Department Head Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for the position of Department Head with an appointment at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor. We seek an inspirational, dynamic, and visionary individual to provide strong academic and administrative leadership for a highly ranked and productive department, in alignment with the strategic plans for the College and the University. This is a full-time, nine month, tenured position with an additional month of compensated service in this administrative role. The successful candidate must meet University requirements for appointment at the rank of Full Professor or be an accomplished Associate Professor with qualifications meriting promotion to Full Professor within the next few years. Active engagement in teaching, research, and/or extension programs is expected. The Department Head serves as an advocate and leader for Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at UConn and with external constituents. Active participation in teaching, research, and/or extension programs is expected. As the departmental administrative officer, the Department Head reports directly to the Dean.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. The university is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes seven campuses across the state: Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, Storrs, and Waterbury, the Law School in Hartford, and UConn Health in Farmington. UConn has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including more than 24,000 undergraduates and nearly 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn Extension reaches over 175,000 residents through over 500 programs, connecting with communities in all 169 of Connecticut’s cities and towns. UConn faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their research, teaching, creative work, and extension programs, advancing discovery across disciplines and generating high societal impact. UConn’s dedicated staff provide the expertise and support that sustain the university’s mission and advance institutional achievement. The University of Connecticut is dedicated to excellence, demonstrated through national and international recognition. Through freedom of academic inquiry and expression, UConn creates and disseminates knowledge by means of scholarly and creative achievements, graduate and professional education, and community engagement. With a focus on teaching and learning, the University helps every student grow intellectually and become a contributing member of the state, national, and world communities. Through research, teaching, extension, and service, UConn promotes the health and well-being of Connecticut’s citizens through enhancing the social, economic, cultural and natural environments of the state and beyond. In 2024, the University adopted its strategic plan, Envisioning 2034, with three major goals: promoting holistic student success, expanding research impact, and powering a thriving Connecticut.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) is located on UConn’s Storrs campus with teaching, research, and extension activities reaching across the state. CAHNR faculty, staff, and students explore the interrelationships among food, natural resources, and human, plant and animal health, seeking to connect them in a manner that is economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The college evolved from the original Storrs Agricultural School, established in 1881. As Connecticut’s land‑grant university, UConn has federal and state mandates to carry out the tripartite mission of teaching, research, and extension. The College consists of eight academic departments offering 17 undergraduate majors and 23 undergraduate minors, along with several PhD, MS, and graduate certificate programs, and a ninth department offering community‑based extension programs. It is also the home to innovative interdisciplinary research and clinical centers. The Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture is also contained within CAHNR, offering applied associate’s degrees in the agricultural sciences.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) is one of eight academic units within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. PSLA is comprised of 22 faculty members (16 tenure‑track faculty and 6 non‑tenure track faculty) and 14 staff professionals who are devoted to excellence in research, teaching, and extension. The PSLA program proudly serves the needs of Connecticut through graduate and undergraduate education, outstanding public‑outreach programs associated with formal extension and engaged scholarship, and nationally competitive research programs. Over the last five years, grant expenditures have been about $2 million per year. The Plant Science program is nationally known for a longstanding breeding program on ornamental plants with dozens of patents adopted by the industry, impactful outreach for the turfgrass and green industry, progressive teaching and research on controlled environment agriculture, applied research to solve problems in the agricultural industry, and fundamental research in plant biology. The nationally accredited Landscape Architecture program is recognized for its public engagement with local communities, its design and teaching excellence, its capacity to attract talented faculty, its impressive student body, and its ability to educate some of the best landscape architects in the region. We offer programs leading to a B.S. in Plant Science with concentrations in Environmental Horticulture, Sustainable Agriculture, Turfgrass Science, and Soil Science; a Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) accredited B.S. in Landscape Architecture; and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Science. Graduate students may specialize in Horticulture, Plant Biotechnology, Plant Breeding, Plant Environment, Plant Health, Agronomy, Soil Science, and Landscape Architecture. The Plant Science program at Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a concentration in Ornamental Horticulture, Turfgrass Management, or Sustainable Crop Production. Across all programs, students benefit from strong, high‑quality experiential learning opportunities—including hands‑on laboratory and field experiences, design studios, internships, and engagement with industry and community partners—that prepare graduates for professional success and leadership in the plant and landscape sciences. The research, teaching, and extension infrastructure of the department includes wet laboratories, greenhouses, plant growth chambers and tissue culture facilities, design studios, two newly renovated teaching and research focused design laboratories, robust computer, print, aerial imagery, visualization and fabrication facilities created specifically to support landscape architecture education and research, 153‑acre research and teaching farm, the Waxman Conifer Collection, the Plant Transformation Facility, and the UConn George Minor Plant and Soil Health Center—a one‑stop service center for the people of Connecticut to have their plant and soil questions answered. In 2026, UConn George Minor Plant and Soil Health Center will combine UConn’s public‑facing agricultural services – the Home Garden Education Office, the Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab, the Plant Diagnostic Lab, and the Turf Diagnostic Lab – and will also host a new flexible, collaborative laboratory space for CAHNR. PSLA is located on UConn’s Main Storrs Campus, which is well placed between New York, Boston, Providence and Hartford. For further information, please visit our website.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide academic and administrative leadership to support and promote excellence in the department’s teaching, research, extension, and service missions. Oversee academic affairs, personnel, budgeting, and facility management, ensuring efficient and transparent departmental operations. Lead strategic planning and assessment to align departmental goals with the missions of the college and the university. Develop and implement effective recruitment and retention programs to increase undergraduate and graduate student enrollment. Teach at least one undergraduate course and participate in research and/or extension programs. Represent and advocate for the department within the college, university, state, and professional and international communities. Ensure compliance with university, college, and union policies and procedures, and develop departmental policies as appropriate. Collaborate with the CAHNR’s Director of Development to engage alumni, donors, and stakeholders in advancement activities. Foster faculty, staff, and graduate student success through mentoring, annual evaluations, and support for professional development. Build a collegial and collaborative departmental culture, encouraging interdisciplinary engagement within and beyond the department. Maintain compliance for and support the accreditation of the professional Bachelor’s in Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) degree granted by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). Promote innovation and entrepreneurship in academic, research, and extension initiatives. Develop, supervise, and support an effective staff structure to ensure smooth departmental operations. Oversee department facilities to ensure efficient operation and alignment with program needs. Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and CAHNR missions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Doctoral degree in Plant Science, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related discipline; or Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) from a LAAB‑accredited program. Record of nationally recognized scholarship and professional activities related to research, teaching, and/or extension/outreach that will qualify the individual to be tenured at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Proven experience, ability, or potential for strong leadership of an academic department with emphasis on strong interpersonal skills appropriate to sustaining a collegial environment, building a shared vision and mission for the growth of the department, delivering quality academic programs within a respectful work environment, and managing physical infrastructure. Demonstrated leadership in developing departmental programs, coordinating capital improvements, or stimulating external funding from both public and private sources. Record of success in securing extramural funding from nationally competitive research programs, foundations, private donors, or other sources. Evidence of effective interpersonal and communication skills that contribute to an inclusive, respectful departmental culture and high‑quality program delivery. Understanding of and commitment to the land‑grant mission. Experience with basic and applied research.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

