Visiting Professor

Palo Alto University; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto University invites applications for a Visiting Assistant Professor in Counseling. The role supports the CACREP-accredited MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and CES Doctoral program, with teaching and supervision expectations in practicum and internship settings.

The position emphasizes advocacy, social justice, cultural competence, and ethical practice within teaching, service, and leadership activities. Two-term appointment with potential renewal, located in Palo Alto, CA.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Counseling Education and Supervision, CACREP preferred.
• Licensed or license eligible as a Mental Health Counselor or related.
• Excellence in teaching in virtual, synchronized, and in-person formats.

Responsibilities

• Teach 24 units per year over Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 quarter.
• Teach synchronous residential and virtual courses and be available for in-person residency experiences as needed.
• Engage in department and university committees and participate in faculty meetings.
• Lead in regional and national counseling profession associations and organizations.

Skills

Teaching

Communication

Virtual instruction

Leadership

Cultural competence

Education

Doctoral degree in Counseling Education and Supervision

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Visiting Professor

Faculty Palo Alto, CA, US

Salary Range: $89,688.00 To $89,688.00 Annually

2027 MA Visiting Professor Announcement

Job Title: Visiting Faculty - Counseling

Rank: Assistant

Department: Counseling

Location: Residential

Employment Status: Full-time

Salary Range: Visiting Professors in their first year have a base salary of $89,668.00 for AY 2026-2027, plus a locality adjustment of $33,943 for full-time faculty who reside in one of the following seven counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz.

Categories: Instruction, Counseling

Two Term Appointment (Winter, Spring 2027), Potential for an Additional Academic Year Renewal

Submit for full consideration by October 22, 2026

About Palo Alto University (PAU)

Palo Alto University is a private, nonprofit university dedicated to advancing human understanding through innovative education, groundbreaking research, and impactful practice in behavioral science.

Founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Silicon Valley, PAU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in psychology, counseling, social work, and behavioral science, including the PAU-Stanford PsyD Consortium with Stanford Medicine. Grounded in human dignity, PAU's scholars, clinicians, educators, and learners share a single conviction: that understanding how people think, feel, behave, relate, heal, and make meaning is among the most essential work of our time.

The university enrolls over 1,200 students, has a network of more than 4,200 alumni, and employs over 150 faculty and staff united by a mission-driven commitment to advancing human understanding. PAU enters its sixth decade at a defining moment: a new president, a new provost, a bold new vision and strategic plan, and an urgent opportunity to shape how behavioral science responds to the challenges of an increasingly changing world. You will join a mission-driven community with the ambition to make a measurable impact on the human condition.

The Role

The PAU Department of Counseling is seeking a Visiting Assistant Professors to support our CACREP-accredited Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and our Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) Doctoral program, where candidates can join our faculty in innovative excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service. The selected candidate will be required to demonstrate teaching and professional experiences that contribute to the specialization area, including teaching and supervision experiences in clinical practice courses (practicum and internship) and student mentoring. The selected candidate will also need to demonstrate the ability to enhance the Counselor Education Programs' mission to integrate advocacy, social justice, cultural competence, and ethical practice into the preparation of counseling professionals. This includes demonstrated engagement in professional service and leadership in counseling and community organizations.

Responsibilities

• Teaching and Advising
• Teach 24 units per year over Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 quarter; (3 classes per quarter)
• Teach synchronous residential and virtual courses and be available for teaching in-person residency experiences as needed.
• Service and Engagement
• Engage in 6 units over two quarters by serving on department and university committees
• Participate in department and university faculty meetings.
• Serve in leadership roles regionally and nationally in recognized counseling profession associations and organizations.
• Research and Scholarship

Research/scholarship is not required for this faculty line. It is optional.

• Faculty are expected to attend university events, such as convocation, commencement, graduation, and other major events.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Counseling Education and Supervision, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program;
• Professional identity as a counselor and a counselor educator, as demonstrated by affiliation with relevant professional counseling associations, including the American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision;
• License or license eligible as a Mental Health Counselor or Marriage, Family, Child Counselor or related counseling discipline.;
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching in virtual, synchronized, and in-person formats;
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge and skills;
• Demonstrated capacity to engage in scholarly presentations;
• Demonstrated engagement in leadership and/or service in the counseling and/or counselor education profession, such as committee members and chairs;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with students in-person and connect online through email, video conferencing, and chat;
• Evidence of inclusive excellence and innovation, as well as training and experience with multicultural competence in counseling;
• Demonstrated commitment to facilitating conversations related to culture, power, and oppression and increasing cultural sensitivity in students.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations

Palo Alto University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and employment practices. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition, disability, or any other status protected by law.

As provided by law, PAU will offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the position without undue hardship to the university.

PAU is committed to building a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes employees from a wide range of backgrounds.