Faculty, Art Therapy/Counseling Program
About Southwestern College:
Southwestern College (SWC) is a consciousness-centered, transformational learning community in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Our graduate programs integrate academic excellence with holistic, experiential, and reflective learning, preparing students to serve as compassionate change agents in the world.
We are seeking a Full-Time Faculty Member to join our Art Therapy/Counseling (ATCN) Program. This role is ideal for educators and practitioners who are passionate about transformational teaching, reflective practice, and mentoring the next generation of art therapists and counselors.
The Opportunity
- Teach graduate-level art therapy/counseling courses (minimum 9 units per quarter) using experiential, reflective, and consciousness-based pedagogies.
- Mentor and advise students to support their academic, professional, and personal development.
- Engage in supervision and evaluation of student learning through formative, reflective, and competency-based assessment methods.
- Guide and support adjunct faculty, participating in recruitment, supervision, and reflective mentorship.
- Contribute to curriculum design and continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with SWC’s mission, CACREP & CAAHEP standards, and institutional learning outcomes.
- Participate in faculty governance, program meetings, and college-wide initiatives that advance academic excellence and student success.
- Engage in scholarly, professional, or creative practice that enriches the counseling profession and reflects SWC’s values of consciousness, service, and transformation.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Art Therapy/Counseling or closely related field
- Art Therapy Board Certification (ATR-BC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Mexico and Supervisor License (or eligibility within six months)
- Graduate-level teaching experience in art therapy/counseling or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and program design
- Proficiency with learning management systems (LMS), student information systems (SIS), and Microsoft Office Suite
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., or equivalent) in Art Therapy, Counseling, or related field
- Experience teaching in transformational, experiential, or reflective learning environments
- Active engagement in professional organizations (e.g., AATA, ACA, NMCA) or scholarly/creative contributions to the counseling field
Who You Are
- Deeply aligned with SWC’s transformational, consciousness-centered educational philosophy
- A compassionate and reflective educator who values inclusivity, diversity, and multiple ways of knowing
- A collaborative colleague with strong communication and mentorship skills
- Committed to integrating inner growth with professional practice and preparing students to serve their communities with integrity and compassion
Why Join SWC?
- Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience
- Comprehensive benefits: health, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and professional development support
- Opportunities for personal and professional growth in a mission-driven academic community
- Work in Santa Fe, NM — a hub of art, culture, and healing traditions
How to Apply
Please submit the following:
- Cover letter describing your alignment with SWC’s mission and qualifications for this role
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Philosophy of Teaching statement
- Contact information for three professional references
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please see detailed job description below.
Join us in guiding the next generation of counselors through transformational, consciousness-based education.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Title:
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
POSITION TYPE: Full-Time
REMOTE OR HYBRID ELIGIBLE: Yes
BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY:
Employees who work 30-40 hours per week are eligible for all full-time benefits including paid time off, sick leave,health, dental and vision insurance, education benefits, retirement benefits, and professional development opportunities.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Adjunct faculty in the Art Therapy/Counseling (ATCN) program per course leadership responsibilities
POSITION SUMMARY:
Full-time faculty members serve as dedicated guides in a transformational learning environment, teaching graduate students, shaping curriculum, and contributing to a vibrant community of practice grounded in holistic, consciousness-based education. They also mentor and supervise adjunct faculty, ensuring alignment with the college’s mission, values, and pedagogical approach.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Teaching
Facilitate graduate-level courses effectively utilizing experiential, reflective, and transformational pedagogies that nurture consciousness, self-awareness, and personal-professional integration, with a minimum of 9 units per quarter within a student-centered scheduling structure.
- Foster a learning environment that balances compassion, high academic standards, and accountability, while upholding institutional policies and ensuring equitable practices in alignment with the college’s mission.
- Support students in their academic, professional, and personal development through responsive student advisement.
- Engage in program-wide student assessment and evaluation processes.
Curriculum Design & Oversight
Collaborate in designing, revising, and overseeing curricular scaffolding to ensure consistency across courses and alignment with programmatic learning outcomes and SWC’s consciousness-centered approach.
Adjunct Faculty Mentorship & Supervision
Engage in recruitment, hiring, mentoring, and supervising adjunct faculty—modeling SWC’s transformational teaching values, nurturing instructional quality, and facilitating their development in reflective practice and pedagogical integrity.
Professional Engagement & Learning
Maintain an active presence in your field through learning, practice, or creative expression that reflects and enriches SWC’s mission and contributes to your own ongoing evolution as a reflective teacher.
Service & Institutional Engagement
- Participate in faculty governance, program assessment, accreditation efforts, and institutional initiatives.
- Collaborate with colleagues to build an inclusive, supportive, and innovative learning environment that supports student retention and success.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & DISPOSITIONS:
- Alignment with the vision, mission, purpose, core values, and consciousness-based and transformational focus of the College.
- Deep alignment with transformational and consciousness-centered education philosophies.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills
- Technological proficiency, including LMS, SIS, and Microsoft Suite
Transformational Teaching Practices:
- Facilitation of Transformative Learning
Designs and guides experiences that foster deep reflection, self-awareness, and personal growth alongside academic learning and competency development.
- Relational & Inclusive Pedagogy
Creates learning environments grounded in respect, empathy, and inclusivity, honoring diverse ways of knowing and being.
- Integrative & Experiential Teaching
Employs creative, experiential, and integrative that connect inner work with academic learning.
- Mentorship & Community Building
Provides relational mentorship to students and adjunct faculty, cultivating a collaborative learning community that supports both individual and collective growth.
- Critical & Creative Inquiry
Encourages curiosity, dialogue, and multiple perspectives, guiding learners to make meaning through inquiry, reflection, and practice.
- Alignment of Inner and Outer Learning
Helps learners integrate their personal transformation with their professional calling, preparing them to serve as compassionate change agents.
Transformational Teaching Dispositions:
Commitment to Transformation
Approaches teaching as a vehicle for personal, professional, and societal transformation.
Compassion and Presence
Demonstrates authentic presence, deep listening, and compassion in relationships with students, colleagues, and community.
Respect for Diverse Ways of Knowing
Honors multiple perspectives, cultural traditions, and lived experiences as essential to collective learning.
Reflective and Conscious Practice
Engages in ongoing self-reflection and conscious awareness to align teaching practice with personal and institutional values.
Collaborative Spirit
Values shared leadership, collegiality, and the co-creation of knowledge within a learning community.
Creativity and Openness
Embraces creative, integrative, and experiential approaches to foster meaningful engagement and insight.
Service Orientation
Aligns inner growth with service to the greater good, preparing learners to be compassionate agents of change.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in counseling/art therapy
- Holds Art Therapy Board Certification – ATR-BC (for Art Therapy faculty)
- Graduate-level teaching experience in art therapy/counseling or a related field
- Experience in curriculum development or program design.
- Technology Proficiency (LMS, SIS, and MS Office Suite)
- LPCC and Supervisor License in New Mexico
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., in art therapy or equivalent).
- Graduate-level teaching experience within transformational, experiential, or reflective learning contexts.
Job Type: Full-time
Base Pay: $65,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Santa Fe, NM 87507
