Laramie, WY

Position Title: Assistant Professor for Community Sustainability

Organization: The Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources

Location: Laramie, WY

Organization Overview: The Haub School is a growing academic unit that includes six undergraduate and graduate degree programs that serve ~430 students, the Ruckelshaus Institute that conducts innovative outreach, and over 45 core faculty and staff. The Haub School partners with programs, faculty, staff, and students throughout the UW campus, as well as a broad network of statewide, regional, national, and international partners, to promote excellence in environmental and natural resources education, research, and outreach. Since 1993, the Haub School has been a nexus for interdisciplinary environmental and natural resources education and inquiry. The school’s curricula emphasize collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches that prepare students to become thoughtful future leaders and problem solvers in environmental and natural resources fields. Students learn in the classroom, in the outstanding natural outdoor laboratory that is Wyoming, online, and overseas via the Haub School’s international field courses. The Ruckelshaus Institute, a division of the Haub School, supports stakeholder-driven solutions to environmental and natural resources challenges throughout the state and region through compelling science communication and by promoting collaborative decision making. The Haub School’s faculty maintain active research or creative programs that address environmental and natural resources questions from both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Position Overview:  The Helga Otto Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming (UW) invites applications for an Assistant Professor with a focus on Community Sustainability. The school is seeking an accomplished and creative individual to provide research, teaching, and service consistent with the educational missions of UW, the Haub School and the Ruckelshaus Institute. The Haub School of ENR values interdisciplinary approaches to environmental problem solving and scholarship that can inform real-world solutions; tangible, place-based experience to develop critical thinking skills in the next generation of leaders and decision-makers; and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment on campus and beyond. This position is a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment in the Haub School of ENR.

Duties:  The successful candidate will engage in impactful and applied research and scholarship that advances the field of sustainability with a focus on socio-ecological systems and communities. The Haub School seeks applications from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds including environmental studies, geography, anthropology, sustainability studies, American studies, international studies, development studies, planning, and related fields. The Assistant Professor will:

• Teach courses in support of the undergraduate minor in Sustainability, the MS degree in Environment, Natural Resources and Society and other Haub School academic programs as relevant, and mentor graduate students.
• Develop a productive, extramurally-funded program of research and scholarship in appropriate fields to advance sustainability in socio-ecological systems such as food and agriculture, energy, water, and/or other environmental domains, while engaging communities in research-based policies and practices.
• Participate in the University’s Land Grant mission (with potential to collaborate with the Ruckelshaus Institute) by serving the people of Wyoming, supporting sustainable economic transitions, community engagement, and environmental management across the state.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated potential for research and scholarship in sustainability, community development, or other related topics; experience teaching concepts of sustainability to undergraduate and graduate students in a range of contexts, including experiential and online; a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary and community-engaged research; experience working with diverse populations; and outstanding communication and relationship-building skills that will contribute to the Haub School’s strong reputation and vision.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A terminal degree in a relevant field prior to the start date
• Research agenda and scholarly contributions relevant to sustainability with applicability to Wyoming, rural communities in transition, and/or the Intermountain West
• Potential for impactful teaching and mentoring college-level students
• A demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary research, teaching, and/or outreach

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience teaching, managing, or developing project-based, community-engaged, and/or service learning experiences/courses
• Demonstrated success in interdisciplinary, community-engaged research and outreach
• Experience with successful grants or externally-funded projects
• Evidence of integration across teaching, research, and service activities
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and understanding of sustainability challenges facing diverse communities

Application Deadline: Position will remain open until filled. Review of complete applications will begin October 20, 2023.

How to Apply:  Complete the online application and upload the following for a complete application.

• A letter of interest that discusses how the candidate’s scholarly experiences and interests are applicable to socio-ecological systems and community sustainability in Wyoming, rural communities, and/or the Rocky Mountain West; how the candidate approaches pedagogy, including a brief statement of teaching philosophy; how the candidate approaches diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion through their work, and how the candidate would plan to incorporate these values into this position.
• A detailed CV
• Contact information for 4 professional references.

Address applications to the search chair, Associate Lecturer Maggie Bourque. Nominations and expressions of interest will be held in confidence until on-campus interviews are conducted. Application process questions can be addressed to Kim Messersmith at Kbois@uwyo.edu.