Newly-Endowed Morton Gneiss Professorship in the Environmental Sciences

The University of Minnesota Morris invites applications for our newly-endowed Morton Gneiss Professorship in the Environmental Sciences. We seek an accomplished and highly motivated teacher-scholar who brings exceptional teaching, research and mentoring skills, and a passion for the liberal arts, to provide leadership in making UMN Morris a campus with an exemplary Environmental Sciences program. This three-year, renewable position, is a full-time 9-month position, with the possibility of two months summer appointment contingent upon mentoring undergraduate research students. Appointment at the assistant, associate, or full professor level will be based upon the experience of the successful candidate. Therefore, applications are encouraged from candidates at any stage of their career.

We invite applications from scholars of applied environmental science who focus on any of the wide variety of complex problems that affect environmental sustainability. Beyond evidence of teaching and scholarly excellence, candidates should demonstrate a commitment to programmatic and curricular development and undergraduate student mentoring. The successful candidate will be expected to teach three courses in the environmental sciences program annually and conduct research that includes participation of undergraduate students. The successful candidate will provide leadership in curricular development in environmental science, and contribute regularly to campus-wide collaborations and community partnerships related to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

The University of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQIA2S+, women, and members of historically underrepresented communities are highly encouraged to apply.

REQUIRED AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Teaching: A Ph.D. (or its equivalent) in environmental science or a closely related field is required. Experience and excellence in undergraduate teaching is required (graduate TA experience is acceptable). Preference will be given to applicants who can develop and teach lower- and upper-level courses in their area of expertise, and whose area of specialization complements those of the existing faculty,
Research: A successful track record of scholarly work is required. Preference will be given to candidates with the potential to initiate and sustain a viable research program involving undergraduates and who have experience seeking extramural funding.
Service/Outreach: Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated interest and experience in service, outreach, and community engagement.
Liberal Arts Mission: Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate an understanding of the liberal arts mission, a commitment to inclusive education, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines at the UMN Morris.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO ATTACH
Applications should include: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching and research statements, and contact information for three professional references. These documents should discuss teaching interests and abilities, as well as the applicant’s vision for curricular development in the environmental sciences. Applicants should also include a research plan that would involve undergraduate students, document a history of successful undergraduate student mentorship, and provide evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Finally, they should consider the roles that interdisciplinarity, service and outreach would play in the candidate’s contributions to the University.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this position go to the University of Minnesota Employment System at https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/351742 . Please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. Attach as many supporting documents as are allowed. Additional supporting documents may be emailed to koldenal@morris.umn.edu. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Screening begins November 11, 2022.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS
The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN Morris) makes its home on a 121-year-old campus on the western edge of the state and is one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. The small, close-knit campus emphasizes faculty/student collaboration in research, study abroad, and service learning. Deeply rooted in the tall grass prairies of Minnesota, the campus also has advanced sustainable, environmentally friendly initiatives that have grown to levels of national leadership and touch nearly all aspects of campus life.

A distinctive undergraduate campus within the University of Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota Morris combines a student-centered residential liberal arts education with access to the resources and opportunities of one of the nation's largest universities. A founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), UMN Morris provides students with a rigorous academic experience, preparing them to be global citizens who value and pursue intellectual growth, civic engagement, intercultural competence, and environmental stewardship. The student body numbers nearly 1500 with a student/faculty ratio of 11:1. UMN Morris serves one of the most diverse student bodies in Minnesota. More than forty percent of UMN Morris students are Native American, persons of color, or of international origin. UMN Morris is the only federally recognized Native American-Serving Non Tribal Institution in the Upper Midwest.

UMN Morris is highly ranked by national publications – U.S. News & World Report as a top-ten public liberal arts college; Forbes as one of the best colleges and universities in the nation; and Fiske Guide to Colleges includes Morris campus in its list of “the best” and “most interesting” schools in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom. Morris students are taught by a faculty with the highest per capita representation in the University of Minnesota’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching and students consistently win national awards, as demonstrated by UMN Morris’s status among the top baccalaureate institutions producing student Fulbright awards. The campus is also a national leader in sustainability, evidenced by receipt of the inaugural Excellence in Sustainability award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers and an AASHE STARS Gold rating