Program Director (Founding) and Faculty, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The opportunity

Beloit College invites applications for a founding Program Director for its new Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program. This is an opportunity to build a program from the ground up; to shape its identity, curriculum, and culture at a liberal arts institution that genuinely values faculty expertise and intellectual vision.

The founding director will have significant latitude to develop a program that is both rigorously CACREP-compliant and distinctively Beloit. We are seeking someone who understands that counselor education at its best is not just skills training: it is the formation of professionals who are theoretically grounded, socially aware, and equipped to work with the full complexity of human experience.

The program's animating commitments include:

• Social justice as a foundational orientation, embedded throughout the curriculum and clinical training
• Attention to underserved communities and the urgent mental health workforce needs of south-central Wisconsin and the broader region, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison
• Interprofessional and interdisciplinary education, consistent with Beloit's institution-wide pedagogical identity
• Community-based connections and experiential learning as core program features, not afterthoughts

About Beloit College

Beloit College is a selective liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Nationally recognized for intellectual rigor and innovation, Beloit was ranked #18 among the nation's most innovative schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. Its graduates are known for their capacity to think across disciplines, engage with complexity, and connect knowledge to real-world impact.

The School of Health Sciences, established in 2023, reflects Beloit's commitment to preparing health professionals who are not only clinically excellent but broadly educated and community-minded. Interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and community-based practice are foundational to everything we do. This new MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be the School's first graduate-level offering, a significant milestone and a serious institutional commitment.

Role and Responsibilities

The Program Director serves as the core counselor education faculty leader for the CMHC program, as defined under 2024 CACREP Standard 1.FF. This is a 12-month administrative faculty position with teaching responsibilities commensurate with the Director's expertise and program needs. The Program Director reports to the Director of the School of Health Sciences.

Program Development and CACREP Accreditation

• Lead all aspects of the CACREP accreditation process, including curriculum development, self-study preparation, and ongoing compliance
• Develop and implement program policies, student assessment systems, key performance indicators, and a comprehensive program evaluation plan consistent with 2024 CACREP standards
• Establish and cultivate clinical placement partnerships across the region to ensure sufficient practicum and internship opportunities for students
• Pursue state program approval in coordination with institutional leadership
• Support and influence student recruitment and admissions into the program, especially for the first and second cohorts

Faculty and Program Leadership

• Participate actively in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding 2–3 additional core and affiliate counselor education faculty members
• Provide ongoing leadership, mentorship, and evaluation for program faculty
• Coordinate advising, student assessment, retention, and gatekeeping processes consistent with ethical and professional standards
• Develop the student handbook, fieldwork handbook, and other program infrastructure from the ground up

Community and Institutional Engagement

• Work collaboratively with program faculty and staff to build and sustain relationships with community partners, fieldwork site supervisors, and advisory committee members
• Collaborate with faculty across the School of Health Sciences and the broader College to advance interdisciplinary programming
• Represent the program in professional counseling organizations and within the institution
• Teach graduate courses in areas of professional expertise as needed by the program

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet CACREP core counselor education faculty requirements per 2024 Standard 1.Y. Specifically, the successful candidate must have one of the following:

• An earned doctoral degree in counselor education, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program; or
• A related doctoral degree and full-time faculty employment in a counselor education program for a minimum of one full academic year before July 1, 2013; or
• Full-time doctoral-level faculty employment in a CORE-accredited master's program prior to July 1, 2017; or
• Graduation from a rehabilitation doctoral program prior to January 1, 2018

In addition, all candidates must demonstrate the following per 2024 CACREP Standards 1.Z and 1.AA:

• Active membership in professional counseling organizations
• Relevant professional counseling credentials (e.g., LPC, LCPC, or equivalent licensure in Wisconsin or eligibility for Wisconsin licensure)
• Evidence of sustained professional engagement through at least two of the following: professional development in counseling, professional service and advocacy, ongoing counseling practice, or research and scholarly activity in counseling

Beyond CACREP requirements, Beloit College requires:

• Demonstrated experience in counselor education program development, including direct involvement in CACREP accreditation processes
• Faculty experience in a graduate counseling program, including teaching, advising, and supervision
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, multicultural counseling, and working with marginalized and underserved communities
• Strong interpersonal and administrative skills, including the ability to build relationships with community partners and collaborate across disciplines
• Capacity to function effectively in a startup environment: the program does not yet exist, and the Director will be building its infrastructure

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience founding or relaunching an academic program
• Experience with rural mental health, integrated behavioral health, or health disparities
• Background in interprofessional education or community-based training models
• Experience recruiting and mentoring diverse graduate student populations
• Scholarly activity in areas aligned with the program's mission

Appointment and Compensation

This is a full-time, 12-month administrative faculty position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, with a range of $85,000–$95,000. The anticipated start date is October 1, 2026.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit the following materials through Beloit College's online application system:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and vision for the program
• Current curriculum vitae, including administrative, teaching, and research experience
• Leadership statement (2–3 pages) describing experience with program development, accreditation, faculty leadership, and clinical education
• Teaching philosophy statement
• Names and contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without candidate permission)

The intent of this job description is to provide the general nature and level of work required of employees who are assigned to this classification and shall not be construed as an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. Employees may be instructed to perform job-related duties and responsibilities other than those specifically presented in this description.