PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Applications are invited for the position of full-time Professor (Tenured) and Head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University with a 9-month appointment beginning September 1, 2020.
The Professor and Head will serve as the chief administrative officer of the Department who is responsible for hiring and evaluation of Departmental faculty. The Head is expected to advocate for the Department’s academic, research, extension and service programs. The Head reports to the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The position provides leadership and support for numerous department initiatives including enhancing and expanding undergraduate and graduate education, increasing contributions to knowledge and science through extramurally funded research, fostering collegiality and interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, conducting extension and outreach programs, securing additional resources, strengthening relationships with diverse stakeholder groups, and promoting communication of science-based findings to inform public policy and private decision makers. The Department Head is expected to continue and maintain a dynamic, extramurally funded, internationally recognized research program while administering the Department.
The department of Horticultural Sciences (https://hortsciences.tamu.edu) is a nationally ranked program with an ambitious vision for continued excellence. The Department’s mission is focused on improving the quality of life through artistic expression in floral design, sustainable design, installation and maintenance of environmentally friendly built environments, the efficient production of high quality, healthful fruits and vegetables, development of novel cultivars of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops, contributions to fundamental knowledge in plant sciences, investigating people / plant interactions, training of students to serve industry and further scientific understanding, and to disseminate these innovations and information to the people of our state, country, and the world. This is accomplished by developing new knowledge and tools through basic and translational research, by translating research results to clientele through extension programming and by providing our students with the information and skills needed for success.
The Department offers two undergraduate degrees, the B.A. and B.S. in Horticulture, as well as a certificate in Enology. The Department’s graduate programs include the M.S. and Ph.D. in Horticulture as well as Plant Breeding and the Master of Agriculture (non-thesis) in Horticulture. In addition, faculty within the department participate in several interdisciplinary graduate programs including Food Science and Technology, Genetics, and Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences.
Areas of research emphasis within the Department include ornamental and vegetable breeding and variety development; plant-microbe interactions; plant genetics and genomics; stress physiology; plant bioactive compounds and bioprocessing; greenhouse and nursery crop production; plant secondary metabolites; enology and viticulture; and economics of the floriculture and green industry sectors.
Information about the Department of Horticultural Sciences can be found at https://hortsciences.tamu.edu/
Qualifications
Candidates for Professor and Head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences must have an earned doctorate in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science or a closely related field, with a record of distinction in research, teaching, extension, and service that would qualify them for tenure. Demonstrated experience in academic administration is preferred, as is experience at a land-grant institution. Candidates should provide evidence of visionary leadership; innovative thinking; commitment to student education and the land-grant mission; the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and students; and the ability to represent those departmental constituencies effectively to University administrators, state and federal agencies, industry, stakeholders, and the general public. A commitment to promoting a multidisciplinary, multicultural, and diverse community of scholars and educators is essential. A record of success in the development of funding and program support is also expected.
Application Instructions
Applications will only be accepted through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/75526 Applicants should submit the following documents: 1) a cover letter detailing their interest in the position; 2) a detailed curriculum vitae; 3) a personal research statement; 4) a statement of administrative philosophy; 5) a statement of vision for the Department, specifically addressing undergraduate and graduate education, faculty mentoring, the fostering of academic research programs across multiple disciplines, extension outreach, the advancement of diversity, and a strategy for development (fundraising); and 6) contact information for five referees. Application materials will be kept confidential until a short list of candidates is notified. Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. For questions, email inquiries to Advisory Search Committee Chair, Dr. David Baltensperger at dbaltensperger@tamu.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. Diverse perspectives, talents, and identities are vital to accomplishing our mission and living our core values.
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