Department Head - Plant Pathology
Kansas State University
About This Role
Kansas State University seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to advance the missions of the College and University by serving as the next Department Head and Professor of Plant Pathology. The successful candidate must possess the experience and vision to inspire, guide, and facilitate the Department's faculty and staff in advancing high-quality teaching, research, engagement, and extension, while providing leadership that ensures the integrity, excellence, relevance, and success of the Department's multifaceted programs. If desired, the Department Head may maintain active research, extension, or teaching programs. The Department Head reports directly to the Dean of the College of Agriculture.
The department has internationally recognized faculty with an extensive range of expertise in genetics, genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, and bioinformatics, focusing on interactions among pathogens, host plants, and arthropod vectors. The department also has strong programs in applied plant pathology, related to host resistance, disease forecasting, integrated disease management, and plant biosecurity, with well-established links to international agriculture. The department provides extension expertise and plant disease diagnostics for field crops and horticultural crops in Kansas. The department houses the Wheat Genetics Resource Center, the Great Plains regional center for the National Plant Diagnostic Network, the Fungal Genetics Stock Center, and the K-State Integrated Genomics Facility. Research on high-consequence, emerging plant pathogens is ongoing in the K-State Biosecurity Research Institute on campus. The department currently has 24 resident faculty and hosts faculty from several USDA laboratories. It has 35 research scientists and post-doctoral fellows. The department offers undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, with over 30 graduate students enrolled in these programs. Learn more about the department and the college at www.plantpath.k-state.edu and http://www.ag.k-state.edu.
The Successful Candidate Will:
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Foster excellence in research, extension, teaching, and domestic and international service
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Promote quality instruction in undergraduate and graduate programs
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Actively involve faculty in the decision-making process, using appointed and elected committees when appropriate
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Provide leadership in planning and supervising programs relevant to the department's mission within the land grant university system, manage departmental budgetary and financial matters, and assist in generating extramural support for departmental activities
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Evaluate, counsel, and promote professional development of faculty, staff, and students
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Recruit and retain productive faculty, staff, and students
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Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, university administrators, and stakeholders
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Represent and promote the department to the college, university, state, agricultural clientele, and funding agencies
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Create an environment that fosters collegiality and teamwork
About Us
As part of Kansas State University, a comprehensive R1, land-grant institution, the Department of Plant Pathology is devoted to excellence in teaching, research, extension, and engagement. The Department is fully committed to advancing the University's land-grant mission and its vision to become a Next-Generation Land-Grant University.
Worksite Description
This position is On-site. This position is On-site.
All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.
What You'll Need to Succeed
Minimum Qualifications:
• Earned doctorate in an area relevant to plant pathology or related discipline.
• A strong record of distinguished academic achievement in teaching, research, and/or extension that merits appointment as a tenured, full professor in the Plant Pathology Department, with evidence of professional distinction and national or international recognition in their field.
• Demonstrated success as an innovative and strategic leader with the ability to work with colleagues as they develop, coordinate, articulate, and implement a strategic plan for the future of the department.
• Demonstrated success as a strategic and creative planner and as a relationship builder with exceptional collaboration, communication, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
• A proven record as a successful leader, with responsibility for guiding strategy, managing finances, evaluating personnel, mentoring faculty and staff in key career decisions, engaging external stakeholders, and fostering inclusive teamwork to create collaborative relationships across varying groups.
• Demonstrated success in fund development and external fundraising. A willingness to assist and mentor faculty in attracting additional funding to the department
• A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to all aspects of the land-grant mission, including teaching, research, extension, and engagement.
• A recognition and appreciation for educational access and opportunities in a positive working environment.
The degree requirement is necessary for accreditation purposes and to ensure candidates possess the specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities that can only be attained through a formal educational program at this level.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with teaching, research, extension, and international programs in a land-grant university.
• A proven ability to develop and implement successful interdisciplinary and/or international programs.
• A proven ability to initiate, lead, and facilitate transformational change and innovation initiatives and be adaptable to changing conditions.
• Firm grasp of the opportunities and advantages of a land-grant university with R1 status.
• A history of building, enhancing, and sustaining partnerships across a university, local communities, state, region, and nation.
• Understanding of and commitment to shared governance to achieve department, college, and university-wide goals.
Sponsorship eligibility:
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship
How to Apply
Please submit the following documents:
• Applicants should submit via PageUp a letter of interest that addresses the applicant's vision, administrative philosophy and qualifications; curriculum vitae; and the names, mailing addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three professional references.
Application Window
Applications close on: January 11, 2026
Anticipated Hiring Pay Range
Commensurate with experience.
To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6771337
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