Academic Department Head/Agricultural & Extension Education

Department Contact: Robert Torres, 575-646-1807, rmt@nmsu.edu

About the Role

We are seeking candidates with an understanding of and appreciation for undergraduate/graduate education, research, and outreach, with a strong commitment to the Land Grant mission. The Department Head serves as the chief academic and administrative officer and principal advocate for the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the Department Head provides strategic leadership for the department’s teaching, research, Extension, outreach, and service missions while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students.

Responsibilities

• Faculty recruitment and development; faculty annual evaluation; program development; program review; curriculum development; student recruitment and retention; departmental fiscal management; and secure external funding, fundraising, or partnership development.
• Leadership and Administration: Advance departmental, college, and university priorities; lead strategic planning and organizational improvement; communicate departmental needs and accomplishments; resolve concerns; and use data to guide decisions and allocate resources. Oversee departmental facilities, equipment, technology, and operations.
• Academic Programs Success: Provide strategic leadership for undergraduate and graduate programs, ensuring quality, relevance, and continuous improvement of curricula, instruction, assessment, and experiential learning opportunities. Oversee faculty and staff workload assignments, promote effective allocation of departmental resources, and teach at least one upper-division or graduate course each academic semester.
• Student Recruitment, Engagement, Retention, and Success: Lead proactive, data-informed efforts to recruit a diverse and academically prepared student body; strengthen student engagement, belonging, and persistence; and improve retention, degree progression, and graduation rates. Support effective advising, mentoring, career preparation, and timely intervention for students experiencing academic or personal challenges.
• Faculty and Staff Leadership: Recruit, supervise, support, and evaluate faculty and staff in accordance with university policies. Conduct annual evaluations, mentor faculty through promotion and tenure, support professional development, address performance or workplace concerns, and administer personnel actions fairly and consistently.
• Fiscal and Operational Stewardship: Develop and manage departmental budgets, personnel resources, accounts, grants, contracts, and revenue-generating activities. Ensure compliance with university policies and standards of ethical stewardship in purchasing, contracting, and equipment management.
• Research, Extension, and Outreach: Champion faculty research agendas; support the development, funding, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality research; and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. Provide oversight for grants, contracts, research compliance, and related responsibilities. Support initiatives of the Center of Excellence in Food and Sustainable Agriculture and develop partnerships responsive to New Mexico’s schools, communities, agricultural industries, and Extension clientele.
• Communication and External Relations: Serve as an ambassador for the department by building relationships with alumni, donors, schools, government agencies, industry, professional associations, and community organizations. Support fundraising, student recruitment, program visibility, and responsible communications consistent with university requirements.
• Professional Development: Remain knowledgeable about university policies, academic administration, fiscal and personnel management, research administration, and regulatory requirements. Pursue relevant training and consult university professionals as needed to lead the department effectively. Foster collaborations and participate in activities and research teams that support the work of the Center for Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems (CESFAS).

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Communications, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrable record of academic achievement and professional experience consistent with the university rank of Full Professor or Associate Professor eligible for promotion to Professor within the department.
• Evidence of leadership, team-building skills, strong interpersonal and communication skills, administrative experience, and a strong record of academic teaching and advising proficiency.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in actively recruiting and mentoring students and/or faculty from diverse cultures and promoting an academic program to the community, university, industry, granting agencies, government, and other stakeholders.

Skills

• Knowledge of land-grant university missions, academic programs, student success, personnel management, budgeting, promotion and tenure, grants and contracts, and research compliance.
• Familiarity with agricultural and Extension education and/or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and commitment to student success.
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, problem-solving, conflict-management, personnel-supervision, and resource-management skills.
• Ability to build trust, establish priorities, manage competing responsibilities, use data to guide decisions, apply policies consistently, develop partnerships, advocate for the department and its faculty while leading organizational improvement.

Working Conditions

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited physical effort required.
• Lifting requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

About the Organization

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research, public service, and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff, and students working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI), and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures.

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.

• NMSU Global Campus: Provides flexible, career-focused online education through over 70 degree and certificate programs, skill-building microlearning courses, and career and talent development.
• NMSU Main Campus: Located in Las Cruces, NM, the 900-acre main campus is a thriving center of higher education, deeply rooted in regional tradition.
• Doña Ana Community College: A leading community college offering over ninety degrees and certificates, adult education, specialized workforce training, and small business assistance.
• Alamogordo Campus: Established in 1958 to serve the needs of the airmen and families stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, offering inspiring views and a supportive learning environment.
• Grants Campus: Serves the local communities in Cibola and McKinley counties, including several Pueblos and surrounding areas.