Associate or Full Professor, Director, and Chair of the Department of Integrated Environmental Science (IES)

Bethune-Cookman University

Job Title: Associate or Full Professor, Director, and Chair of the Department of Integrated Environmental Science (IES)

Reporting Structure: Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (CSEM) ➔

Provost

Division: Department of Integrated Environmental Science, CSEM

Job Summary: Bethune-Cookman University invites applications for a tenure-eligible Associate or Full Professor to serve as Chair of the Department of Integrated Environmental Science (IES) and Director of its graduate program. The University seeks a collaborative, student-centered, and data-informed academic leader with expertise in interdisciplinary environmental science, sustainability, or a related field. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership for a distinctive department grounded in systems thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental challenges, while advancing excellence in student learning, faculty development, and program effectiveness.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose academic preparation and scholarship reflect interdisciplinary or higher-order, systems-based approaches to environmental science or sustainability. A strong background in applying systems theory to complex environmental issues at landscape scales or larger using conceptual or quantitative tools such as artificial intelligence, statistical modeling, GIS, or related approaches, is preferred. The specific area of research specialization is open. Candidates with the ability to teach across scientific and social dimensions of environmental issues, as well as those with field or applied experience related to coastal environmental systems, are especially encouraged to apply. Experience collaborating with colleagues across scientific and non-scientific disciplines is highly desirable.

The Department of Integrated Environmental Science was designed using early recommendations from the Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems Roundtable and reflects a deeply interdisciplinary vision. Students in IES examine environmental issues through a foundation in the natural and physical sciences while also integrating social, ethical, economic, and political perspectives to develop systems-based responses to complex environmental challenges. The department offers the BS and MS in Integrated Environmental Science, as well as undergraduate minors in IES and Environmental Ethics.

As Chair, the successful candidate will provide leadership that promotes student learning, academic success, and continuous program improvement. The Chair will work closely with faculty to support high-quality teaching, curriculum development, student mentoring, assessment, and effective use of evidence to strengthen learning outcomes and program performance. The Chair will also foster a supportive and collaborative departmental culture in which faculty are mentored, evaluated fairly, and encouraged in their teaching, scholarship, and service. The ability to use data to inform decisions related to enrollment, student achievement, faculty workload, course offerings, retention, graduation, and overall program quality will be essential.

The Department of IES is a hard-funded department within the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics and maintains its own promotion and tenure standards designed to support and protect the interdisciplinary teaching, scholarship, and collaborative work of its faculty. Since its founding, the department has maintained a 100% placement rate in the field or in advanced education for its graduates. Its dedicated and associated faculty have also secured more than $11 million in grant funding and produced 480 professional presentations and 130 publications over nearly 15 years.

The Chair of IES will be expected to teach in the program, lead departmental planning and assessment, support faculty success, oversee the graduate program, and work collaboratively with college and university leadership to advance the mission of the department and the institution. The successful candidate should demonstrate a record of effective teaching, scholarly accomplishment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and academic leadership appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

To apply and receive full consideration, please submit a cover letter describing your vision for leading a department of this type and your potential contributions to student success, faculty development, and program growth; a curriculum vitae; three letters of reference; an example syllabus for a course appropriate to this position; and up to two sample manuscripts to Human Resources at hr@cookman.edu. Please reference the "IES Chair" position in all correspondence. Emailed PDF copies of published or signed materials are acceptable if originating from the author.

Questions concerning the position and its requirements should be directed to Dr. Dawn Eastmond, Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, at eastmondd@cookman.edu.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Serve as Chair of the Department of Integrated Environmental Science and provide leadership for the administration, planning, assessment, and continuous improvement of the department and its graduate program.
• Promote student learning, academic quality, and student success across all department programs, with attention to retention, progression, graduation, and post-graduate outcomes.
• Oversee departmental operations, including faculty assignments, course scheduling, budgeting, reporting, and long-range planning.
• Use data to inform decisions related to enrollment trends, course offerings, student achievement, faculty workload, resource allocation, and overall program effectiveness.
• Support, supervise, and evaluate faculty in ways that promote excellence in teaching, scholarly productivity, service, and professional growth.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive departmental culture that values interdisciplinary teaching, faculty development, and shared responsibility for student success.
• Lead curriculum review and development for the BS and MS programs in Integrated Environmental Science, as well as related minors, to ensure academic rigor, relevance, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Oversee student advising processes, including upper-level undergraduate advising and graduate student support, to help students progress effectively through their programs.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in areas consistent with the candidate's expertise and departmental needs.
• Maintain an active scholarly agenda in the candidate's area of expertise, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and student engagement in research.
• Work with current faculty to strengthen and expand research opportunities involving undergraduate and graduate students.
• Support the department's efforts in recruitment, retention, community engagement, grant development, and external partnerships.
• Represent the department effectively within the College, across the University, and with external stakeholders and partners.
• Participate in college- and university-level committees, meetings, and initiatives as part of the responsibilities of a faculty leader.
• Required Skills/Abilities:
• Evidence of the capability to develop and sustain a program of teaching at the bachelor's and master's levels, as well as a record or strong potential for research publication and external funding in the candidate's area of specialization; salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and record.
• A strong interdisciplinary background in field experimentation, systems analysis, social analysis, resource management, conceptual or numerical modeling, and/or forecasting as applied to environmental and sustainability issues.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective academic leadership, including support for faculty, management of departmental operations, and oversight of planning, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Strong commitment to student learning, academic quality, and student success, including the ability to use assessment and program data to inform decision-making and strengthen outcomes.
• Evidence of successful teaching and mentoring of undergraduate students; experience with graduate instruction and advising is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in teaching, research, and program development across scientific and social dimensions of environmental issues.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, administrators, and external partners.
• Commitment to supporting faculty development, scholarly productivity, and a collaborative departmental culture.
• Commitment to the mission of Bethune-Cookman University and to advancing an inclusive, student-centered academic environment.
• Education and Experience:
• Earned doctorate in Integrated Environmental Science, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Ecology, Geography, Earth Systems Science, or a closely related interdisciplinary field appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required
  
  
  

Preferred Skills, Experience, and Education:

• Experience as a Department Chair, Associate or Assistant Chair, or Program Director
• A demonstrated ability to contribute to interdisciplinary or supradisciplinary research
• Familiarity with learning management systems: Canvas (currently used), Blackboard, etc.
• Familiarity with the programmatic and pedagogical recommendations of the Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems Roundtable
  
  
  

Physical Requirements: The position will likely require data collection and trips to field sites for both research and teaching. The types of activities likely to be required include (but are not limited to) hiking, carrying field equipment and samples, travel for short to moderate distances on land or water by vehicle, minor assembly and construction, and similar.

The University does not discriminate based on race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, retaliation, marital status, religion or disability, or any other applicable local, state or federal regulation. Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities, equal employment opportunity and Title IX matters should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at 386-481-2049.

The university reserves the right to modify job descriptions at any time in its attempts to improve the operations of the university.