Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Partnership Engagement

Position Announcement

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln invites nominations and applications for the position of Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Partnership Engagement of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). The university is seeking an innovative, dynamic, and entrepreneurial individual who will provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the college.

Position Overview
The associate dean is a member of the CASNR leadership team of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). This position will provide leadership and oversight of all graduate education programming in the IANR; foster partnerships with internal and external partners, stakeholders, and donors to advance IANR’s graduate education framework; and contribute to the performative evolution of CASNR’s teaching and learning mission, while ensuring the relevance, quality and impact of the college’s efforts to prepare students and professionals for a changing world.

Position Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the associate dean include:
•Contribute leadership to the development and implementation of the CASNR strategic teaching and learning mission;
•Advance the IANR graduate education vision and strategic framework through collaboration with internal (Agricultural Research Division, Nebraska Extension, College of Education and Human Sciences, and IANR Global Engagement) and external partners to provide students with a truly transformative educational experience that prepares our graduates to be the next generation of leaders, scientists, educators, innovators and entrepreneurs;
•Play a key role in campus (in its broadest sense) diversity and inclusion initiatives to build a vibrant and engaged community (graduate students, life-long learners, post-doctoral scholars and faculty) of scholars, with a particular emphasis on the diversity of the community, and in efforts to develop robust programming and expertise to support learner exploration of diverse and emerging career paths;
•Examine opportunities for and barriers to improving collaboration with internal and external partners and strategic campus initiatives to expand opportunities and programming to enhance graduate student recruitment, academic offerings (including progressive and evolving platforms and venues), professional development, and the academic success of our graduate and professional students.
•Oversee the college’s graduate and professional student fellowship program, global engagement, online education and statewide PK-20 programs (partnership with Nebraska Extension);
•Serve as CASNR’s liaison to the Office of Graduate Studies, IANR academic units, and other academic colleges to oversee both the integrity of graduate and postdoctoral education and the success and professional development of CASNR graduate and postdoctoral students as well as continuous learners by developing new pathways and learning platforms (accelerated programs, stackable certificates, non-credit programming, digital badges);
•Coordinate professional development programming for faculty and graduate/professional students;
•Foster partnerships and project management for internal and external partners, stakeholders, and donors to advance CASNR’s teaching and learning mission;
•Effectively manage personnel to accomplish strategic goals and foster an inclusive culture in which all contributions to the team are appreciated and recognized, collaboration and innovation are encouraged, and the abilities of all are engaged to fully realize the potential of the team, and of each team member; and
•Ensure opportunities are open to all, programs are inclusive of all constituencies, and efforts are made to engage diverse audiences, especially those that are traditionally underrepresented.
As a member of the CASNR and Nebraska University community, the individual will be expected to accept committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the college, institute, and or university level.

The Associate Dean reports to the CASNR Dean. The Associate Dean will be appointed to a five-year renewable term, subject to annual reviews by the CASNR Dean and a satisfactory formal performance review.

To be considered for the position, candidates must have:
•A doctoral degree in a field of study represented within the units of CASNR.
•A record of excellence in teaching and learning, research, and scholarship commensurate with appointment in a CASNR unit at the rank of professor with tenure.
•Administrative experience within higher education.

Preferred candidates will:
•Demonstrate that they are visionary leaders with proven skills in academic administration, resource management, and program formation and review.
•Demonstrate strong collaborative academic management experience, creative and strategic thinking, sound judgement, excellent analytical skills, and the ability and courage to make difficult but informed decisions.
•Demonstrate an abiding commitment to diversity and to practices that are inclusive of all forms of human diversity. The candidate should have demonstrated experience in mentoring members of underrepresented groups.
•Show a commitment to and experience in supporting and cultivating an accomplished and diverse faculty. The passion for excellence and integrity must be paired with an ability to inspire and motivate.
•Have experience with innovative curriculum development and a commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and graduate education.
•Be sensitive to the perspectives and values of faculty, staff, and students; have a commitment to shared governance; and possess the ability to collaborate effectively with a broad range of consistencies.
•Have a distinguished record of success in obtaining external funding.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is an educational institution of international stature. The University is a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Academic Alliance and is classified within the Carnegie R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity category. It is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. UNL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

