Assistant Professor of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education
The Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in agriculture, food and natural resources education at the assistant professor level, with a 50% research, 50% teaching appointment (academic year). We seek a colleague who embraces the Department’s core value of community engagement and who will bring the scholarship of education and sustainability to bear on critical agriculture, food and natural resources issues challenging communities across Michigan, the U.S. and the world.
Duties: Duties include: (a) conducting and disseminating peer-reviewed research related to agriculture, food and natural resources education and sustainability; (b) obtaining competitive external funding to support a strong research program; (c) developing and delivering high quality classroom instruction tied to curriculum learning outcomes; (d) recruiting and advising graduate students and directing thesis and dissertation research; (e) collaborating effectively with students, faculty, educators, policymakers, and other community stakeholders; and (g) performing professional and university service.
The successful candidate is expected to develop a program of scholarship that integrates funded research, instruction, and outreach activities. Potential research areas could include, but are not limited to: adoption/diffusion of innovations, community food systems, educational policy, teaching and learning assessment, agriculture and food system literacy, engaged learning, change theory, and human dimensions of agricultural systems. Some potential research funding sources include federal agencies such as USDA, NSF, USDE, and USAID, as well as private foundations and non-governmental organizations.
The successful candidate will be prepared to teach sustainability core courses (e.g., CSUS 200, 300 and 301) for the department’s three majors; Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE), Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS) and Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SPRT). Additionally, the successful candidate will be prepared to teach AFNRE courses focused on undergraduate and graduate pre-service agriculture, food and natural resources teacher education. Possible courses could include, but are not limited to, methods of teaching and learning, educational program development, community food and agriculture systems, leadership development, program evaluation, social network analysis, experiential learning, survey research methods, quantitative analysis, and field supervision of interns/student teachers. We seek candidates who can help us innovate both methodologically and pedagogically. We also seek candidates who will mentor undergraduate and graduate students as they develop skills that they can apply academically and professionally.
Qualifications: Applicants will be evaluated for the following criteria:
• Earned doctorate in agricultural education, environmental education, sustainability education or a closely related discipline;
• Evidence of successful research and publications in peer-reviewed journals;
• Preparation for successfully pursuing competitive funding to support research, outreach and teaching programs;
• Potential for successful teaching in the sustainability core curriculum, the AFNRE major, and other courses in the unit (e.g., community food systems);
• Potential for mentoring students; • Evidence of at least 3 years professional teaching experience in either formal learning
(e.g., school-based education) or non-formal learning (e.g. cooperative extension); and
• Demonstrated interest in community engagement and collaborative and interdisciplinary
research.
Department: The Department of Community Sustainability is a vibrant community of scholars who engage with colleagues, students, stakeholders and communities to address sustainability challenges within specific environmental, economic and cultural contexts. We do this by:
• Focusing on sustainability engagement that embraces the decisions inherent in the transition to a more sustainable future;
• Creating and supporting a dedicated faculty working on sustainability-related issues; • Incorporating a systems-thinking view of sustainability into curricula at the
undergraduate level, graduate level, and lifelong learner level; and
• Conducting sustainability scholarship that is international in scope while attending to
regional and local contexts.
As scholar-practitioners, and as a multidisciplinary department, we address critical issues at the interface of agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and communities. Through engaged scholarship, we aim to generate knowledge that will be useful to people in their roles as residents, landowners, businesses, and governmental and non-profit institutions.
We seek to understand the dynamic interactions in communities, ecosystems, and the world, as well as opportunities for sustainable development. This work is rooted in our view of a just, engaged, and dynamic society. Toward that end, we are guided by an ethic of responsible and responsive scholarship that engages people and communities.
Consistent with its mission to contribute to the development of sustainable communities, the Department offers three undergraduate majors (Bachelor of Science) linked by a common core in community sustainability: (1) Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS); (2) Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SPRT); and (3) Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education (AFNRE). Michigan State University is the only institution in Michigan certifying school-based secondary agricultural teachers. In addition to the majors, the department offers an interdisciplinary minor in environmental and sustainability studies. Undergraduates in our majors and minor are encouraged to participate in MSU’s Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE) (https://rise.natsci.msu.edu/) and the Bailey GREENhouse and Urban Farm (baileyurbanfarm.org). The Department offers graduate degrees in Community Sustainability (MS and PhD) and Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management (MS and PhD). In both undergraduate and graduate programs, the Department of Community Sustainability embraces international as well as domestic applications, engagement, and opportunities.
Additional information about the Department is available at www.csus.msu.edu.
University: Michigan State University (www.msu.edu) is a Land Grant institution based in East Lansing, Michigan that provides regional, national, and international leadership in basic and applied research, excellence in teaching, an emphasis on international engagement, and a strong extension program that partners with diverse stakeholders to bring science-based responses to social and environmental challenges.
Michigan has abundant natural resources, one of the most diverse agricultural industries in the nation, and is surrounded by the beautiful Great Lakes. East Lansing and the region have numerous music and theatre offerings, with an active arts community (www.cityofeastlansing.com/) that includes the recently opened Broad Art Museum (www.broadmuseum.msu.edu). Throughout Michigan there is a growing local food movement, over 100 wineries and 200 microbreweries, diverse outdoor recreation activities, and a range of summer and winter sporting events.
Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications, and MSU offers a generous benefits package (details at www.hr.msu.edu).
Application Procedure: : Qualified applicants MUST apply online on the MSU Applicant Page (MAP) website www.hr.msu.edu/hiring/msujobs.htm, referencing posting #2288. Applications must include the following: 1) a cover letter that includes the applicant’s perceived fit with the department; 2) a statement focusing on research experience and interests including methodological approaches; 3) a statement of teaching philosophy and experience; 4) a curriculum vitae; and 5) contact information for three or more references.
Questions regarding the position may be directed to the Search Committee chair, Dr. Matt R. Raven via email or to set up a phone conversation at [log in to unmask] Applications will be accepted until December 15, 2015, or until a suitable candidate is selected.
Michigan State University is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.
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