Adjunct Faculty-Mental Health

Mental Health Adjunct Faculty

The adjunct faculty member in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program will be responsible for teaching mental health focused courses and labs, drawing on advanced clinical expertise to facilitate student competency in occupational therapy evaluation and intervention for individuals with mental health conditions across the lifespan and practice settings. The adjunct collaborates with core faculty to deliver high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences aligned with ACOTE accreditation standards and the OTD curriculum design.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach assigned mental health occupational therapy course and course components within the OTD curriculum using a variety of instructional methods.
• Prepare, update, and refine syllabi, learning activities, and course materials that reflect current evidence, trauma-informed care principles, and best practices in mental health occupational therapy.
• Develop and grade assignments, tests, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and skill checks to assess student achievement of mental health–related learning outcomes.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback, academic support, and remediation as needed to promote student success in psychosocial and mental health content.
• Maintain expertise in mental health occupational therapy practice, including participation in continuing education, clinical practice, scholarship, or professional service.
• Collaborate with lead/course faculty to ensure consistency of instruction, alignment with course and program outcomes, and integration of mental health content across the curriculum, including fieldwork expectations.
• Participate in required program meetings, training sessions, and selected accreditation or curriculum activities related to assigned courses.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned a terminal academic degree (OTD, PhD, EdD, ScD, or equivalent) in occupational therapy or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Current NBCOT certification as an OTR and eligibility for Maryland state occupational therapy licensure.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of full-time clinical experience in mental health occupational therapy practice, such as inpatient psychiatry, community mental health, behavioral health, substance-use recovery, crisis services, psychosocial rehabilitation, school-based mental health, or integrated primary care.
• Demonstrated expertise in occupational therapy evaluation and intervention for adults, adolescents, or children with mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial needs, consistent with assigned teaching responsibilities.
• Prior teaching, precepting, or clinical education experience in higher education or professional training; this may include adjunct teaching, lab instruction, or extensive fieldwork education.
• Evidence of effective oral and written communication skills and ability to use learning management systems (Canvas) and educational technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous teaching experience in an ACOTE-accredited OTD or MOT program, particularly in psychosocial, behavioral health, or mental health content.
• Current or recent mental health clinical practice and/or mental health–focused scholarship, including presentations, publications, quality-improvement work, advocacy, or practice innovation.
• Demonstrated experience with trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, therapeutic use of self, group dynamics, and/or interprofessional behavioral health practice.
• Experience teaching in hybrid, online, or lab-immersion formats.

Questions may be referred to Dr. Ivelisse Lazzarini, Program Director at ilazzarini@ndm.edu

Additional Information

Notre Dame of Maryland University does not discriminate in offering equal access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or protected veteran's status. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policy: Greg FitzGerald, Chief of Staff, Notre Dame of Maryland University, 4701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210, 410-532-5109.

For all other employment inquiries, please contact Human Resources at 410-532-5898 or human_resources@ndm.edu. Notre Dame of Maryland University is an EEO/AA employer