UNL is made up of nine colleges through which it offers a broad range of majors, providing exceptional breadth and depth of opportunity in the sciences, liberal arts, and professional disciplines. The university’s enrollment is growing and becoming more diverse. Fall 2017 enrollment topped 26,000, the highest and most diverse enrollment in the history of the university. In fall 2017, for the 13th straight year, UNL made U.S. News & World Report’s annual evaluation of America’s Best Colleges’ list of Public National Universities, placing it among the top one-fourth of all public universities. UNL is ranked near the top third of all national universities both public and private. The university has approximately doubled its research expenditures over the past decade and has been recognized nationally as one of the fastest growing public research universities.

UNL boasts 22 Rhodes Scholars and three Nobel laureates among its alumni. The university is regularly named a top research institution whose students are awarded Fulbright scholarships and consistently succeed in prestigious national scholarship competitions. The university had a record eight faculty named AAAS fellows in 2015, tied for the second-most fellows behind Stanford’s nine.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment and encouraging all members of its learning community to reach their full potential. UNL is responsive to dual-career families and strongly promotes work-life balance to support its community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.

Additional information about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln may be obtained from its website, https://www.unl.edu/.

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1973, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) is composed of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), the Agricultural Research Division (ARD), Nebraska Extension, and the ARD and Extension components of three departments in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Teaching is provided through the CASNR, research through the ARD, and extension education through statewide Nebraska Extension.

IANR innovation in research, teaching, and extension education places Nebraska on the leading edge of food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. The Institute’s priorities are the life sciences, from molecular to global systems; sustainable food, fiber, and natural resource systems that support a bio-based economy; economics and environments for a sustainable future; and human capital development of children, youth, and families. IANR also discharges a global leadership role in enhancing worldwide food and water security, particularly in developing countries.

IANR is led by the Vice Chancellor/Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Additional information about the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources may be obtained from its website, https://ianr.unl.edu/.

The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Since the establishment of the University of Nebraska in 1869, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) has provided opportunities for students to develop personally, intellectually, and professionally to meet the challenges of their era. Today’s CASNR fosters a student-centered learning environment where diverse basic and applied natural, life, earth, and social sciences are integrated into the context of a global society and environmental stewardship. The college’s goal is to prepare students as leaders for a future in which demands on food, energy, and water systems will challenge sustainability. Its areas of study are broad and span animal, plant, and human health and well-being, earth systems analysis, agricultural production and processing, global climate change, agricultural market structures, water resources, and land-use change. The college is also responsible for coordinating all agricultural sciences and natural resources programs in higher education within the State of Nebraska.

Additional information about the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources may be obtained from its website, https://casnr.unl.edu/.

Application
IANR invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Partnership Engagement. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of persons of color, women, persons living with disabilities, and veterans.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue to receive applications until the associate dean is selected. To ensure full consideration, nominations and applications should be submitted before July 31, 2019.

Questions and nominations can be directed in confidence to:
Dr. Betty Walter-Shea, Search Committee Chair
103 Agricultural Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68583
Email: ewalter-shea1@unl.edu
Phone: 402-472-2201

How to Apply: Applicants should go to http://employment.unl.edu and search positions using requisition number F_190089, click on “Apply to this Job,” complete the form and attach a letter of interest, summarizing the applicant’s personal vision and relevant leadership experience and detailed curriculum vitae. The names of 3-5 professional references will be requested only of candidates who make the short list. All candidate information will be held in strict confidence until the final stage of the search at which time the express permission of finalists will be obtained before making their candidacy public. Candidates are urged to review all information and documents posted on the search web site.

For questions and assistance with submitting the application, contact Rachel Szelag, HR Specialist at rszelag2@unl.edu or by phone at (402) 472-6837.

UNL offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience.

As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.