INTRODUCTION 

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for the position of Associate Dean for Extension and Associate Director for Cooperative Extension System (CES), with an appointment as Associate or Full Professor with tenure in a CAHNR department related to the candidate’s academic discipline. We are seeking an inspirational, dynamic, visionary, and collegial individual to provide exemplary College-level leadership in Extension, in alignment with both the College and University strategic vision. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment.

The CAHNR Associate Dean for Extension provides innovative leadership in planning, facilitating, supporting, and evaluating statewide Extension programs, while expanding Extension’s connections to diverse audiences and topics. The Associate Dean for Extension plays a key role in the daily functions of the College as a member of the CAHNR leadership team. The Associate Dean for Extension reports directly to the Dean. CAHNR has eight academic departments, in addition to the Department of Extension. The departments include a wide range of traditional agricultural disciplines, as well as health, the environment, and natural resources. A list of academic departments can be found here: https://cahnr.uconn.edu/about/. The College is comprised of 189 tenured, tenure-track, and teaching faculty (24 with Extension appointments), 32 Extension faculty, 97 staff, 473 graduate students, and 2,036 undergraduate students. 

The Cooperative Extension System in CAHNR provides research-based education to families, communities, and businesses across the state and the region. UConn Extension is on a collaborative journey. Our mission is to co-create knowledge with farmers, families, students, communities, and businesses. We educate. We convene diverse groups to help solve problems. CAHNR Extension is a cornerstone of UConn’s Land Grant and Sea Grant missions, to create and disseminate knowledge that improves the lives of people locally, regionally, and nationally. CAHNR Extension faculty and staff are located across eight county offices throughout the state, and three university campuses located in Storrs, Hartford, and Avery Point. 

CAHNR is implementing a Strategic Vision to achieve high-level goals that will advance our teaching, research, and Extension programs in the years 2020 to 2025. The Associate Dean for Extension provides key leadership in facilitating the implementation of the five strategic priorities outlined in our Vision (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues):

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply.
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally.
• Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion through anti-racist approaches.
• Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces.
• Advancing resilience and adaptation in a changing climate.

The University and CAHNR prioritize scholarship in areas that impact the quality of life, including human, animal, plant, and environmental health and sustainability. We encourage and provide support for cross-disciplinary, collaborative scholarship across the College, University, nation, and globe. UConn is committed to Life Transforming Education for students and Extension audiences. UConn is recognized as one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly campuses by the Sierra Club. Through research, teaching, service, and Extension, UConn embraces diversity and inclusion, and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.   

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide visionary leadership to the Cooperative Extension System that serves to expand connections to new and existing audiences.
• Work with Extension faculty and staff from all nine departments in CAHNR to develop and communicate program goals and impacts to internal and external audiences.
• Coordinate programming, reporting, and collaboration with UConn Office of Public Engagement.
• Oversee the Smith-Lever budget and program funding in coordination with the CAHNR Business Office, and coordinate reporting for capacity funds (Smith-Lever, Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Animal Health) with CAHNR Research, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, and the CT Agricultural Experiment Station.
• Provide leadership in creating innovative programming with internal and external partners, such as Sea Grant, CT Agricultural Experiment Station and state, regional and federal partners.
• Represent CAHNR Extension on statewide committees.
• Engage with diverse stakeholder groups, Extension specialists and volunteers to capture input and coordinate Extension programs.
• Advance and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts in the Cooperative Extension System in proactive collaboration with CAHNR and the University.
• Integrate Extension into the implementation of the CAHNR Strategic Vision initiatives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Doctoral degree in a discipline related to CAHNR.
• Experience in developing, delivering, leading, and/or overseeing community and public engagement programs or other outreach programs.
• Leadership and/or supervisory experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in delivering Extension programming at the community, county, or statewide level.
• Leadership experience in higher education at the department, center or college level.
• Demonstrated interest and involvement in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Understanding of guidelines and reporting related to federal (USDA) capacity funding.
• Experience and success in grantsmanship and/or scholarship.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 12-month position with an anticipated start date as soon as possible or January 17, 2023. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21882 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter that addresses how your experiences meet the minimum and preferred qualifications (maximum of three pages).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Leadership statement summarizing how you will provide innovative leadership for CAHNR Extension and how you will contribute to the college’s success in achieving its Strategic Vision (maximum of two pages). 
• Statement on contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice detailing your knowledge, experience, and vision in this role for advancing this University-wide commitment(maximum of two pages). 
• Names and contact information for at least three references. Finalists will be notified prior to contacting references.

Review of applications will begin on August 15, 2022, and continue until a successful candidate is selected. Inquiries should be sent by email to Ms. Virginia White (virginia.white@uconn.edu).

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.