Professor and Department Head (Academic Administrator)

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking an outstanding individual to provide leadership and vision as Department Head. The Department thrives on understanding the nature of how diverse factors impact food safety, crop quality/productivity, and agricultural and ecosystem health with the goal to develop effective strategies for sustainable food and feed production. Specifically, the Department supports integrated extension programs in field crops, fruits, mushrooms, and vegetables.The faculty lead basic and applied research programs on biological control, fungal biology, microbial ecology, genomics and evolution, and plant/microbe/environment interactions. The Department fosters a highly ranked graduate program in Plant Pathology and actively participates in undergraduate and inter-college graduate programs to provide an intellectually stimulating, diverse, and inclusive environment for education and professional development.

Responsibilities

The Head serves as the Departmental program leader and administrative officer and reports directly to the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Head works with faculty to develop and meet strategic goals and to engage with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Duties include:

Academic program leadership in research, graduate and undergraduate instruction and extension. Administrative responsibility for academic affairs, departmental personnel, financial matters, and physical facilities. Leadership and coordination of Departmental relations with other Penn State units and programs, agricultural producers, agricultural industries, government agencies, and citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Creating an environment that supports and cultivates diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Qualifications

The candidate should possess a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Environmental Microbiology, Plant Disease Ecology and Evolution, or a closely related field in addition to the following attributes:

Internationally recognized excellence in research, education and/or extension as a faculty member in academia, with a record of scholarship that would qualify the candidate for tenure at the rank of full professor. Effectiveness in advocating research, education, and extension missions. Program and administrative leadership experience or strong evidence of the potential for program and administrative leadership. Excellence in written and oral communication. Strong interpersonal and networking skills. Demonstrated ability to provide an inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, students and stakeholders.

To apply, please provide:

Letter of application that states an applicant's specific interest in the position, qualifications, previous professional and administrative responsibilities, and achievements. Statement of leadership philosophy. Applicants should provide evidence, either woven through their application materials or as a separate diversity statement, of a commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusive excellence, ethics, belonging and engagement, and of creating an inclusive environment in their classroom, department, and the University. In the application materials, the candidate should specifically address how they will integrate issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and ethics into candidate's research, Extension and service. Curriculum vitae (CV) which includes statement of current position and responsibilities. Contact information for at least 3 professional references.

Applications will be reviewed beginning on September 30, 2024, and the review process will continue until the position is filled. The salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the applicant. Inquiries can be addressed to: Professor and Head of Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Dr. Suat Irmak at sfi5068@psu.edu. Interested applicants should apply on Penn State's online job website (https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic). Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies.

The Penn State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. The Penn State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, such as differing economic circumstances; personal characteristics; philosophical perspectives; social, racial, economic, and ethnic diversity; sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and physical abilities. We believe that these differences bring great strength to our university. The Penn State University is committed to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, that leverages the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engages all individuals to help them thrive. To review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety matters and policies, please go to http://police.psu.edu/annual-security-reports, which will explain how to request a paper copy of the Annual Security Report.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: