NextGen Academic Coordinator

The Next Gen Academic Coordinator will join the Environmental Studies Department. The Department sees environmental problems as human problems, with societal causes, impacts, and solutions. We use methods spanning the natural and social sciences to deliver collaborative, solutions-focused insights on food systems, conservation, sustainability, climate change issues, and environmental justice.

Communities across the nation face growing environmental and social challenges that threaten farms, food security, and ecosystem health. To ensure a resilient future, we must design agricultural and food systems that support long-term productivity, provide fair and healthy food for both rural and urban communities, and protect natural resources. Yet, a major barrier remains: the shortage of a skilled workforce in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH).

The Next Gen project brings together the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), Hartnell College, and the Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA). Together, we will train the next generation of leaders in FANH. Our main goals are to: (1) provide students with mentoring and hands-on learning that builds technical and leadership skills for successful careers;

(2) provide financial support such as scholarships, fellowships, and jobs to help students develop and reach their career goals; and (3) build a strong educational hub that connects schools, colleges, and community partners.

Working under the supervision of Professor Stacy Phillpott, the Next Gen Academic Coordinator will perform the following duties:

• Support the advising and training of Next Gen PhD students, which includes community-engaged methodologies and research ethics.
• Engage undergraduate and graduate students in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) research opportunities in Watsonville.
• Work closely with faculty and develop internships at multiple levels of expertise, offering a scaffolded, developmentally appropriate set of experiential learning pathways for student interns supported by the Next Gen grant.
• Collaborate with Calabasas Elementary School Principal Todd Westfall and the Garden Site Council of staff and gardeners on programmatic envisioning and implementation at Calabasas Community Garden in Watsonville.
• Support the project’s quantitative and qualitative data collection efforts and related writing that documents the activities and impact of the Next Gen grant activities, whether for grant proposals, project reports, presentations, or papers.
• Communicate with and act as a liaison between the Environmental Studies Department, the Center for Agroecology, Calabasas Community Garden, and the Next Gen Project Director and co-Project Director team.
• Expand community partnerships in Watsonville to include groups such as United Farm Workers, El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, Barrios Unidos, Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture, and others.
• Assist in undergraduate outreach across campus to recruit students for Next Gen opportunities.

The nature of the position will require the Next Gen Academic Coordinator to consistently demonstrate the following abilities or skills:

• Well-developed organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite and academic software (e.g., learning management systems)
• Ability to successfully work independently and as part of a team.
• Competent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Conversational Spanish speaking ability.

Applicants with any of the following areas of expertise are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Three to five years of experience in academic coordination and student mentoring in a higher education setting.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Experience working with community members in an agricultural setting.
• Evidence of successful grant proposal writing.
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications.
• Evidence of undergraduate and graduate student mentoring, especially those from historically underserved communities or with non-traditional learning modalities.
• Evidence of public speaking in an academic context.
• Evidence of teaching courses in experiential learning.
• In-depth understanding of environmental studies, sustainability and related interdisciplinary fields.
• Experience in community engagement, campus/community partnerships, and community-based research.
• Knowledge of inclusive excellence initiatives in higher education.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.