The NARBHA Institute
James Wurgler MD Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health
Northern Arizona University seeks candidates for The NARBHA Institute, James Wurgler MD Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health, newly established in the NAU College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The position of the NARBHA Institute Wurgler Chair will include a faculty appointment in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice and will also report to the Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The Chair will provide leadership for interdisciplinary research and community partnerships that promote community health, resilience, and justice, leading to innovative behavioral health and justice system practices and policies. A key policy goal of the Wurgler Chair is the development of strategies to align the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice to reduce negative consequences of justice system contacts, and to minimize those contacts by strengthening the provision of health care and social services to people with behavioral health and social/economic needs. There is particular need to address the needs of youth and Native American populations in northern Arizona.
The endowment supporting The NARBHA Institute James Wurgler MD Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health will support research and community initiatives that contribute to understanding of the interrelationships among behavioral health, social and economic inequality, victimization, and the administration of justice, and that leads to innovative practices at the intersections of criminal justice, behavioral health, and social services. The preferred candidate will have experience and expertise relevant to rural challenges such as those in the northern Arizona region.
The NARBHA Institute James Wurgler MD Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health will:
Conduct and catalyze research to support advances in behavioral health care and criminal justice that strengthens community resilience and public health.
- Provide entrepreneurial leadership for interdisciplinary and community collaboration in conduct of research and initiatives to promote innovations in administration of justice and behavioral health care in northern Arizona.
- Link research with policy and initiatives to advance community wellbeing through partnerships with academic institutions, justice and other public agencies, municipalities, health care providers, and non-profit organizations.
- Contribute to cultivation of community focused research and policy or practice initiatives in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
- Serve the educational mission of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice by engaging students and faculty in research and community focused projects that advance goals of the endowment, and periodically teaching graduate and/or undergraduate courses in the Department.
- Articulate and collaborate with scholars and efforts of NAU’s Center for Health Equity, the Family Violence Institute, and/or others.
- Strengthen NAU’s stature as a prominent and publicly visible institution in applied health and community sustainability/resilience.
- Maintain a collaborative dialog with The NARBHA Institute.
Candidates for The NARBHA Institute James Wurgler Chair should be accomplished scholars who qualify for the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, or practitioners who qualify for the rank of Associate Professor or Professor of Practice. A substantial record of research and/or policy experience at the intersections of criminal justice and behavioral health commensurate with an advanced academic or practitioner appointment is expected. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated success in facilitating collaborative, interdisciplinary endeavors linking academic and community partners. They will also have experience working with and in diverse communities. The person selected will be charged with creating linkages and building upon university research and community capacities to develop projects that increase community well-being and inform progressive policy and administration of justice.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate Professor or Professor:
- An earned research doctorate in a discipline related to the intersections of criminal justice, behavioral health, and community resilience. The position is open to a broad range of academic research degrees such as the PhD in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Public Health and their relevant subfields, as well as practice-oriented degrees such as the DrPH, JD, or MD.
- Scholarly accomplishment, including publications, grants, research or other research products, commensurate with appointment as Associate Professor or Professor.
- Evidence of scholarship and community engagement or policy-related work that addresses intersections of criminal justice and behavioral health.
Associate Professor of Practice or Professor of Practice:
- A professional, post-baccalaureate degree such as an MPH, MSW, JD or MD, and demonstrated experience working in areas related to the intersection of criminal justice, behavioral health, and community resilience.
- Professional experience and accomplishment commensurate with appointment as Associate Professor or Professor.
- Evidence of practice and/or policy-related work and community engagement that addresses intersections of criminal justice and behavioral health.
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to collaborate across disciplines and organizational boundaries.
- A distinguished record of research or professional accomplishment that has advanced knowledge or innovations in criminal justice and behavioral health.
- Successful leadership of interdisciplinary and community engaged research.
- Leadership in developing programs that link academic programs with communities.
- Established track record securing external funds.
- Ability to work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including Native American and Hispanic populations.
- Demonstrable awareness of the importance of culturally appropriate intervention strategies.
- Ability to teach select courses in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice and/or other areas within the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences.
- Understanding of health challenges facing rural communities.
- A demonstrated commitment to advancing social justice in areas of health, community resilience, and/or the administration of criminal justice.
Application
Application materials should include a letter describing the candidate’s interest in the position specifically addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications; a curriculum vitae (CV); one or more examples of community and interdisciplinary achievements; and the names, titles, phone numbers and email addresses of five references. Applications should be uploaded as a single PDF or Word document to: http://nau.edu/Human-Resources/Careers/Faculty-and-Administrator-Openings/ (click on the link “Faculty and Administrator Job Openings, click on vacancy #603888). Please note all applications must be uploaded via the NAU HR website.
This vacancy will be open until filled or closed. First review of applications will begin on October 15, 2018, with weekly reviews thereafter.
General Information
Northern Arizona University has a student population of 30,368, including approximately 22,000 on its main campus in Flagstaff and the remainder at more than 20 locations statewide and online.
Committed to a diverse and civil working and learning environment, NAU has earned a solid reputation as a university with all the features of a large institution but with a personal touch. NAU carefully balances teaching, scholarship and service with a faculty and staff dedicated to each student’s success. All faculty members are expected to promote student learning and help students achieve academic outcomes.
While our emphasis is undergraduate education, we offer a wide range of graduate programs and research that extend to such national concerns as forest health and bioterrorism. Our institution has carefully integrated on-campus education with distance learning, forming seamless avenues for students to earn degrees.
Flagstaff has a population of about 70,000, rich in cultural diversity. Located at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff is 140 miles north of Phoenix at the intersection of Interstate 17 and Interstate 40.
With its elevation of 7,000 feet and four-season climate, Flagstaff is ideal for year-round outdoor activities. Nearby attractions include the Grand Canyon, Lowell Observatory, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, and Arizona Snowbowl.
The university is committed to a diverse and civil working and learning environment.
For information about diversity, access and equity at NAU, see nau.edu/Center-for-University-Access-and-Inclusion/.