Associate Dean of Extension​/Associate Extension Administrator

Associate Dean of Extension/Associate Extension Administrator

Virginia State University (VSU), a distinguished 1890 Land-Grant Institution, invites applications and nominations for the position of Associate Dean of Extension / Associate Extension Administrator within the College of Agriculture. This executive leadership position provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for Virginia State University Cooperative Extension, advancing the University's land-grant mission through innovative Extension programming, education, community engagement, workforce development, youth development, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships.

Reporting directly to the Dean and Director for Land-Grant Programs (1890 Extension Administrator and 1890 Research Director), the Associate Dean of Extension serves as a member of the College of Agriculture Executive Leadership Team and collaborates closely with the Associate Research Director to strengthen the integration of Extension, research, and teaching while expanding the University's impact across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership and executive oversight for Virginia State University Cooperative Extension, including statewide program planning, organizational leadership, personnel management, fiscal stewardship, and operational excellence.
• Supervise the Assistant Extension Administrator, Assessment and Evaluation, Extension Program Leaders, and other Extension leadership personnel while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, professional development, and excellence.
• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive statewide Extension strategy that addresses emerging issues in agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences, youth development, community development, and workforce development.
• Strengthen Extension's statewide impact by promoting evidence-informed educational programming, community partnerships, technology adoption, and innovative outreach approaches that improve the quality of life for Virginians.
• Provide leadership for Extension program planning, impact reporting, assessment, accountability, and evaluation to ensure compliance with federal, state, and university requirements while demonstrating measurable public value.
• Expand external funding by supporting Extension faculty and staff in grant development, contract opportunities, philanthropic partnerships, and collaborative initiatives that enhance Extension programming and organizational sustainability.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with federal and state agencies, local governments, community organizations, industry, non-profit organizations, and other educational institutions to advance Virginia State University's outreach and public engagement mission.
• Champion employee engagement, leadership development, succession planning, and a high-performing organizational culture across Virginia State University Cooperative Extension.
• Ensure effective stewardship of financial, human, and physical resources while maintaining compliance with university policies and all applicable federal and state regulations.
• Represent Virginia State University Cooperative Extension at university, state, regional, and national meetings and serve as a visible advocate for the University's 1890 land-grant mission and Extension enterprise.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Research, academic departments, and other university leaders to facilitate the translation of research into practical, community-based educational programs and to create meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned master's degree from an accredited institution in Agriculture, Extension Education, Agricultural Education, Community Development, Education, Public Administration, Leadership, or a closely related discipline.
• Candidates appointed with a master's degree must be actively enrolled in, or enroll in, an accredited doctoral program within twelve (12) months of appointment and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the degree.
• Progressive executive leadership experience within Cooperative Extension, a land-grant institution, higher education, or a comparable outreach organization.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organizational leadership, personnel management, and statewide program administration.
• Experience integrating applied research into Extension programming, community engagement, and evidence-based educational initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing, proposal development, sponsored program administration, and securing external funding from federal, state, foundation, corporate, and private sources.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative partnerships among faculty, researchers, government agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, consensus-building, organizational leadership,…