The Art Therapy Psychology Department at Dominican University of California (DUC) invites candidates to apply for a 12-month position in Art Therapy Psychology (ATP) at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor to start July 1, 2026. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate experience leading an Art Therapy Department as this position includes an administrative appointment as Department Chair with appropriate course release. Candidates must hold a doctoral degree or equivalent in Art Therapy with experience in leadership and program management as well as teaching, evidence of scholarship, research, and/or publications. We seek a creative academic and clinician with a rich record of teaching, research, publication, cultural humility, and leadership in Art Therapy to guide a standard and post-MA advanced standing track, a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) degree in Art Therapy, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Art Therapy degree. The Art Therapy Psychology programs were welcomed by Dominican University of California in the 2021-22 academic year; ATP is thriving in its fifth year at DUC. On the note, ATP offered the first doctoral program at the university. The candidate will play a large role in contributing to the continued strengthening of graduate culture on campus.
Chair Overall Responsibility
Chairs are the chief academic officers of academic departments and are released from some teaching units each year as deemed appropriate by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, for carrying out the responsibilities of an administrative position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Administrative
Runs year-round MA program, including reviewing applications, art, and interviews
Oversees all ATP program activities – faculty, students, and student association (GATSA)
Financial oversight and approval of all ATP budget, program expenditures
Program Reviews – internal academic reviews (specifically for thesis, practicum, ethics)
Review program syllabi for compliance with AATA, BBS, WASCUC/WASC, CAAHEP/ACATE (ensure objectives/goals meet requirements for student licensure)
Follow Collective Bargaining Agreement for adjunct faculty and full-time faculty
Coordinates with all university departments – Dean, Business, Registrar, Human Resources, Accommodations & Disability Services, as well as other academic departments/schools
Creates Fall, Spring & Summer term schedules and coordinates with LAE Director of Operations and Registrar through baseline
Supervises Administrative Department Manager
Leads in recruiting, hiring, and supervision of faculty, part-time faculty in accordance with a part-time adjunct faculty union’s collective bargaining agreement
Oversees evaluation of faculty; evaluates according to Faculty Handbook
Directs department orientation and mentorship of new faculty
Facilitates New Student Orientation Spring and Fall terms for new enrolling students
Communicate policies and practices of the department to faculty
Schedules and facilitate departmental meetings (or direct designee)
Provide guidance and expertise to presentations, events/activities, exhibits
Develop written policies (ies) that are not addressed in the university or program manuals for continued growth
Participate in annual catalog revisions in collaboration with the Registrar’s Office and Dean’s Office
Recommend approval or non-approval of independent studies
Mediates conflict issues between and among students and/or between student(s) and faculty related to departmental matters
Reviews faculty and course evaluations each semester
Conducts exit interviews with graduate and/or disenrolling students
Posts and holds at least three office hours weekly for every semester of full-time teaching (accessible to students and colleagues for physical, virtual, or phone appointments)
Community Engagement
Yearly meetings at AATA conference
Committee work (internal university and external organizations)
Represents ATP program on Campus Visit Days and other appropriate occasions
Final approval for all departmental social media posts/communications
Accreditation/Certification
Stays abreast of BBS, AATA, WSCUC/WASC, & CAAHEP/ACATE accreditation and licensing requirements and updates
Main point of contact for ATP with external communications with the AATA board
Serves on AATA or ATCB committees as appropriate
Main point of contact for CAAHEP/ACATE communication and accreditation activities, actions, annual reports.
Completes reports and yearly updates to get accreditation for the university from the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences
Maintains accreditation and professional standards as applicable, including the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) licensure and American Art Therapy Association (AATA) credentials for ATP program.
Research/Publication/Presentations
Advises thesis students in art-based research approaches
Mentors students to professional transition
Publications in art therapy, experience in art therapy research, cultural humility, and community engagement
Conference presentations
Faculty/Teaching Responsibilities
Workload consists of 24 units each year, with 3 units of release time for research, administrative release, and teaching units. Along with their teaching duties and scholarship, Dominican faculty take an active role in contributing to the intellectual life on campus by participating in university wide committees, professional development activities, and advising students.
Teaches during the year and in the summer
Prepares and plans courses during Fall, Spring and Summer terms
Demonstrates teaching effectiveness
Admissions/Enrollment/Student Engagement
Interviews students: reviewing art portfolios to determine quality of work acceptable for admissions, review transcripts, determine clinical suitability for a person to enter the profession of therapist
Recruits new students at conferences: American Art Therapy Association; Expressive Arts LA (creates materials, staffs table, meets with prospective students, conducts interviews,etc.)
Attends graduate info forums several times each semester to highlight the uniqueness of the Art Therapy program
Addresses student issues related to getting a BBS license and AATA credentials when students have a criminal background, delayed application, moved to another state, etc.
Reviews/admits students to post-MA program, identifying necessary requirements for the ATR and ATR-BC when they are post- MA applicants.
Works closely with Graduate Admissions to ensure seamless student enrollment/course registration
Advises students, including term academic course plans, degree progress, and capstone project planning into the practicum or thesis track/outcomes with art-based research approaches
Dominican University of California is an independent, international, learner-centered university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Dominican has a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio, an average class size of 16, with a small-town feeling in a park- like campus. We blend interdisciplinary core courses, real-world studies, and small classes with close and supportive academic advising and mentoring
Dominican University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity and takes pride in its multicultural environment. We are committed in thought, word, and deed to recruiting and retaining a workforce that values the diversity of its student body. The University actively promotes an institutional culture that practices equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of all under-represented groups in higher education
Dominican University of California participates in E-Verify, an online system used to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law.
Required Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Earned doctorate
Previous leadership and program management experience
3+ years of experience in academics, 5-10 years in clinical work
Previous leadership in art therapy – local, state or national level and/or in academia
Proficient in Google G-Suite; Microsoft Office Suite, or relevant software
ATR-BC
Preferred Qualifications
Previous program management and leadership experience
Previous leadership in Art Therapy
Peer-reviewed publications in the discipline of Art Therapy
Proven research experience
Experience supervising and contributing to Art Therapy research, cultural humility, and community engagement
