Job Details

Professional Practice Assistant Professor, Faculty Director of the Master of Plant Health Management Program
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Position Number: 5812197
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Position Type: Agriculture - Plant and Soil Science

Department:

FAES | Entomology

Distribution of Effort: 75% Teaching and 25% Administrative responsibilities.

Position Track: Professional Practice Clinical track faculty position (non-tenure occurring) on a 9-month appointment

Position Description

CFAES is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in our professions. The interdisciplinary Master in Plant Health Management Program seeks a Professional Practice Faculty Director in the Department of Plant Pathology OR Department of Entomology OR Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS). The main responsibilities will be to oversee the MPHM program, including student recruitment, retention and professional growth, academic curricula, program growth and development, and to teach courses in plant health management at the graduate level. The MPHM is a fully online professional degree program that also services students local to Columbus and Wooster, OH. The faculty member will work with Graduate Program Coordinators, an MPHM advisory committee, and faculty from the three academic units to advise students through program and course requirements, including selecting courses, assigning projects and project advisors, and ensuring that all students are in good standing in the program. They will work directly with university, college, and department administrators to provide academic and financial oversight for the program and will prepare and submit periodic reports to university, college, and/or department administrators. The incumbent will also be expected to seek external funding and resources in collaboration with advisors and stakeholders to support the program and students enrolled in the program. The incumbent is expected to stay abreast of current and upcoming issues in plant health and develop relationships with stakeholders, especially those that can provide internship opportunities to students.

Performance Objectives

Deliver and manage online content for three to four 7- or 14- week courses annually across a broad range of plant health topics for graduate students in the program.

Oversee MPHM seminar series in spring and autumn semesters.

Demonstrate an ability to cultivate learning environments that are equitable and inclusive of students with diverse social identities and backgrounds, and commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion within plant health management professions.

Advise approximately 45 graduate students on academic and programmatic requirements.

Work collaboratively with the three academic departments and University/CFAES recruiters to engage potential students from a diverse set of communities and non-traditional educational pathways.

Work collaboratively with university faculty and staff, OSU Extension, government agencies, non-government organizations, and community groups to advance the land grant mission of the college and university.

Develop bachelor's to master's combined "4+1" degree programs for students in Entomology, HCS, and Plant Pathology majors to transition from undergraduate to graduate school.

Provide service through committee work and other appropriate responsibilities and activities to the home department, university and professional communities

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:

Earned Ph.D. in Entomology, Horticulture, Crop Science, Plant Pathology, Biology, or related field.

Demonstrated interest in or experience with teaching graduate courses and laboratories.

Evidence of potential for excellence in teaching.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a willingness and ability to work closely with diverse groups of academic (e.g., students, staff, faculty) and practitioner audiences.

Demonstrated interest in and/or experience with teaching, recruiting, mentoring, and advising diverse underserved students, including women, students of color, veterans, and especially non-traditional students.

Desired:

Demonstrated expertise delivering online courses.

Experience working in plant health management industries.

Experience with career mentoring and/or academic advising

How to Apply:

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday at https://osujoblinks.com/4yoo

Required:

Application materials must include:

Cover letter of interest - Describe your qualifications, areas of expertise, career goals, and alignment with desired qualifications and preferred qualifications where applicable

Curriculum Vita (CV)

Statement of teaching experience and philosophy (max two pages)

Statement of demonstrated efforts in your research, teaching, and/or outreach and engagement that reflect Ohio State's Shared Values and that might further advance our mission and institutional excellence (max two pages)

Name and contact information for three professional references

Initial consideration will be given to applications received by January 3, 2025. Review of applications will continue until the position has been filled. We welcome informal inquiries, which can be made by contacting Search Committee Chair Dr. Monica Lewandowski at Lewandowski.52@osu.edu.

For further information and application instructions please see: https://hr.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/applicant-faq.pdf

Additional Information:

Department/School Information

About the Departments (Tenure Initiating Units, or TIUs). The Department of Entomology currently has 18 faculty working in diverse entomological fields including vector biology, pollinator management and conservation, crop pest management, molecular biology, insect behavior, and other specialties. We offer an undergraduate major and minor, MS, and PhD in Entomology. Additionally, faculty in our department are encouraged to participate in the Sustainable Agriculture undergraduate major, the Master in Plant Health Management program, and the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program.

The Department of Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) consists of 39 faculty who specialize in agronomic and specialty crops, turfgrass systems, and ornamental horticulture at ecosystem, field, plant, cellular, and molecular levels. The department houses three undergraduate majors, Sustainable Plant Systems, Professional Golf Management, and an interdisciplinary Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainable Plant Systems is the flagship major of HCS and includes specializations in: Agronomy, Agroecology, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Biosciences, and Turfgrass Science. We also offer MS and PhD programs.

The Department of Plant Pathology currently has 13 tenure-track, one professional practice, and multiple adjunct and clinical faculty members, as well as a Pest and Disease Clinic Director. Our research, teaching, and extension programs cover a range of plant pathology- and plant health-related areas, including mycology, virology, bacteriology, nematology, molecular plant-microbe interactions, plant disease epidemiology, plant health management, food safety, antimicrobial resistance, microbial ecology, and agriculture microbiome. We offer two undergraduate majors and two minors; MS and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology; and the Professional Master in Plant Health Management degree (jointly with Entomology and HCS).

The three departments are split between the Columbus and Wooster Campuses of The Ohio State University. This position will be located on the Columbus OR Wooster campus (negotiable). Columbus is a large, diverse midwestern city with an affordable cost of living and vibrant community. The area boasts not only The Ohio State University, but also professional sports, an active theater and music scene, and a renowned food and beverage culture. Wooster is located in northeastern Ohio with over 27,000 residents, about an hour's drive from the Cleveland metropolitan area. The CFAES Wooster campus includes faculty from most of the college's academic departments, with over 3600 acres that encompasses extensive farm and agbioscience facilities, the Secrest Arboretum, and the Agricultural Technical Institute, a two-year associate degree-granting program.

The College

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) anchors its mission in a simple, yet powerful phrase: We Sustain Life. Faculty, staff and students alike contribute to this mission in a variety of ways. Our Strategic Alignment outlines the colleges values: Land-Grant Scholarship; Lifespan Learning; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Integrity and Accountability; and Permeable Borders. These values, which align with the university's Shared Values, shape our goals of our Strategic Alignment. We are committed to scholarship across three mission areas (teaching, research, Extension) with a commitment to serving our state in addition to the country and world. As a land grant, we are part of a cooperative structure that includes key partners all dedicated to integrating research, education, and Extension to improve the food and agricultural sectors, the environment, and the quality of people's lives. We educate not just undergraduate and graduate students but learners across the lifespan. We work to ensure groundbreaking scientific discoveries are brought out of the laboratory and into the hands of those who can put them to work.

CFAES houses 11 departments/schools with over 20 undergraduate majors and 9 graduate programs, including 3 interdisciplinary programs affiliated with multiple Ohio State colleges. We also administer OSU Extension, which provides robust and relevant programming to Ohioans and beyond in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Community Development. We are one college spanning three campuses: Columbus, CFAES Wooster, and Statewide. Our CFAES Wooster campus includes a large research station and Ohio State's only two-year academic unit, Ohio State ATI. The Statewide campus includes 11 research stations and Extension offices in all of Ohio's 88 counties. Our At a Glance provides additional information regarding our size, capacity, and impact as a college.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America's leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes' list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

The Ohio State University's Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

Located in Ohio's capital city, Ohio State's Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. In addition to its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to CFAES Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.