Department Chair - Agricultural & Applied Economics

39397BR

Agricultural and Applied Economics

Position Description

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University (TTU) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenured Professor to begin August 1, 2025. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader who is innovative, dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics providing intellectual and strategic leadership for teaching, research, extramural funding, outreach and engagement, and service endeavors in the Department and Davis College.

Among other duties, the Chair/Director/Area Coordinator will manage departmental personnel; administer the academic programs with the assistance of program directors; develop and sustain connections with related professional and industry entities to promote teaching, research, development, and outreach; effectively represent the department to internal and external entities; effectively manage the unit's budget to sustain a culture of fiscal responsibility and health; and promote the success of the faculty, staff, and students in the department. The Chair will also serve as a departmental faculty member with the following expectations related to teaching and research:

* Maintain a research program as commensurate with the position and participate in graduate advising through thesis and dissertation committees.

* Teach courses as appropriate to serve the needs of the department.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the College

Davis College includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources Management, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences along with multiple research centers and institutes. Davis College has 149 tenure- and non-tenure-track faculty, 2,759 undergraduate and 539 graduate students, numerous staff employees, and generated close to $20 million in extramural research funding last year.

About the Department/School/Area

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AAEC) (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/aaec/) is one of seven departments within the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. AAEC is one of the original departments in the college (then Farm Management) but has evolved into a diverse department covering all aspects of agricultural and applied economics from food and fiber production, natural resources, marketing and behavioral economics, international trade, policy, economic development, and econometrics and applied AI/machine learning. The Department is proud of its student-centric, research-intense, multidisciplinary approach to undergraduate and graduate education. AAEC houses the Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness, the Thompson Chair in Agricultural Finance, and the Emma Beth Thompson Professorship in Risk Management. Two faculty are Fellows with the Texas Tech Free Market Institute, and one new faculty hire is a part of the newly established Center for Urban/Rural Environmental Sustainability. Additionally, the AAEC department hosts the International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness, the Thorton Agricultural Finance Institute, and the Food and Resource Experimental Economics Laboratory. The Thorton Institute hosts the Agricultural Bankers Conference, one of the largest agricultural credit conferences in the United States, now in its 51st year. AAEC is also the host to Texas Tech Farm Operations which manages a large commercial farming operation in the Texas Panhandle. Water is a critical research issue, and several members of the faculty are participants in the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, a research and outreach organization housed within the Davis College Water Center. Research productivity is growing and vibrant with an exciting cohort of early-career faculty. Since January 2021, faculty in the department have secured over $7M in externally funded projects. Faculty members consistently receive research awards at the college, university, and regional/national levels.
The department has approximately 500 undergraduate majors with BS programs in Agribusiness and Agricultural and Applied Economics. Additionally, the department has an Excellence in Agricultural Finance certificate program with extensive linkages to the agricultural finance industry. Students can also pursue a concentration in international agribusiness through our excellent study abroad programs offered by AAEC faculty through faculty-led programs and on our Texas Tech campuses in Seville, Spain and Costa Rica. The department also has approximately 65 graduate students spanning a Masters of Agribusiness as well as MS and PhD programs in Agricultural and Applied Economics. Our students have consistently been recognized with outstanding thesis and dissertation awards at the Southern, Western, and Applied and Agricultural Economics Associations. Several faculties have also been recognized with awards for outstanding teaching by the Davis College, TTU, and national associations. During the past five years, the Department has graduated 26 Masters of Agribusiness and 18 Masters of Science students. In addition, the Department has graduated 31 PhD students, many of whom occupy positions in Division 1 teaching, research, or extension programs.
As part of Texas Tech's culture to Strive for Excellence, AAEC prides itself on strong relationships with alumni, stakeholders, federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations that support our students and research efforts across Texas, the southwestern US, and internationally. The department plays an important role in the research enterprise at Texas Tech University, which is committed to attaining similar research metrics as AAU institutions.

