Tenured: Professor and Department Head of Agricultural Economics

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University is seeking applications for a full-time, tenured Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics. The expected start date is August 1, 2025. This 9-month tenured position includes a research appointment and comes with an administrative stipend equivalent to two months of summer salary. The role offers competitive university benefits, and additional support in the form of a postdoctoral scientist is available upon establishing a Hatch project. The administrative stipend and postdoctoral support will remain in effect for the individuals tenure as Department Head.

The Professor and Head will serve as the department's chief administrative officer, acting as an advocate for Agricultural Economics and the disciplines it represents. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, the Head will provide leadership and support for various faculty initiatives. This role also includes overseeing Texas A&M Agri Life Extension programs within the department. Key responsibilities include enhancing and expanding undergraduate and graduate education, increasing contributions to knowledge through externally funded research, fostering collegiality and interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing Extension and outreach programs, securing additional resources, strengthening relationships with stakeholders, and promoting the communication of science-based findings to inform public policy and private sector decision-making.

The Department of Agricultural Economics is one of 15 academic departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It is home to 70 faculty members, including 32 tenure-track, 17 Extension, and 21 professional-track with teaching or research appointments. The department boasts a distinguished faculty, including three Fellows of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, two Regents Professors, and 5 Endowed Professors. The department offers a comprehensive range of programs, including a doctoral program, three bachelors degrees, and three masters degrees. The undergraduate program, with 1,587 students, is the largest of its kind in the nation. The department's teaching initiatives also include the nationally top-ranked Master of Agribusiness program and a growing Financial Planning program, which welcomed 190 new majors in 2024. The department's Extension program is one of the largest in the country, supporting 254 counties across 12 Extension districts in Texas. Since 2022, the department has experienced significant growth, with 25 new faculty hires. The department is also home to several key research centers, including the Agribusiness, Food and Consumer Economics Research Center, the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, the Center for North American Studies, and the Human Behavior Lab.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have experience leading a dynamic and highly productive research program that is nationally and internationally recognized, along with demonstrated success in academic administration. The successful candidate should exhibit visionary leadership, characterized by transparency, strategic thinking, and innovation, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the teaching, research, and Extension components of the Land Grant Mission. The department head must excel in communication and collaboration with faculty, staff, and students and effectively advocate for their best interests to university administrators, state and federal agencies, industry partners, stakeholders, and the public.

Texas A&M University, a land, sea, and space grant institution, was designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in 2022. With over 79,000 students and a multibillion-dollar endowment, it ranks second in the U.S. for agricultural R&D expenditures. The College Station/Bryan area, home to 281,445 residents, is frequently ranked among the best places to live. Texas A&M is part of The Texas A&M University System, which includes 11 universities, a health science center, and eight state agencies including the Agri Life Research and Agri Life Extension agencies, educating over 157,000 students and conducting $1 billion in annual R&D, significantly contributing to the economy of Texas.

Texas A&M University is aware that attracting and retaining exceptional faculty often depends on meeting the needs of two careers and having policies that contribute to work-life balance. For more information, visit https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/index.html.

Candidates for the Professor and Department Head position must have an earned doctorate in Agricultural Economics or a related field and a record of distinction in research, teaching, and service that would qualify them for tenure at a tier 1 research institution. Demonstrated experience in academic administration and experience in a land grant institution are preferred.

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted at: apply.interfolio.com/158831. Applicants should submit the following documents: 1) a cover letter; 2) a detailed Curriculum Vita; 3) a personal statement of vision for the department,specifically addressing administrative philosophy, personal research, undergraduate and graduate education, faculty mentoring, the fostering of academic research programs across multiple disciplines, extension outreach, and a strategy for development (fundraising); and 4) contact information for five references. Review of applications will begin on January 13, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. The position is available to begin on August 1, 2025, or as negotiated. For questions, email inquiries to Advisory Search Committee Chair, Professor Clay Mathis at clay.mathis@ag.tamu.edu.

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