Associate Professor- Human Services

Company Description

Walden University

Walden University, a Covista institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a leader in student-centered online education. With more than 50 years of experience and over 200,000 graduates, Walden offers 100+ online degree and certificate programs designed to help working adults advance their education and make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities.

Guided by a mission of positive social change, Walden is committed to high academic standards and a person-centered learning approach that meets students where they are and supports them throughout their academic journey. As a Benefit Corporation (B-Corp), the university prioritizes student success, access, and real-world impact.

Walden serves a diverse student population from a wide range of professional and life backgrounds. Faculty play a vital role in fostering an inclusive, supportive environment that helps students build skills, achieve their goals, and create lasting change in their organizations and communities.

We offer more than 100 online degrees and certificate programs. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). Visit WaldenU.edu for more information, and follow Walden on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Job Description

Instruction & Doctoral Mentoring Focus

Person-centered teaching at Walden requires awareness of the diverse professional and lived experiences of all learners. In this role, instructional responsibilities are primarily focused on doctoral mentoring and dissertation committee service, with a strong emphasis on supporting students through completion.

Faculty create an engaging and supportive learning environment by maintaining regular communication with students, particularly through one-on-one and small group dissertation mentoring. They foster meaningful connections between coursework, professional development, and students’ real-world experiences.

Faculty support student growth by providing:

• Constructive feedback on current performance
• Feedforward to guide future development and successful dissertation completion

This role plays a key part in advancing doctoral student progression, including chairing and serving on dissertation committees, supporting applied and research-based doctoral work, and helping students navigate challenges to completion.

Faculty demonstrate a proactive, student-centered approach, providing individualized support, maintaining consistent engagement, and helping students stay on track throughout the dissertation process.

Faculty are expected to remain accessible via email, phone, and scheduled appointments, including evenings and weekends as needed to support doctoral learners.

While limited teaching may occur, the primary focus of this role is dissertation mentorship and committee leadership rather than traditional course instruction.

Scholarship

Walden University recognizes the importance of scholarship as a complement to effective teaching and the development of students as scholar-practitioners. Faculty members demonstrate fulfillment of the University’s scholarship standards through:

• Creating new knowledge through research
• Interpreting knowledge across disciplines
• Examining teaching and mentoring models to achieve optimal learning outcomes
• Working to solve problems within the discipline and across society

Faculty members are encouraged to participate in scholarship activities aligned with the Walden mission, particularly those that support doctoral education, applied research, and student success outcomes. Scholarship activities are coordinated with academic leaders, with requirements determined by the program and/or college.

Service

Walden University recognizes the importance of service as a complement to effective teaching and the development of students as scholar-practitioners. Faculty members demonstrate a strong and consistent record of service to the institution and community in ways that advance its educational mission.

Faculty members are encouraged to participate in service activities aligned with the Walden mission and demonstrate service to the institution, profession, and/or community. Service activities are coordinated with academic l