"Assistant or Associate Professor, Extension Education"

POSITION Assistant/Associate Professor, Extension Education (70% Extension, 30% Teaching)

LOCATION Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC) Department, UT Extension, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

EFFECTIVE DATE Negotiable with suitable candidate. Screening of Applicants will begin 09/15/2025 and continue until position is filled.

SALARY Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is a full-time, 12-month tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor with responsibilities in Extension and teaching. The ALEC department is an integrated teaching, research, and extension unit with undergraduate and graduate academic programs in agricultural leadership, education, and communication.

RESPONSIBILITIES

70% Extension

• Develop, deliver, lead and evaluate an Extension educational program called Next Chapter (college and career readiness program) in consultation with Enrollment Management, Herbert College of Agriculture, and Tennessee 4-H Youth Development.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate needs-based agriculture professional development for secondary teachers
• Plan and conduct a high-quality and impactful applied research program to support their educational program
• Publish applied research
• Secure grant funding in support of Extension program

30% Teaching

• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses related to agricultural and extension education
• Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students
• Chair and serve on graduate student committees

Service

• Serve on departmental, college, and university committees
• Assist with appropriate 4-H and school-based agricultural education activities

Appendix A: Overview of the Next Chapter Program & Extension Specialist Responsibilities

Program Overview

Mission: Next Chapter prepares Tennessee youth for college, career, and life by helping them identify their strengths, explore opportunities, and chart a path to success. Rooted in the values of Tennessee 4-H and UT’s land-grant mission, the program engages high school students in structured, interactive, and mastery-based learning experiences that build college and career readiness.

Vision: To build a statewide pipeline of confident, college-bound Tennesseans who are connected to their purpose and prepared to thrive at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and beyond. The Next Chapter program aims to expand access to higher education, enhance student success, and cultivate a stronger college-going culture across all 95 counties in Tennessee.

Program Structure: Next Chapter is delivered through four Mastery Levels, each containing 7–8 asynchronous lessons designed for mobile-friendly, student-driven engagement. Students progress through the levels at their own pace, with support from local 4-H agents and program facilitators. Admitted first-year, in-state students who are enrolled in Next Chapter and have successful completion of the program are eligible for a four-year, $1,500 per year scholarship to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with one student annually named as Next Chapter Scholar of the Year and awarded tuition and mandatory fees up to four years.

Key Responsibilities of Next Chapter Specialist

This Extension Specialist will coordinate with a cross-functional team across UT Extension, Enrollment Management, the Office of Information Technology, the Herbert College of Agriculture, and 4-H to ensure statewide implementation of the Next Chapter program. Core areas of responsibility include:

1. Program Execution & Oversight

• Lead the day-to-day rollout of the finalized Next Chapter program across four mastery levels statewide.
• Oversee student onboarding, participation, and progression within Canvas Catalog.
• Ensure students meet requirements and timelines for program completion.

2. Partner Coordination & Communication

• Serve as the primary liaison among campus and county-level stakeholders, including UT Extension, Enrollment Management, UTIA, and regional 4-H staff.
• Ensure seamless coordination of scholarships, data tracking, enrollment, and student supports.

3. Recruitment & Marketing

• Manage student and county recruitment efforts.
• Represent the program at key events such as 4-H Congress and Roundup.
• Collaborate with communications teams to promote the program via branded materials, social media, and video content.

4. Training & Support for Local Facilitators

• Deliver regional in-service trainings and provide on-demand technical support.
• Maintain facilitator guides, toolkits, and FAQs.
• Offer professional development opportunities to strengthen program delivery.

5. Scholarship & Enrollment Management

• Ensure accurate tracking of student completion and scholarship eligibility.
• Coordinate with Enrollment Management to manage SLATE records and admissions data.
• Support MOU compliance, admissions criteria, and data reporting.

6. Evaluation & Impact Reporting

• Collect and report on engagement, retention, and college enrollment data.
• Gather stakeholder feedback to inform program improvement.
• Contribute to reports for funders and university leadership.

**Qualifications**

• Ph.D. by employment start date in Extension Education, Agricultural Education or closely related field
• Preferred three years of secondary education teaching experience
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching, including the ability to deliver courses using distance education technologies
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to publish and present scholarly works
• Ability to secure grant funding
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team; must be self-motivated and directed with the ability to achieve measurable results
• Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences
• Ability to teach effectively in non-formal or formal settings
• Ability to mentor and advise graduate students

**Application Instructions**

Review of Applications will commence on 09/15/2025 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Applicants should submit (a) letter of application, (b) transcripts, (c) names and contact information (including email addresses) of at least three professional references, (d) 1-page statement describing educational philosophy, and (e) a detailed curriculum vitae.

Questions can be directed to: Dr. Jennifer Richards, Search Committee Chair, The University of Tennessee, Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, 114 McCord Hall, 2640 Morgan Circle, Knoxville, TN 37996-4510, Phone: (865) 946-1086, jennifer.richards@utk.edu.

**Equal Employment Opportunity Statement**

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.