Director of Graduate Counseling Programs

Description

The Graduate Counseling program at Husson University located in Bangor, Maine, is seeking a full-time Director to begin in August of 2027. Husson University seeks to recruit, employ, and retain a diverse faculty to create and support an inclusive learning community.
Husson University is a small, private, not-for-profit, University offering on-campus and online programs. It is located in beautiful and desirable Bangor, Maine. Bangor is a small city in the center of Maine with an international airport, a major hospital, five colleges and universities in the greater area, and easy access to the coast and the mountains of Maine.

Example of Duties

The Director is responsible for administration and coordination of the Counseling and Human Relations program, composed of two CACREP accredited master’s degree programs, the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the MS in School Counseling as well as the Early Start Psychology to Counseling programs. The Counseling program is an on-campus, HYFLEX program, serving students with campus-based and synchronous online courses. Along with the Dean, the Director represents the program in national, state, local, university, college, regulatory, and governmental arenas.

Administrative:
The Director participates in the supervision and evaluation of two other core, full-time faculty members, the Clinical Coordinator, adjunct faculty, and a part-time administrative assistant and student worker. The position involves the development, coordination, monitoring, and administration of the curriculum and pertinent academic policies. The Director is also responsible for the evaluation and success of matriculated students. Additional responsibilities include teaching in areas of expertise, scholarship, academic and career advising and service to the college.
The Director works professionally and collaboratively with university and external communities, is knowledgeable about assessment and program accreditation (CACREP). Along with the Director of Assessment and the Dean, the Director of Counseling manages information and data necessary to annually assess the program and its students. The Director supports the admissions process and works with the Dean to develop new programs and offerings.

Teaching, Scholarship, and Professional Activity:
The Director, who is also a ranked core faculty member, teaches six credits per semester and is expected to maintain currency within a relevant professional area of expertise and to participate in scholarly activities as defined by the Faculty Handbook.

Service:
The Director is expected to provide service to the college and to interact with the internal and external community promoting the counseling programs, and maintain strong, positive professional connections in a collegial and professional manner at all times.

Student Advising:
The Director/core faculty member maintains student office hours and advises students, including certification and licensing students, providing information and advice for course selection and progress, and professional career pathway development, following the policies and procedures documented in the Husson Faculty Handbook. The Director assists in developing remediation plans as appropriate for those students who are in academic jeopardy according to progression and dismissal policies. The Director reviews and approves appropriate program completions and petitions for graduation and completes forms and letters of recommendation as needed for licensure or certification and employment, upon successful completion of requirements.

Qualifications

Education:
Required: Earned PhD. or Ed.D. in Counselor Education or closely related field, preferably from a CACREP accredited doctoral program.
Must meet CACREP standards for core faculty eligibility. Licensed or eligible for license as clinical mental health counselor (LCPC) in Maine and/or certified or eligible for certification as a school counselor.
Preference will be given to those with expertise in school counseling and those with experience as CACREP program chairs/directors. CACREP reviewer experience is desirable.
Evidence of Counseling Professional identity (ACA, ACES, AMHCA, and/or ASCA membership(s)) required.

Experience:
Minimum of three years of teaching experience in Counselor Education, preferably in a CACREP accredited program. Experience in a leadership role. Training and experience in clinical supervision and school counseling and/or mental health counseling experience preferred. Experience in program administration, recruiting and evaluating faculty, developing and implementing curriculum and policy, and budgeting are desirable. Familiarity with CACREP accreditation process is also desired.

Special Skills:
Leadership and advocacy skills
Exceptional skills in written and verbal communication, interpersonal relations, and personnel management
An ongoing record of scholarship
Demonstrated excellence in teaching
Knowledge of issues in higher education
In-depth understanding of contemporary counseling practice
Ability to work with university and off-campus constituencies
Evidence of long-range planning skills and visionary perspective of Counseling and Human Relations programs and professions
Competence in organizational skills, program assessment and evaluation, and financial management
Grant writing skills and experience are desirable

Supplemental Information