Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Tarleton State University in its search for Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department and 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.

In this context, Tarleton State University, a distinguished Doctoral National Comprehensive University, invites applications for the position of Associate Professor/Professor and Department Head in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications. As part of a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a university that values innovation, collaboration, and inclusive growth.

Guided by the university’s long-range plan, Tarleton Forward 2030, the institution is pursuing ambitious goals related to academic distinction, research growth, and community engagement. Tarleton’s rising national profile, including its Carnegie R2 designation, 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 bring the credibility, judgment, and leadership presence to set direction, establish clear expectations, and unify a growing academic unit, while supporting faculty development, strengthening academic programs, and advancing college and university priorities.

Housed within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, the Department is part of one of Tarleton State University’s most established and high-impact academic units, known for its strong applied-learning focus and deep connections to Texas’s agricultural, natural resource, and rural communities. There is one doctoral program in the college (Animal and Natural Resource Sciences) with one more planned for submission in 2027.

The Department’s academic programs prepare graduates for leadership across education, industry, and communication sectors, and are supported by a deeply engaged and influential alumni network. The Stephenville campus further supports this work through state-of-the-art facilities, including the Research & Economic Development Building, recipient of a 2025 TEXO Distinguished Building Award, designed to catalyze collaboration across disciplines.

Tarleton State University continues to grow its impact across Texas, with four distinct campuses located in Stephenville, Fort Worth, RELLIS-Bryan and Waco, along with a robust online community that extends reach even further.

At the heart of it all is Stephenville, where Tarleton State offers a dynamic environment for faculty and staff. From a lively live music scene and numerous local festivals to rich traditions rooted in the surrounding community, Stephenville provides a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Vision
  :
  Collaborate with the department faculty and staff to establish a vision for the department in alignment with the overall vision of the school, college, and the university.
• Strategic Planning
  :
  Lead the shared development and implementation of a departmental strategic
• Institutional Collaboration
  :
  Work with the college dean and their leadership team, as well as administrative leadership in academic affairs…