AGRICULTURE - Assistant Professor of Sustainable Horticulture

Job Classification

  

Position summary

Assistant Professor of Sustainable Horticulture, 100% appointment with 70% of the time in the classroom teaching horticulture science and 30% will be oversight of the horticulture activities at the Agriculture Education Center, which will include personal research, and student oversight.  This position will work closely with the faculty and staff of the Department of Sustainable Agriculture to develop and maintain the facilities of the Center for educational and research activities, and assists the faculty in these activities.

Qualifications summary

EDUCATION:        PhD preferred 

EXPERIENCE:        Minimum of three years’ experience of successfully managing research or an active farm.  Minimum of three years experience teaching within higher education.


Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Duties and responsibilities

Teaching & Research

• Maintain a full teaching load during the fall and spring semesters


• Professional research would be primarily involving the uses of the greenhouse and Agriculture Education Center


• Typical classes will include:  iGrow, Plant Science, Soil Science, Plant Propagation, Plant Systematics and ID, etc.


• This will include lecture and labs depending on course details


• Teaching delivery will be face to face with an evolving online presence


• Regular support of the Departmental Team in outreach, recruiting new students, faculty meetings, departmental event planning, and similar activites

 

Within the Agriculture Education Center

• Ensures that the various assigned spaces in the greenhouses are ready for their next use such as research, teaching, rental area


• Keeps inventory of supplies needed for horticultural operations


• Monitors horticulture spaces to ensure that those assigned those spaces are utilizing them correctly


• Oversight of the Community Gardens prep, rental, clean-up


• Coordinates with the Farm on use of the areas within the Ag Ed Center as needed


• Communicates regularly with Dept. of Sust. Ag faculty about plans for/needs of greenhouses, budgets


• Management of facilities and students are a 12-month appointment


• Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.


• Assist faculty, staff and student researchers as required.


• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required.


• Supports the overall success of the Department of Sustainable Agriculture and the Agriculture Education Center by performing all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities

Supervision of 1-2 student workers.

Qualifications

PhD preferred in a related field to Horticulture and the plant sciences. Minimum of three years’ experience of successfully managing research or an active farm.  Minimum of three years experience teaching within higher education.


Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.

Technical competencies

The technical competencies are varied and typically are met by individuals who have the qualifications for this position as listed above.

Interpersonal interactions

Comfortable interacting with students inside and outside the classroom.  Committed to excellence in teaching.  Positive work ethic and able to mentor students in this program.

Physical demands

• The ability to lift and carry  farm supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds or more on an occasional basis


• Prolonged walking or standing, and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching on a daily basis. 


• A full range of physical motion in order to operate manual, electrically-powered and/or gasoline-powered equipment and machines and to load cattle and other livestock. 


• The ability to access facilities and areas which may only be accessible by climbing stairs or by climbing ladders to a height of 15 feet.  


• Must be able to move throughout assigned areas, as the work is often performed out-of-doors and year around.

Work environment

This position is for teaching both in the classroom and on the farm/greenhouse.  Professional and horticulture research settings will be typical.