Professor of Agricultural Science

Iowa State University

United States

Position Title:
Professor and Department Chair of Agricultural Education and Studies

Appointment Type:
Faculty

Job Description

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa seeks a Professor and Chair for the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies. Nominations and applications are sought for a visionary leader with demonstrated capacity to lead this department in its mission areas of teaching, research, and extension/outreach/service. The department and college are consistently ranked among the top programs in the country and have a culture of excellence and accomplishment.

The department has approximately 20 faculty and staff and is administered through CALS, which provides an operating budget including funding from the Experiment Station. The department has one of the largest undergraduate enrollments (~550) in CALS with B.S. degrees in agricultural and life sciences education, agricultural communication, and agricultural studies. The department offers M.S. (resident and online) and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural education with current enrollment of ~45 graduate students. The department collaborates actively with most departments in CALS and the School of Education in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

The Chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies will provide visionary and bold leadership to advance the department’s mission in teaching, research, extension, outreach, and service. Responsibilities include:

Strategic and Academic Leadership

Lead and supervise faculty and staff to foster a collaborative and high-performing academic environment.
Stimulate excellence and innovation across all mission areas, with a focus on local-to-global engagement and sustainability.
Initiate and oversee strategic planning that aligns with the department’s long-term goals and Iowa State University’s land-grant mission.

Faculty and Staff Development

Recruit, mentor, and retain outstanding faculty and staff.
Promote a collegial and accountable departmental culture.
Support faculty and graduate students in securing extramural funding and foster a culture of team science and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Curriculum and Student Success

Encourage the development of dynamic and relevant undergraduate and graduate curricula.
Support student recruitment, retention, and success through world-class, innovative programming.
Promote cross-disciplinary thinking and leadership among students.

Fiscal and Operational Management

Ensure sound fiscal and personnel management in compliance with university policies.
Manage departmental budgets, endowments, and resources to support all mission areas.
Support capital projects, fundraising, and donor engagement.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

Communicate the department’s mission, vision, and achievements to internal and external stakeholders.
Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, industry partners, public agencies, and community organizations.
Represent the department and college in university-wide initiatives and external forums, including after-hours and overnight travel as needed.

Collaborative Governance

Serve as a collaborative member of the college leadership team.
Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration with other departments, centers, and institutes.

Required Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. or equivalent in any of the areas of expertise in the department, or a closely aligned field.
Scholarly activities that qualify for tenure in CALS at the rank of Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

Evidence of capacity and/or demonstrated leadership in:

Research productivity (publications, extramural grants, professional presentations)
Organizational budget/fiscal management
Personnel management, including recruitment, advancement, and retention
Advancing teaching, program planning, and student success
Advancing research, extension, and outreach enterprises and collaborations
Working with external stakeholders and building partnerships with public and private organizations

Position Details

Initial Department Chair appointment is for five years with formal review during year four.
Administrative appointment is at-will and serves the Dean of CALS; academic appointment is tenured.
Chair appointment is a 9-month position with summer salary provided.
Expected workload: 85% administrative, 15% teaching, research, outreach, and service.
Proposed Start Date: January 1, 2026
Number of Months Employed Per Year: 09 Month Work Period
Time Type: Full-time

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the Employment Application and be prepared to attach:

Cover letter/statement describing experience and forward-looking outlook related to the department’s purposes and Chair responsibilities
Full curriculum vitae
Contact information for four professional references (at least one from outside the applicant’s current organization). References will not be contacted without permission.

Guaranteed consideration date: October 15, 2025

For questions, contact the search committee chair: Dr. Jeff Iles (iles@iastate.edu)