Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement

Director, Cooperative Extension

The University of Missouri (MU) seeks a dynamic and innovative leader who will enhance and further the reputation of the University of Missouri Extension as a national leader. This individual will provide leadership for Cooperative Extension, Continuing Education, and Extension Field programs at the University of Missouri. Engagement with traditional and nontraditional partners is essential to enhancing the impact of University of Missouri Extension.

University of Missouri Extension serves the state of Missouri as a unified outreach organization, leading the way as a national model of organization and delivery, reaching millions of citizens. MU Extension encourages the citizens of Missouri to actively partner with faculty to address and solve issues impacting the state, country, and world. Integral to the delivery of its educational mission is a network of campus faculty, spanning the four campuses of the University of Missouri; as well as regional specialists, staff, and community volunteers in the state’s 114 counties and the city of St. Louis.

MU Extension supports the program areas of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Veterinary Medicine; Business and Industry; Community Development; 4-H Youth Development; Human Environmental Sciences, as well as Continuing Education. In addition, the following Extension/Continuing Education units are directly or collaboratively accountable to the Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement: Labor Education, Fire and Rescue Training Institute, MU Conference Office, Law Enforcement Training Institute, Nursing Outreach, Continuing Medical Education, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Missouri Training Institute, and Veterinary Medical Extension/CE.

The University of Missouri is one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. It is a Land Grant and AAU institution with more than 35,000 students on the Columbia, Missouri campus. MU enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with the State of Missouri, providing opportunity, growth, and flexibility for the institution.

The University has a strong commitment to the continued success and development of Cooperative Extension. Recognizing the impact Extension has on the citizens of Missouri, and the important role it plays within the University, this position has been elevated to a Vice Chancellor role, reporting directly to the Chancellor of MU. The Vice Chancellor must understand and appreciate MU's academic mission; while enhancing and managing resources to provide educational programs to the citizens of Missouri. The Vice Chancellor provides leadership to approximately 970 full and part-time faculty and staff located throughout Missouri. The Vice Chancellor also works with state and county councils to assure the citizens of the state are involved in strategic planning for Extension.

Specific responsibilities of the Vice Chancellor include:

• provide statewide leadership and administration for University of Missouri Extension through the development, delivery, and evaluation of statewide Extension programs in accordance with federal and state statutes and policies;
• promote the importance of community-engaged scholarship;
• provide leadership and direction in the development, articulation, and implementation of a comprehensive, shared vision for MU Extension;
• partner with program directors to develop, implement, and evaluate Cooperative Extension, Continuing Education and field programs (non-credit) that draw upon the University's teaching and research expertise;
• promote a culturally aware and welcoming environment within MU Extension, along with a strong commitment to recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff;
• oversee a yearly budget (currently $80M) to support Extension and MU's Continuing Education programs, including allocations to projects and programs, and reporting expenditures by program;
• regularly communicate openly with the MU Extension faculty and staff (located on campus and across the state);
• grow the current resource base to serve the citizens of Missouri;
• facilitate and enhance the University of Missouri Extension's collaboration with public and private entities at all levels; including county extension councils, regional extension councils, state extension councils, state and federal agencies, as well as Missouri Farm Bureau and commodity groups;
• serve as a strategic advisor to the MU Chancellor and Provost on a wide range of related matters, including tenure and promotion of Extension faculty, program direction, research, and other policy issues; and
• represent MU and the University of Missouri Extension at the local, state, and national level.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated depth and breadth of experience in higher education leadership with background in Extension and/or Continuing Education preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and represent Extension’s contribution to a variety of audiences and stakeholder groups.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to local needs and to academic and national professional standards in the development of programs.
• Demonstrated personnel and fiscal management capabilities.
• Commitment to affirmative action and equal opportunity in programming, staffing, and services.
• A terminal degree and academic record justifying a tenured faculty appointment are preferred.

Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to ensure optimal consideration, please submit application materials by February 12, 2016 to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Martin M. Baker, Senior Vice President Baker and Associates LLC

4799 Olde Towne Parkway – Suite 202 Marietta, GA 30068 mbaker@baasearch.com

 

For additional information about the search, contact the search committee chair:

Dr. Stephen Ball

State Extension Specialist and Associate Professor

Department of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology

University of Missouri-Columbia

106 McKee Hall

Columbia, MO 65211

Email address: ballsd@missouri.edu  Phone: (573) 882-2334

Additional information about University of Missouri Extension can be found at the following web address: http://extension.missouri.edu/

The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disability and veteran employer.

Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to ensure optimal consideration, please submit application materials by February 12, 2016 to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Martin M. Baker, Senior Vice President Baker and Associates LLC

4799 Olde Towne Parkway – Suite 202 Marietta, GA 30068 mbaker@baasearch.com  

For additional information about the search, contact the search committee chair:

Dr. Stephen Ball

State Extension Specialist and Associate Professor

Department of Nutrition & Exercise Physiology

University of Missouri-Columbia

106 McKee Hall

Columbia, MO 65211

Email address: ballsd@missouri.edu ; Phone: (573) 882-2334

Additional information about University of Missouri Extension can be found at the following web address: http://extension.missouri.edu/  

The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disability and veteran employer.