Department Chair, Sustainable Development Department

Qualified candidates will have an earned doctoral degree in a discipline related to sustainable development, experience working in or leading interdisciplinary environments, and a record of excellence in teaching and scholarly achievements commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

Candidates will also have a demonstrated commitment to collective leadership and shared governance, as well as a demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities and learners. They will also have strong communication skills (including the ability to listen effectively and build consensus), university administrative experience, and commitment to community engagement and sustainable development practice.

We seek qualified candidates whose scholarship and teaching complement or leverage the existing expertise in the department.

The ideal candidates should demonstrate an ability to foster a collaborative culture, with expertise in interdisciplinary integration, academic leadership, and a proven record of inclusive decision-making.

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The Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development is an interdisciplinary critical development studies program that integrates theory and practice from across the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences with more than 300 undergraduate majors. We are the only interdisciplinary department of sustainable development at a US university, with faculty from diverse disciplines including political science, forestry, anthropology, agriculture, geography, biology, literature, and more. We have three program areas: community, regional, and global development; agroecology and sustainable agriculture; and environmental studies. The Department's mission is to prepare students to engage in the social, economic, and environmental transformations necessary to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities within an ecologically healthy world. Most of our faculty work globally creating long-term academic and community partnerships in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while also engaging with communities and organizations locally. Our graduates are prepared to work in leadership positions and fulfill the University's commitment to building a just and sustainable future. Additional information about the Department is available at www.sd.appstate.edu.

The Sustainable Development Department at Appalachian State University invites applications for the position of Department Chair, beginning July 1, 2025. We seek a colleague who can provide both academic leadership and departmental management to our innovative and interdisciplinary department.

The responsibilities for this position include: administrative management of the department (including budget oversight and staff supervision); providing collaborative leadership for the ongoing development of the department; supporting faculty and student achievement; advocating for the department; representing the department in the College of Fine and Applied Arts as well as the University, and teaching one course each semester. Additional information about the duties of Department Chairs is provided in section 8 of the Academic Affairs Standard Operating Procedures: https://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/aasops.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate's salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.

No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.

Complete applications will include the following:

1) letter of interest;
2) curriculum vitae;
3) a statement on your vision for the sustainable development department that includes details about how you will contribute to collective governance and our initiative for diversity as justice; and
4) the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three references.

Review of candidates will begin January 10, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.

The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.