Tarleton State University - Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department; Tenured

Overview

Tarleton State University
Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department and Tenured Associate or Full Professor

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Tarleton State University in its search for the Head of the Agricultural Education and Communication Department and a Tenured Associate or Full Professor.

For full consideration, please apply by March 16, 2026.

Tarleton State has emerged as Texas’s fastest-growing public university, posting nearly 50% enrollment growth since 2022, with sustained year-over-year increases that underscore its expanding statewide impact. This is a pivotal moment to join an institution making significant strategic investments in academic excellence, research capacity, and student success, and a compelling opportunity for a visionary, people-centered academic leader to shape the next chapter of a flagship academic unit.

Tarleton State University invites applications for the position of Associate Professor/Professor and Department Head in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications. The department is part of a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and offers opportunities to contribute to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth.

Guided by the university’s long-range plan, Tarleton Forward 2030, the institution pursues goals related to academic distinction, research growth, and community engagement. Tarleton’s rising national profile reflects a growing emphasis on scholarship, external funding, and innovation.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department Head serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the department and will oversee a department of 15 faculty (and growing), which currently enrolls the second-largest student population among academic units. The successful candidate will provide leadership to set direction, establish clear expectations, and unite a growing academic unit while supporting faculty development, strengthening academic programs, and advancing college and university priorities.

The Department is housed within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and is part of Tarleton State University’s established academic units with strong applied-learning focus and deep connections to Texas’s agricultural, natural resource, and rural communities. There is one doctoral program in the college and another planned for submission in 2027. The department’s academic programs prepare graduates for leadership across education, industry, and communication sectors, and are supported by an engaged alumni network.

The Stephenville campus supports this work with facilities such as the Research and Economic Development Building. Tarleton State University operates four distinct campuses and a robust online community.

This is a 12-month, tenured appointment (50% administrative) based primarily on Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville, Texas.

• Leadership and Strategic Planning
  • Vision:
    Collaborate with department faculty and staff to establish a vision aligned with the school, college, and university.
  • Strategic Planning:
    Lead the development and implementation of a departmental strategic plan.
  • Institutional
    
    Collaboration:
    
    Work with the college dean and leadership teams to fulfill the institutional strategic plan Tarleton Forward 2030.
• Budget and Resource Allocation
  • Financial Oversight:
    Develop and manage the department’s budget with college and university administration.
  • Resource Allocation:
    Oversee allocation of department resources including equipment, lab space, technology, and office space.
  • Reporting:
    Coordinate with the university budget specialist for records and reporting.
• Academic Program Development and Continuous Improvement
  • Curriculum Assessment:
    Review and develop curriculum to meet student needs, accreditation standards, and industry expectations.
  • Program Assessment:
    Evaluate existing programs and use data to enhance quality and alignment with institutional goals.
  • Program Development:
    Propose and develop new undergraduate and graduate programs, including…