Applications and nominations are invited for the position of Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University.

The Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership has a national and international reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and extension. The Department Head administers state, national, and international programs and is accountable to the Vice President, who is also the Dean and Director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The department consists of 11 tenure-track faculty members, and 5 professional staff. The department’s approximately 287 undergraduate students may select majors in agricultural education, agricultural communications, and agricultural leadership. The department averages 55 graduate students and offers MS degrees in agricultural education, agricultural communications and agricultural leadership, MAg degrees in agricultural education and agricultural leadership, and a PhD in agricultural education.

Department faculty members have been nationally and internationally recognized for their teaching, scholarship, and service.

Oklahoma State University is the state’s comprehensive land-grant university. Founded in Stillwater in 1890, OSU now has campuses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Okmulgee. OSU has about 1,300 full-time faculty members and about 3,700 full-time staff. Total enrollment for all campuses exceeds 33,000 students with 22,845 in OSU Stillwater/Tulsa. Approximately 230,000 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, professional, and associate degrees have been granted since the first six graduates in 1896. A total of 5,076 degrees were granted in the 2008-2009 academic year. OSU offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields as well as a professional Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees. Specialist in Education degrees are offered in selected fields.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position include leadership in:

• planning, developing, integrating, and implementing departmental teaching, research, extension, and international programs;
• diversity efforts of the department to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and students;
• management of human, financial, and physical resources;
• development of faculty and staff programs and activities supportive of the Department’s and the Division’s strategic plans including the development of departmental goals in an equitable and professional manner;
• representation of departmental and faculty interests to administrators, other University and Division units;
• collaboration with Division Unit Heads, and with other University administrators and faculty;
• representation of the department to outside agencies, individuals, communities, and groups in agriculture and industry;
• pursuit of external funding to include competitive grants, research contracts, gifts, and other special funding to include endowments for scholarships, fellowships, and chairs and professorships;
• assignment of responsibilities to faculty and staff, and the evaluation of their performance;
• accomplishment of professional growth and development of faculty, staff, and students; and
• oversight of departmental activities in state, regional, national, and international organizations and committees.

Qualifications

The qualifications of this position include:

• an earned doctorate required in agricultural education, communications, extension education or a closely related discipline;
• a record of outstanding scholarly achievements and professional activities related to teaching, research, and/or extension that will qualify the individual for full professorship with tenure;
• evidence of administrative ability to direct an academic department engaged in teaching, research, and extension activities at a major land-grant university;
• the ability to provide visionary and progressive leadership;
• the ability to effectively listen, communicate, and represent the department with administrators, agencies, and on-and off-campus interest groups;
• the willingness and ability to make timely decisions;
• the ability to effectively manage human, financial, and physical resources;
• the ability to foster professional development, assign responsibilities, and evaluate performance of faculty and staff; and
• a commitment to securing diversity in faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate student recruitment and retention.

Employment Conditions

The position is to be filled by July 1, 2010, or as soon thereafter as a suitable candidate is available. This is a 12-month administrative appointment with tenure in the department. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. Continuation of this position is subject to performance, need, and available funding.

Nomination and Application Procedure

The Search and Screening Committee encourages nominations and direct applications.

Nominations should include the name, address, electronic mail address, and telephone number of the nominee.

Applicants should submit a professional resume and a letter of application that includes qualifications, previous professional responsibilities, achievements, administrative philosophy and leadership style, and describe how these relate to the department head position.

Applicants should provide the name, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address of five references the committee may contact for additional information. The references should be knowledgeable about the qualities that make the applicant well suited for the responsibilities described in this announcement. References will not be contacted without prior consent of the applicant.

Formal review of applications will begin January 5, 2010, and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Women and members of other under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Submit nominations and/or applications electronically to: agdepthead_search@okstate.edu. Questions may be addressed to: Dr. Ron Elliott, Chair, Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership Department Head Search and Screening Committee, at 405-744-5431, or ron.elliott@okstate.edu.

More information about the Department is available on the web site http://aged.okstate.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Applicants will be considered without discrimination for any non-merit reason such as race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran.

Oklahoma State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity/e-verify employer committed to diversity. The OSU-Stillwater campus is tobacco-free.