Assistant Professor – Extension Specialist Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
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Assistant Professor – Extension Specialist Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Category Faculty Fiscal Year or Academic Year Fiscal Year Full-time or Part-time Full-Time Supervisor Sean Michael, Dept Head, LAEP College College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences Department Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning Location Logan Position Summary The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) invites candidates to apply for a twelve-month, tenure-track, fiscal year faculty appointment with a 60% Extension / 30% Teaching / 10% Service division of responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide leadership as an Assistant Professor within LAEP’s Extension outreach and applied research program that will meet the needs of Utah’s diverse culture and landscapes, while adding to the Department’s collegial, collaborative culture. Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2018, and will remain open until filled. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2018. Responsibilities Utah citizens and communities enjoy a geographically diverse environment that ranges from mountains to deserts. Concurrently, Utah faces challenges associated with being the fastest growing state, and with it the attendant pressures on urbanization, transportation, pollution, and land use conflicts. Rapid suburban expansion also creates challenges at the urban/rural interface. Climate change, water scarcity, and resource scarcity overlay these challenges. The successful applicant will support citizens, practitioners, Extension educators, and communities in addressing regional challenges by providing access to resources and knowledge that will help shape a positive and proactive future in the region, while working cooperatively with persons across disciplines to accomplish this goal. Candidates should possess an excellent understanding of landscape architectural design, planning, and land development, and will be expected to develop Extension programs to support constituents in these areas across the state and beyond. Constituents may include, but are not limited to, county Extension agents, communities and citizens, and design and planning professionals. The individual hired will provide leadership across the state through collaborations with these constituents as well as liaise with USU researchers, faculty, and graduate students, and external private and governmental organizations. Included in their Extension role, the successful candidate will be required to develop an applied research program in support of their Extension efforts. Their Extension activities should be aimed at developing practical solutions for strengthening the impact of planning and design in various landscapes, especially/including urban settings. The successful candidate should also demonstrate the ability or potential to teach studio/lecture courses that can either cover core competencies of innovations in planning and landscape architecture, including advising students within the department’s graduate program (i.e., MLA, MSBRP, PhD). Candidates should possess superior capabilities in one of more of the following areas: • Landscape Architecture • Planning (conservation, environmental, regional, or bioregional) • Urban Design and/or Urban Ecology • Sustainable Development and Economics • Land Use Law and Policy • Renewable Energy • Planning and Design for Resource Scarcity Department/College Highlights The oldest and most influential landscape architecture program in the Intermountain West, LAEP in 2008 embarked upon a rapid growth and expansion initiative, adding new faculty members, facilities, and degrees. Founded in 1939, LAEP has over 1,500 alumni practicing in 44 states and 15 countries. Fourteen full-time and 3 adjunct faculty currently serve 140 students enrolled in our MSBP and accredited BLA and MLA programs, along with a new PhD in Landscape Architecture. Administratively within the College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences, and physically situated within the Chase Fine Arts Center, LAEP faculty and students enjoy strong working relationships with an array of allied disciplines across USU. Partnerships include the Swaner EcoCenter, one of USU’s 7 LEED-certified buildings (USU Extension, Park City, UT); the USU Ecology Center (Main Campus); the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (Main Campus); the USU Botanical Center (USU Extension, Kaysville, UT); jointly conducted research through the Center for Persons with Disabilities (Main Campus); and a campus-wide Sustainable Systems Minor. The Department celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2014, in 2016 hosted the CELA Annual Conference, and in 2017 received full six-year re-accreditation for both their BLA and MLA degrees. Further information on our programs and campus environment see http://www.laep.usu.edu/ and http://www.usu.edu/videos/. Established in 1888, Utah State University is the state’s Land-Grant institution, and is nationally and internationally recognized for its intellectual and technological leadership in land, water, space, and life enhancement. USU is a Carnegie “higher research activity” institution. USU has a faculty of over 800 who partner with more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university, which the Princeton Review named a “Green College” (2010, 2011), and Forbes Magazine ranked the #1 public university in the West, resides in Logan, a city of over 50,000. Situated in beautiful Cache Valley and the Bear River watershed, Logan lies 85 miles north of Salt Lake City, and offers world-class recreational opportunities along the western slopes of the Wasatch Mountains. Logan is just a few hours driving time to six of the best parks in the National Park System. With a lower cost of living, low unemployment, but unparalleled outdoor recreation access, Utah is becoming one of the west’s sought-after live/work/play destinations. Logan annually ranks in the Top 10 college towns, and among America’s safest small towns. Minimum Qualifications Applicants must hold at least one degree in landscape architecture, and a graduate degree in landscape architecture, architecture, planning, or a closely allied discipline, with degrees in multiple disciplines preferred. They should show evidence of (or clear potential for) leadership and collaboration in an Extension and outreach role. Preferred Qualifications • Demonstrated ability to obtain funding to support Extension programs, applied research, and service learning • A strong background (five years or more experience) or training in professional planning or landscape architectural practice • Professional licensure in planning or landscape architecture • Previous teaching experience • Demonstrated evidence of scholarship by appropriate peer-reviewed publications • Possess excellent oral and written communication skills • Applicants who lend diversity to our faculty are highly desired Search Committee Members Phillip Waite, Chair – 435-797-0504 Required Documents CV Three references Letter of interest Special Instructions to Applicants The online application will include a letter of interest addressing position requirements, research program and pedagogical philosophy, a current vita, and a list of three references (with phone/fax numbers, mailing and email addresses). In addition an academic or research or professional portfolio should be sent directly to the department at the address below. Portfolio may be submitted either as printed media, digital format on USB drive, or a website link. Please address questions and the portfolio directly to: Phillip S. Waite, Search Committee Chair Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Utah State University / 4005 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-4005 [email protected] .