The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture invite applications for the position of Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center.
The Dean/Director serves as the chief administrative officer of the College and Center, reporting administratively to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University of Arkansas at Monticello for undergraduate and graduate teaching programs and to the office of the Vice President for Agriculture for research and Extension. The Dean/Director provides vision and leadership for teaching, research, and Extension, and is responsible for planning, implementation and assessment of College and Center programs and development and management of budgets. Additionally, the Dean/Director is responsible for developing and advancing cooperative relations with forestry and agriculture industries, natural resource agencies, nongovernmental organizations, constituent landowners and producers, other academic institutions, and public officials.
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources offers associate, baccalaureate and graduate programs in Natural Resources Management, Agriculture, and Land Surveying. These include Forestry, Agriculture Business, Wildlife Management & Conservation, Animal Science, Pre-Veterinary Science, Geospatial Science, Agriculture Site Specific Management, Plant and Soil Science, General Agriculture, Communications in Natural Resources, and Environmental Science. The College offers 2-year Associate degrees in Forest Technology, Agriculture, and Land Surveying Technology. The Master of Science in Forest Resources offers emphasis areas in Forest Science, Geospatial Science, Natural Resource Management, and Wildlife Ecology and Management. The College is designated as a Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture and offers the only baccalaureate degree forestry program in the state which is accredited by the Society of American Foresters. Generous supporters of the College have provided for more than 50 fully endowed student scholarships.
Agricultural research and Extension activities are conducted by the agriculture faculty members within Arkansas, surrounding states, and across the nation. This research and Extension work focuses primarily on applied topics in animal science, plant and soil science, and agricultural economics. Studies and activities are conducted in collaboration with state Extension specialists, county agriculture agents, and other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture personnel. Support for these efforts comes from commodity promotion boards and national and state research grants. Results are presented at local, state, and national meetings.
The Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas Center administered through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has a focus of providing excellence in research and Extension. The mission of the Center is to provide reliable, relevant, and innovative research and Extension education programs to address the management, sustainability, and economic and environmental contributions of the forest resources in the state, region and nation. To support this mission, the Center brings together multidisciplinary expertise from across the University System through the partnership between the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Many of the faculty and staff have joint appointments between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Division of Agriculture. The College and Center maintain state-of-the-art laboratories (hydrology, soil, quantitative analysis, silviculture, and wildlife ecology and management) for research and education, housed in recently renovated facilities. The Division of Agriculture is a Land Grant Institution, with research administered through the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. The Center is headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but has statewide responsibility for its research and Extension programs.
The University seeks candidates having an earned doctorate in a discipline related to forestry, agriculture, or natural resources. Candidates should have an excellent record of teaching and scholarship that merits tenure as a full professor in one of the College’s disciplines. Demonstrated administrative and leadership capabilities and an unyielding commitment to student success and faculty scholarship are required, as are excellent interpersonal and communication skills, innovative thinking, a vision to leverage our expertise and grow our program, and a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity. Experience with stakeholder groups is preferred.
The position is available July 1, 2021. Screening will begin November 15, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications.
For application, electronically submit a letter of application describing your leadership experience, educational/research philosophy, and a Dean/Directors vision, a current vita, names and contact information for at least five professional references. Off-list references may be contacted. Send applications to parris@uamont.edu. For more information, call Dr. Mark Cochran, Vice-President for Agriculture at (501) 686-2540 or Ms. Crystal Halley, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at (870) 460-1033.
UAM and UADA are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers and are subject to FOI requests