The School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS; https://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/seas.html) at the University of Cincinnati (UC; https://www.uc.edu) invites applications for an Associate or Full Professor with administrative experience to become its inaugural director, a position equivalent to department chair. Environmental scholars and researchers from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds will be considered.
SEaS is the recently created unit home to the successful Environmental Studies BS and BA, as well as two minors, making SEaS home to more than 300 undergraduate students. SEaS brings together expertise in the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities to create a transdisciplinary approach to environmental problem solving through collaborative research, in the classroom and in the community. Current SEaS faculty hold joint appointments in departments including Anthropology, Biological Sciences, English, History, Geosciences, and Philosophy. The SEaS Director will report to the Divisional Dean of Social Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences.
The expected appointment will begin August 15, 2024. Tenure will be granted at the time of hire.
Essential Functions
As SEaS Director: Nurture the existing community of students and faculty and oversee the expansion of the unit by leading two faculty searches in 2024, one in environmental policy and the other in environmental sociology. The Director will represent SEaS within the college, across the university, and in the Greater Cincinnati community. UC faculty are represented by the AAUP and have a collective bargaining agreement that describes general unit head responsibilities.
With the support of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the School Director will ensure continued success of existing undergraduate programs through effective communication with students, staff, and faculty. The director will also lead the development of new programs, including graduate programs.
As Faculty: Conduct research, teaching, and service in accordance with unit workload criteria and per the terms of the current AAUP-UC Collective Bargaining Agreement. (https://aaupuc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-2025-COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING-AGREEMENT-FINAL.pdf)
Course load will match disciplinary expectations, with course release during years of service as director. Although the Environmental Studies program has a robust curriculum, we anticipate that the successful candidate will also develop and teach courses that coincide with their area of expertise.
We seek a candidate with a strong record of interdisciplinary environmental research and teaching who will support the research mission of the unit, facilitate interdisciplinary grant writing and research, grow programs, and uphold the unit’s passion for community-engaged research.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates must hold a PhD. from an accredited college or university in any disciplinary or interdisciplinary field.
Must have already earned tenure.
Must also have experience in academic administrative work, such as program director, unit chair/head, or similar administrative role.
Additional Qualifications Considered
Strength of environmental research.
Experience in transdisciplinary teams.
Experience with donors / private or public fundraising.
Fit of candidate with the disciplines in College of Arts & Sciences.
Relevance and extent of administrative experience.