Major/Essential Functions

The successful applicant for this leadership position will be one who has a strong background in Agricultural and Applied Economics and who also has a significant track record of excellence when working with external partners. The Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics will be a driven, visionary, and collaborative individual who supports research, extramural funding, and teaching as critical components of higher education and who will help build future successes on the Department's foundation of past and current excellence. In addition, the successful applicant will be someone who exemplifies the Davis College core values: valuing people, commitment to excellence, fostering discovery, and elevating others. The successful candidate should be a strong leader who helps the department continue to meet its commitment to discovery, training, instruction, and engagement and outreach in key areas of agricultural and applied economics. The successful department chair will be one who puts the success of the team and department above their individual accomplishments. They must appreciate interdisciplinary, experiential, and systems-based learning. The successful candidate will be committed to excellence throughout the discovery-to-application continuum.
The Chair of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics will be appointed to a five-year renewable term, subject to annual reviews by the Dean and a satisfactory formal reappointment review.

Essential Functions

• Engage in leadership to implement the University's academic and research goals, including campus-wide leadership in strategic areas to enhance the regional and national research presence of the department, College, and the University.
• Timely and effective communication to faculty, staff, students, and administrators as well as timely completion of assigned tasks.
• Interact with College leadership in strategic planning to foster the academic, research, and service growth of the department and College.
• Foster development of interdisciplinary academic and research programs in the College.
• Lead efforts to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and students, and to create an environment that fosters diversity, collegiality, and teamwork.
• Facilitate professional and academic growth and development of faculty, staff, and students.
• Provide leadership to the departmental faculty in planning, developing, integrating, and implementing excellence in teaching, research, and outreach programs.
• Manage the department's human, financial, and physical resources.
• Assign responsibilities to faculty and staff and evaluate their performance.
• Facilitate the pursuit of external grant and contract funding in the context of the departmental strategic goals.
• Actively seek support and resources for departmental programs/facilities and work with college development personnel on gift and endowment opportunities such as scholarships, graduate fellowships, and endowed chairs and professorships.
• Engage with professional societies, regional and national organizations, and committees associated with the interests of the department.
• Represent departmental interests within the University and to outside agencies, stakeholders, and relevant industries.
• Provide leadership in maintaining and expanding relationships with alumni, individuals, and various groups involved in agricultural and applied economics.
• Service duties include program-building, as well as commitment to extracurricular activities. Service to the department, college, and university is expected.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

To be considered for the position, candidates must have:

• A Ph.D. in agricultural economics, economics, business, or related fields.
• A strong record of academic accomplishments in research, teaching, outreach, and grant funding that will allow a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
• A record of publications, grants, and professional service or other evidence of professional contributions.
• Experience in leading complex, multi- or trans-disciplinary teams in high-impact and successful research.
• Exemplary and visionary leadership skills, as evidenced by prior experience.
• Previous experience or other evidence of administrative ability.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication skills (both oral and written) as evidenced by publications and research awards, statements of philosophy, outreach/engagement output and awards, podcasts or radio/TV interviews, or other evidence of communication ability.
• Prior experience with documented success in higher education, industry, or government leadership.
• Documented ability to collaborate with partners, constituencies, and other interested parties, whether internal or external to the Department and University.
• An outstanding record of peer-reviewed publications in disciplinary and multi-disciplinary journals, outstanding extramural funding, and university and professional service.
• A record of excellence in teaching and educating students.
• Experience and success in encouraging, supporting, and mentoring junior faculty. A strong record of data-based decision making.
• Experience and successes in encouraging, supporting, and developing entrepreneurial activities through external funding, translational research, and educational program development.
• Evidence of an ability to direct the activities of a large academic department, provide a clear vision, and to plan strategically to achieve departmental goals and objectives. Evidence of an ability to create a shared vision and align resources to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Experience in working with commodity groups, industry partners, and communities relevant to the academic fields within the Department.
• Documented experience in developing international programming.
• Effective personnel management skills and demonstrated ability in fiscal management are essential. The successful applicant should have a track record of making timely decisions and responding promptly to administrative deadlines. Highly refined verbal and written communication skills and a commitment to sharing departmental accomplishments and their vision for the future with prospective students, alumni, and stakeholders are indispensable.
• Respect for the differing perspectives and values of students, staff, faculty, and stakeholders.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• Statement of leadership philosophy including perspectives on teaching, research, extramural funding, and outreach and engagement
• Three to five letters of recommendation

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 50%

Schedule Details

M-F, 8:00 - 5:00

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Faculty Administration

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade

800

Applications must be received by

02/03/2025