Texas A&M University-Commerce seeks an outstanding and experienced leader to serve as Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). The Dean, who reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, is responsible for all aspects of academic life within the College, including teaching, research, personnel matters, enrollment, and external relations such as alumni, donors and the surrounding community. The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of CASNR, and oversees all operational, fiscal and strategic matters of the College. The Dean develops and maintains the highest standards for academic excellence and accomplishment and serves as the spokesperson of the College.
Lauren McCaghren and Lois Stetson with Greenwood Asher & Associates® are assisting Texas A&M University-Commerce on this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Application materials should include:
• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s qualifications for the position; and
• A current résumé/curriculum vitae
We strongly encourage submitting application materials as separate PDF attachments. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.
All application materials should be submitted through the Greenwood Asher & Associates e-mail at: TAMUC-agriculture@greenwoodsearch.com. For best consideration, please submit materials by October 14th, 2024.
Nominations, inquiries, and questions regarding the application process should be directed to:
• Communicate effectively with a diverse rural population in Northeast Texas.
• Provide transformative leadership amidst increased competition for students and funding.
• Foster and enhance student and faculty engagement with urban communities, such as the Dallas site.
• Engage academic and non-academic stakeholders in future planning.
• Serve as a representative and spokesperson for CASNR at local, regional, and national levels.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the associate dean, faculty, staff, and students.
• Foster an environment of integrity and united purpose.
• Contribute to the development of new academic programs and multi-disciplinary pursuits across the university.
• Identify, attract, and manage financial resources for CASNR.
• Effectively manage an approximately $2 million annual budget, faculty, and staff.
• Assume responsibility for significant community outreach and engagement.
• Engage in fundraising and build on past successes.
• Apply knowledge of regional and national trends to develop new and improved academic programs.
• Attract and retain quality faculty and students.
• Ensure all accreditation requirements are met.
• Support and advance continuous improvement in the college’s academic programs.
• Build CASNR’s research portfolio while supporting the teaching mission.
• Oversee the use of significant tracts of land adjacent to and near the Commerce campus.
• Manage a working farm with livestock, row crops, and horticultural crops.
• Operate modern greenhouse facilities, classrooms, and animal and equine science facilities.
• Oversee wildlife wetland areas and develop new research partnerships.
• Repurpose land to fit curriculum changes.
• Lead in nurturing community support and developing funding for construction and operations.
• Ensure the exposition center serves as both an educational and community resource.
• Use the center to attract community partnerships and research grants.
• Address the challenge of growing overall college enrollment while making strategic adjustments to the faculty.
• Ensure proper teaching coverage within disciplines.
• Promote interdisciplinary cooperation and coverage.
• Expand offerings at the Dallas site, coordinating with programs on the Commerce campus and field sites.
• Attract students in the Dallas area while remaining consistent with the values of agriculture in Northeast Texas.
• Support and build upon CASNR's success in growing enrollment and improving retention.
• Value and enhance the special bond between faculty, staff, students, and alumni that defines a CASNR education.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with high school agriculture teachers and academic counselors.
• Promote the relevance of CASNR programs to the economic viability of Northeast Texas.
• Pursue cross-disciplinary alliances to enhance CASNR majors.
• Expand the reach of CASNR’s in-person, online, and hybrid programs to attract non-traditional adult learners.
• Engage in strategic enrollment management planning and implementation.
The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial, innovative visionary who values all CASNR programs, students, faculty, staff, and alumni and celebrates their successes. Candidates with significant academic leadership success are welcome to apply. A terminal degree in a CASNR field is required, along with credentials meriting appointment at the rank of full professor.
The Dean will:
• Practice results-based accountability and increase engagement by empowering others.
• Drive vision and purpose to achieve excellence.
• Promote access through a customer-focused approach.
• Support high academic standards and classroom rigor.
• Enhance student success.
• Demonstrate a strong record of scholarly publications.
• Be action-oriented with a focus on results.
• Balance teaching and research effectively.
• Exhibit significant executive leadership experience.
• Inspire and empower others, fostering collaboration and relationship-building.
• Communicate effectively and make clear, fair decisions.
• Navigate complex and ambiguous environments skillfully.
• Successfully work within shared governance structures.
• Engage proactively with public policymakers.
• Promote and support educational opportunities for all.
