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.

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.

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…