For applicants holding an MLA, a Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture or a closely related field. Evidence of a nationally or internationally recognized program of scholarship in research, teaching, or extension. Demonstrated engagement and rapport with stakeholders, industry, and donors. Administrative or leadership experience in a department or program encompassing teaching, research, extension, and service within a land‑grant university. Proven experience building consensus and making decisions in a collegial and transparent manner. Experience supervising a diverse set of facilities such as greenhouses, research and service laboratories, farms, or related infrastructure. Rank of Full Professor or equivalent in Plant Science, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, or a closely related discipline.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full‑time, tenure‑track, 9‑month position with a 10th month of service in this administrative capacity. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027, however, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) is willing to accommodate an earlier start date in consultation with the selected candidate. Salary is competitive and commensurate with the candidate’s experience and record of achievement. The University offers a competitive salary and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits, please visit the HR Health Benefits page.

TO APPLY

Please apply online, Faculty and Staff Positions, Search #499238 and submit the following application materials: Cover letter that addresses how your experience meets the minimum and preferred qualifications (maximum of two pages) Curriculum Vitae (must include a list of publications, grants received, and records of teaching, extension and/or service) Leadership Statement summarizing how you will provide innovative leadership for CAHNR Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture and how you will contribute to the department’s success (maximum of two pages) Names and contact information for at least three references. Finalists will be notified prior to contacting references Evaluation of applicants will begin on August 23, 2026, and remain ongoing until the position is filled. Send inquiries about this position to the search committee chair, Rosa Raudales. For further information, please visit our website. At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community. This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics. All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community. The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Aspbp