The School of Public Health at Texas A&M University invites applications for a full-time tenured full professor and department head for the Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences. Located in College Station, TX on the flagship campus of the Texas A&M University System, the CEPH-accredited School of Public Health (SPH) has over 60 faculty in four departments. Texas A&M University, a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution, was the state’s first public institution of higher learning. It  is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), and boasts world-class resources available to SPH faculty. This appointment would ideally start July 1, 2021, although this date is flexible.  Review of applications will begin January 4, 2021 but applications can be received until the position is filled.

The next department head will have the opportunity to build on the department’s successes and craft a new vision for discovery and excellence in social, behavioral and community health. We seek a student and faculty-centered leader who will actively cultivate an inclusive and dynamic work and learning environment in which a diversity of faculty, staff and students will thrive. The successful applicant will be an innovative thinker with a strategic vision for guiding the department to a higher level of excellence and who can communicate this vision to a constituency that includes academia, government, and former students. The candidate must have notable accomplishments and experience in research, academic leadership, teaching, and scholarship.

SPH Leaders are proactively engaged in strategies aimed to create and sustain an inclusive climate for all members. This means actively dismantling systems inhibiting progress in this realm, and building a professional work environment in which diversity of experiences, thoughts, personal and professional backgrounds (and more) are valued and leveraged to strengthen our school. We are purposeful in our efforts to improve our own abilities in this realm, and engage in growth and learning opportunities in order to be better people, not just better leaders.  We train lifelong learners, and therefore must model lifelong learning and development. Therefore, we seek individuals who demonstrate their commitment to eradicating institutionalized barriers to progress across all realms (health, economic, education) in their leadership, research, teaching and/or service. Ideal candidates should be eager to continue and expand their efforts upon joining our team.  

Candidates must demonstrate a vision for supporting, directing, and enhancing the goals of the department. The department head will:

• Engage the department’s faculty and staff in defining its vision for the future, in alignment with the school’s mission and strategic plan;
• Demonstrate transparent leadership and excellent administrative skills;
• Model and create intentionally collaborative approaches to promote and integrate diversity, equality, inclusiveness and accountability in the research, teaching and service work of the department;
• Continue to demonstrate successful research and academic accomplishments that are commensurate with the title of tenured full professor;
• Promote growth of the department in research excellence and graduate education;
• Lead and motivate high standards for continued excellence and innovation in undergraduate education;
• Provide effective budget management; and
• Promote an environment of integrity to stimulate faculty, staff and students to succeed at the highest levels.

Resources

The department, which delivers programs in College Station, Texas and at the Higher Education Center in McAllen, Texas, currently has six tenured and tenure track faculty members, eight non-tenure earning faculty and staff members, and is home to over 70 graduate students. It offers traditional MPH and DrPH degrees with a concentration in health promotion and community health sciences. Additionally, Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences faculty teach in the School’s undergraduate generalist degree program, which has over 800 students. The Department’s research and contract expenditures exceeded $1.8 million dollars in the last year.

The Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences (HPCHS) has a commitment to scholarly inquiry and community outreach in a broad spectrum of areas. Domestic and global research and creative activity in the department include applied work in community health and mitigation of health risk factors, program and policy evaluation, infectious disease and sexual assault prevention, outreach and engagement through social media and other platforms, with a focus on rural, underserved, and immigrant populations. Faculty provide expertise in working in diverse communities and utilizing a variety of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. HPCHS excels in using innovative, best practice to provide student-engaged and practice-based learning related to research methods, program development, planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination.  There are many opportunities for collaboration in these areas with other faculty within the School of Public Health, as well as across the broader University.

Additional Information

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. Diverse perspectives, talents, and identities are vital to accomplishing our mission and living our core values.

Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability employer committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment. Applications from women, minorities, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged and will be actively sought. The University is aware that attracting and retaining exceptional faculty often depends on meeting the needs of two careers and therefore implements policies that contribute to work-life balance.

The school engages in strategies to create and sustain an inclusive climate for all, building an environment in which diversity of experiences, thoughts, personal and professional backgrounds are valued and leveraged to strengthen our school.

The School of Public Health is the only unit among the health science center holding qualifications and membership in the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS; https://www.hshps.org/about). The ideal candidate will have experience in working with, creating, and leading diverse groups.  

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree with a focus in social, behavioral, or community health science or closely related disciplines, from an accredited school of public health or related educational institution. Candidates must also demonstrate a record of scholarly achievement appropriate for full professor, including extramurally funded research as a principal investigator, current funding or strong potential to secure external funding, the ability to collaborate across disciplines, and a positive team spirit. Important qualifications also include proven skills in mentoring professionals at all career stages, types (faculty, professional staff, and research staff) and backgrounds, and demonstrated ability to positively impact learning/workplace climate and in actively working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Application Instructions

All applications materials should be submitted through or uploaded to Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/78729. Please provide: 1) curriculum vitae, 2) cover letter including managerial and leadership philosophy, managerial and leadership experience, and managerial and leadership training in preparation to head and lead  a Department, 3) a research statement 4) a statement of teaching interests, and 5) a diversity statement. Additionally, please provide a list of five (5) references; references will be contacted only if you are selected for an interview.

Questions regarding this academic leadership opportunity may be sent to Dr. Eric Wilson, Assistant Dean for Accountability and Strategic Initiatives, at eric.wilson@tamu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. Diverse perspectives, talents, and identities are vital to accomplishing our mission and living our core values.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.