• Commit to setting and meeting high expectations with accountability.
• Demonstrate business insight in developing market-driven programs.
• Show evidence of or aptitude for successful fundraising.
• Exhibit strong fiscal stewardship and financial management.
• Execute plans and priorities with superb organizational skills.
• Think strategically and stay aware of higher education trends.
• Engage effectively with alumni and community outreach.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and transparency.
• Prioritize mentorship and the development of others.
• Be familiar with urban and rural populations and cultures that may be similar to Northeast Texas.
Texas A&M-Commerce is a rapidly growing university, with a rising profile, making positive strides toward innovation and the future. Driving the ascending trajectory is the university's commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities that prepare students for success, including those from low-income and first- generation backgrounds. Located an hour from Dallas, the university offers 130 affordable degree programs and is becoming the school of choice for urban and rural Northeast Texas. Embracing a mission to transform lives, A&M-Commerce has seen a 7% increase in overall enrollment compared to the same time last year, with 11,983 students enrolled for Fall 2023, including over 8,200 undergraduates and 3,740 graduate students. The most significant increase was among first-time freshmen, a remarkable 22.1% increase over last year. This is a significant increase and one of the highest across the Texas A&M University System.
The main campus, located in the city of Commerce, covers 2,094 acres. The new 8750 North Central Expressway location in Dallas invites an urban audience, for whom convenience and accessibility are important considerations.
Students work with world-class professors who dedicate themselves to excellence in teaching and research. The university maintains strong relationships with local industries to create relevant academic programs and valuable internship and networking opportunities that prepare career-ready graduates. As an Adobe campus, focus is given to digital literacy, with an approach to career preparedness that begins at the time of enrollment. Student success remains at the core of this university, offering students the opportunity to work with academic advisors, college life coaches, money coaches, and career navigators.
A&M-Commerce aims to transform the lives of students, faculty, and staff. All enjoy the opportunity to continue their education and take advantage of professional development opportunities, such as the courses offered each semester through the Presidential Initiative, “Investing in Us.” The Lion Athletics program recently joined NCAA Division I, competing in 14 sports. The university supports a thriving Greek system and more than 140 clubs and organizations. To learn more about TAMUC, please visit www.tamuc.edu
Texas A&M University-Commerce's mission is to transform lives. We transform lives by providing an accessible education in an environment where faculty and staff care and are dedicated to the success of all our students throughout their academic career. We empower our students, faculty and staff to become the best version of themselves by supporting their continuous development and growth. Fueled by our resilience, tenacity, and talents, we strengthen the rural and urban communities we serve. Innovation is the heartbeat of Texas A&M University-Commerce, with career preparedness as a cornerstone of our educational mission. We are committed to ensuring our graduates are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Through robust career exploration, internships, industry partnerships, and skill development initiatives, we bridge the gap between academia and the workplace.
1. Ensure Student Preparedness
2. Elevate Research
3. Create a Welcoming Community
4. Align our Initiatives with Our Rural-Urban Identity
5. Modernize University Operations and Business Practices
For more information please visit: https://www.tamuc.edu/strategic-plan/
Texas A&M University-Commerce's Division of Academic Affairs oversees administrative support and results- based accountability to ensure academic excellence and nurture a sense of belonging. Our mission is to empower individuals to explore and pursue their passions, transforming their lives for the better. We achieve this by investing in an array of teaching, classroom experiences, research, service, partnership, and professional development initiatives that encourage innovation. We strive to create a conducive environment where our faculty and staff can prepare students with the necessary skills and behaviors to become career- ready graduates of the 21st century. Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to add value and impact to the Northeast Texas region.
Four competencies (observable skills and behaviors) anchor our collaborative efforts and decision-making:
The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs has published seven clear expectations for leadership at the Dean level. In the coming year, the expectations for driving results through ambiguity to bring about change are:
We aim to increase the significance of our division by remaining agile and nimble, and defining, recognizing, and implementing innovative ideas. This means consistently being future-looking, forward-leaning, engaged in cutting-edge thinking, and willing to take calculated risks.
Deans are expected to embrace these expectations in the course of making difficult choices, implementing effective budget strategies and facilitating professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. The goal is leadership that is proactive and adaptable, able to achieve positive outcomes in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment.
