initiatives. Participate in faculty governance, departmental and university service, and collaborative work across programs. Maintain an active scholarly, creative, and clinical practice appropriate to the role. Active in relevant professional organizations Contribute to a learning environment grounded in equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and student success. Participate in departmental governance, faculty meetings, and university service. Contribute to curriculum development, program innovation, and long-term strategic planning.

Qualities and Capabilities

A successful candidate will have:

• Terminal degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent) in Art Therapy (preferred) or Expressive Therapies (art, dance, drama, expressive arts, music therapy), Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field (required)
• Experience with research methods and doctoral-level teaching and/or dissertation advising (required)
• Demonstrated expertise in expressive therapies research (required)
• Demonstrated expertise in expressive therapies clinical application (preferred)
• Professional expertise and graduate-level preparation in Art Therapy (preferred)
• Art Therapy credential (ATR/ATR-BC) and relevant clinical licensure (preferred)
• Demonstrated record of scholarship, research, and creative inquiry. (required)
• Commitment to collaborative and inclusive teaching and mentoring. (required)
• Required to teach across multiple formats, such as in-person classroom teaching and distance learning

Why Lesley

Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in the human arts of education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 6,400 students and 90,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

Benefits

• Health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Significant paid time off.
• A generous retirement plan.
• Tuition programs that enable employees and their dependents to expand their knowledge and skills.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of our institution. Individuals may submit concerns or questions related to discrimination to the University's Director of Equal Opportunity. At Lesley University we strive for a supportive and equitable environment where people -- regardless of race, ethnicity, color, sex, physical ability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in uniformed services, and all other categories protected by applicable state and federal laws -- can participate equally and fully as their true selves in all aspects of university life. Accordingly, the University prohibits discrimination based on these protected categories in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admission and in employment.

Community Commitment

At Lesley, we believe actively advancing our own and all other’s potential leads to a just and humane world. Lesley is the only university in the country focused on advancing human potential through the life-time cultivation of professionals in education, mental health and the arts. We share an eagerness to build just and humane communities in a stressful and rapidly changing world.