"Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department"

Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department

Company: Tarleton State University

Job Location: Stephenville, Texas

Category: Farming and Agriculture

Type: Full-Time

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Tarleton State University in its search for Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department and Tenured Associate or Full Professor.

For full consideration, please apply by March 16, 2026.

Tarleton State has emerged as Texas’s fastest-growing public university, posting nearly 50% enrollment growth since 2022, with sustained year-over-year increases that underscore its expanding statewide impact. This is a pivotal moment to join an institution making significant strategic investments in academic excellence, research capacity, and student success, and a compelling opportunity for a visionary, people-centered academic leader to shape the next chapter of a flagship academic unit.

In this context, Tarleton State University, a distinguished Doctoral National Comprehensive University, invites applications for the position of Associate Professor/Professor and Department Head in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications. As part of a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth.

Guided by the university’s long-range plan, Tarleton Forward 2030, the institution is pursuing ambitious goals related to academic distinction, research growth, and community engagement. Tarleton’s rising national profile, including its Carnegie R2 designation, reflects a growing emphasis on scholarship, external funding, and innovation.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department Head serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the department and will oversee a department of 15 faculty (and growing), which currently enrolls the second-largest student population among academic units. The successful candidate will bring the credibility, judgment, and leadership presence to set direction, establish clear expectations, and unify a growing academic unit, while supporting faculty development, strengthening academic programs, and advancing college and university priorities.

Housed within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department is part of one of Tarleton State University’s most established and high-impact academic units, known for its strong applied-learning focus and deep connections to Texas’s agricultural, natural resource, and rural communities. There is one doctoral program in the college (Animal and Natural Resource Sciences) with one more planned for submission in 2027. The Department’s academic programs prepare graduates for leadership across education, industry, and communication sectors, and are supported by a deeply engaged and influential alumni network. The Stephenville campus further supports this work through state-of-the-art facilities, including the Research and Economic Development Building, recipient of a 2025 TEXO Distinguished Building Award, designed to catalyze collaboration across disciplines.

This 12-month, tenured appointment (50% administrative) is based primarily on Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville, Texas.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Vision: Collaborate with the department faculty and staff to establish a vision for the department in alignment with the overall vision of the school, college, and the university.
• Strategic Planning: Lead the shared development and implementation of a departmental strategic
• Institutional Collaboration: Work with the college dean and their leadership team, as well as administrative leadership in academic affairs and across institutional divisions to fulfill the institutional strategic plan Tarleton Forward 2030.

Budget and Resource Allocation

• Financial Oversight: Develop and manage the department’s budget in collaboration with college and university
• Resource Allocation: Oversee the allocation of departmental resources, including equipment, lab space, technology, and office space.
• Reporting: Work with the university budget specialist for record keeping and university

Academic Program Development and Continuous Improvement

• Curriculum Assessment: Ensure the ongoing review, development, and modification of curriculum to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies, and to meet the evolving needs of students, accreditation standards, and industry expectations.
• Program Assessment: Ensure review and evaluation of existing academic programs, using data to enhance quality and ensure alignment with institutional goals.
• Program Development: Work with department and university partners to propose and develop new undergraduate and graduate programs, including interdisciplinary programs, majors, minors, certificates,
• Accreditation Compliance: Ensure that academic programs meet discipline and institutional accreditation requirements, including preparation of necessary reports and supporting documentation.

Faculty and Staff Excellence

• Recruitment and Hiring: Oversee faculty and staff recruitment efforts, ensuring compliant recruitment practices and high-quality hiring.
• Mentoring: Provide mentorship and guidance to faculty and staff, foster ongoing professional development; encourage and support faculty in pursuing effective teaching practices and competitive scholarship.
• Workload Management: Oversee faculty teaching assignments; oversee the collaborative articulation of faculty teaching, research, service, and administrative goals in the yearly Statement of Expectation documents.
• Evaluation: Conduct annual performance evaluations of faculty and staff, including faculty midpoint, tenure & promotion, and post-tenure reviews.
• Communication and Conflict Resolution: Foster open lines of communication within the department as well as with [school and] college leadership; address and mediate conflicts within the department, including faculty and staff disputes.

Student Academic Success

• Engagement: Foster a productive environment for student engagement, retention, and graduation; support student organizations within the department.
• Academic Scheduling: Ensure that class offerings meet student demand and degree
• Conduct: Support faculty in their obligation to uphold standards of academic integrity and rigor of classes and programs; mediate departmental processes for student academic appeals.
• Recruitment: Work with the Division of Enrollment Management and the College of Graduate Studies to market programs to increase enrollment.
• Career Development: Connect students with opportunities for internships, experiential learning, and career exploration

Teaching, Research, and Scholarship

• Plan, prepare, and deliver lectures, seminars, and/or laboratory offerings to undergraduate and/or graduate students, which may include general education core curriculum.
• Assess student performance, provide timely feedback, and evaluate student learning outcomes to inform teaching practices and curriculum improvements.
• Incorporate innovative teaching methods, technologies, and pedagogical approaches to enhance student learning and engagement.
• Maintain an active agenda for research, scholarship, or creative activity appropriate to the applicant’s academic discipline.
• Make original contributions to the advancement of knowledge/creative expression in the applicant’s discipline through scholarly publication, presentation, or exhibition.
• Demonstrate potential for external funding, national impact, or professional

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge and understanding of disciplinary subject matter at a level adequate for graduate-level instruction.
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to conduct effective teaching and research activities.
• Ability to interact with students, staff, and faculty in a professional, collegial, and collaborative manner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate in Agricultural Education/Communication/Leadership, or a related field from an accredited university.
• Distinguished record in teaching and research warranting a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor.
  • Eligibility for tenure will be determined by reviewing the candidate’s record consistent with Texas A&M University System guidance.
  • Tenure upon arrival is contingent on Texas A&M System Board of Regents approval.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A distinguished record in teaching and research that warrants a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Full Professor.
• Administrative and leadership experience as department head/chair.
• Previous experience in oversight of accredited academic programs.
• Demonstrated ability to use and understand data to inform strategic planning.
• Strong evidence of the ability to set operational goals from strategic plans.

To Apply

For full consideration, please apply by March 16, 2026.

To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjycvxci

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to TarletonAg@acesrch.com.

Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.