Chairperson-Agriculture

Salary: Depends on qualifications

Location: Cape Girardeau, MO
Department: Agriculture

About the Role

Provide dynamic collegial leadership to a department with a dedicated faculty and staff, and vision necessary to grow and enhance the department's academic programs. Fulfill the role and responsibilities of a chairperson as defined in the Faculty Handbook, including officially representing the department's interests on and off campus, evaluating faculty and staff, managing budgets, providing curricular development, and ensuring that the needs of students are met.

Half-time teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate instruction in the candidate's professional discipline area, advising students, student recruitment, and participating in regional services and professional organizations. Specifically, in agriculture the chairperson is also responsible for overseeing the operations of the 252-acre agricultural research center (beef, forage, and cropland) and a horticulture greenhouse complex and gardens. The chairperson also helps maintain regional relationships for the department, including with the agriculture community, FFA, and commodity groups.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Department of Agriculture
• Represent the department's interests on and off campus
• Evaluate faculty and staff
• Manage departmental budgets
• Oversee curricular development
• Ensure student needs are met
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate's discipline
• Advise students and participate in student recruitment
• Oversee operations of the 252-acre agricultural research center and horticulture greenhouse complex
• Maintain regional relationships with the agriculture community, FFA, and commodity groups
• Contribute to the development of innovative curricula and delivery strategies, including traditional, blended, and online formats
• Participate in initiatives promoting student success, retention, and degree completion

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. in Agriculture or related field from a regionally accredited, internationally accredited, or government-certified university
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to meet the requirements for tenure at the rank of Professor
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to work effectively with internal and external entities
• Demonstrated leadership and administrative experience
• Experience and skills necessary to recruit and retain undergraduate and graduate students
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to collaboration and partnerships
• Progressive leadership with the potential to manage and coordinate events, obtain resources, support faculty and staff, and stimulate a growing educational program
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of faculty morale and enthusiasm
• Commitment to excellent undergraduate and graduate education and student success within the framework of the teacher-scholar model

Application Details

This position is available July 1, 2026. The review of applications will begin immediately.

To apply, submit the following items:

• Letter of application addressing all position qualifications
• Current curriculum vitae
• Statement of Administrative Philosophy and Shared Governance
• Statement of Teaching and Research Philosophy
• Statement of Commitment to Outreach
• Unofficial copies of transcripts (official transcripts required for employment)
• Names and contact information of three professional references with at least one who can address administrative ability