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is committed to experiential and pragmatic learning with rigorous educational programs, courses and experiences enriched by quality instruction. CASNR offers diverse, high-quality farm and ranch enterprises that create opportunities for teaching and scholarly activities. The College fosters positive relationships among faculty, staff and students and maintains a strong public presence on campus, in the community and throughout the state and agricultural industry. Students are prepared to become competent professionals through the sharing and discovery of knowledge across the varied fields of agriculture. As the only agricultural college in the region, CASNR is uniquely situated to serve the rural and urban agricultural workforce needs in Northeast Texas.
• Agribusiness (BS)
• Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (MS)
• Agricultural Sciences (BS & MS)
• Agricultural Science and Technology (BS)
o Agriculture, Food, and Family Option
o Industry Emphasis
o Agriculture Leadership and Communications Emphasis
o Ornamental Horticulture Emphasis
o Teaching Emphasis
• Animal Science (BS)
• Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option (BS)
• Equine Studies (BS)
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (BS)
• Veterinary Biomedical Technology (BS)
• Wildlife Conservation Science (BS)
o Agriculture Track
• Food Studies Minor
• Horticulture Minor
• Agribusiness Graduate Certificate
• Plant and Soil Science Graduate Certificate
• Sustainable Food Systems Graduate Certificate
CASNR serves 664 students, 616 undergraduates and 48 graduate students. Thirty percent are first-generation. Twenty-five percent of the students are of Hispanic origin, with 11% identifying as Black/African American.
Seven competitive teams include Livestock Judging, Meat Judging, Horse Judging, plus a Show Team, an Equestrian Team, a Stock Horse Team and a Rodeo Team.
For more information about CASNR, please visit https://www.tamuc.edu/college-of-agricultural-sciences- and-natural-resources/.
• Working farm with livestock, row crops and horticultural crops; one of only three agricultural programs in the U.S. to offer a hands on practicum to grow your own wheat, cotton or corn crop
• 100+ head commercial cow herd
• Wildlife wetland areas
• Two moden greenhouse facilities
• Newly remodeled facilities including classrooms for animal science and equine science, swine barn and rodeo barn
• Equine facility with riding and training pens and newly remodeled covered arena
To take a virtual tour of our facilities, please visit: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=1162#!m/jmrnl?share
The next Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) will inherit a dynamic, passionate, and proud community, deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. The faculty, staff, students, and alumni have articulated a collective vision for leadership that not only embraces the heritage of the college but also drives its future growth and success.
The new Dean must:
• Embrace and Build Upon CASNR’s Culture: The community seeks a leader who will respect and enhance the current culture—a culture that balances a strong academic foundation with a family-like atmosphere. This includes fostering collaboration across faculty, students, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Advocate for Resources and Partnerships: The CASNR community is proud of its strong ties to alumni, industry, and agricultural communities. The new Dean should cultivate and expand these relationships, particularly in Northeast Texas, to generate more opportunities for students and faculty, and to secure the necessary resources for academic and infrastructure improvements.
• Champion Technological Advancements in Agriculture: Students and alumni emphasize the importance of technological literacy in modern agriculture. The next Dean should be forward-thinking, understanding how innovations like AI, precision agriculture, and sustainable farming techniques can be integrated into the curriculum, research, and outreach.
• Foster Student Growth and Success: A priority is placed on increasing enrollment and enhancing student experiences both on campus and through online programs. The next Dean should focus on providing hands-on opportunities, supporting a student-centered advising system, and continuing to build programs that attract and retain students from diverse backgrounds, including transfer students and those from community colleges.
• Lead with Vision and Inclusivity: The CASNR community desires a visionary leader who will involve all stakeholders in crafting and executing a clear strategic plan. The plan should prioritize growth, innovation, and the overall well-being of the college. The new Dean must be a proactive and inclusive decision-maker who values input from the community and keeps the college competitive with other leading institutions.
By staying grounded in CASNR’s values and history while guiding it toward a bright future, the next Dean will play a pivotal role in shaping not only the college but also the broader agricultural
The city of Commerce is located in Northeast Texas, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas. With a population of 9,293, Commerce is a close-knit community of involved citizens. The city’s historic downtown features family- owned boutiques, a coffee shop and eateries. Commerce has a high school, middle school and elementary school close to A&M-Commerce’s campus. The area is a peaceful and rural region.