Director, Masters of Science in Applied Climate Studies
- Employer
- Warren Wilson College
- Location
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Closing date
- Mar 3, 2024
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- Discipline
- Global Environmental Change
- Career Level
- Experienced
- Education Level
- Masters
- Job Type
- Full-time
- Relocation Cost
- Negotiable
- Sector Type
- Academia
Warren Wilson College welcomes applicants for Director of the Master of Applied Climate Studies (MACS) program. A brief summary of this new program concept can be found in the application. The position is a 12 month, full-time, senior administrative appointment with faculty status (open-rank) in the Environmental Studies Department. The position begins July 1, 2024.
We seek an energetic leader to help shape this new Masters Degree Program, dedicated to preparing effective changemakers in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience. The program will be based on a low-residency model that will appeal to both working professionals as well as recent bachelor’s graduates.
The inaugural Director of the MS in Applied Climate Studies will join Warren Wilson at an exciting moment in its history. Recognized nationally for the quality of its environmental studies programs, the College has also recently launched the Center for Working Lands which will place Warren Wilson at the forefront of academic and applied research in sustainable agriculture, regenerative land management, agrivoltaics and decarbonization. The 1,120 acre campus is an ideal learning environment for students wishing to study and pursue research in applied climate studies. Asheville is home to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and other climate-related agencies, and the College has already established partnerships with numerous climate-forward organizations in the region. Warren Wilson’s networks extend nationally and internationally as well, through the work and projects of our faculty, staff and alums. The Director will join an exceptional undergraduate faculty who are ready to support the new program. There is a strong interest among students and faculty around the issues of sustainability, environmental justice, and climate mitigation, as well as thriving undergraduate majors in the natural sciences and related fields. In addition, Warren Wilson’s strong tradition of interdisciplinary study and cross-departmental support of the new program will allow the new Director to forge creative partnerships and curricula across the social sciences, humanities, and creative arts.
Position Description:
The Program Director is the chief academic and administrative officer of the program providing leadership and oversight of the low-residency MACS program. The Director serves as the liaison between the Program and the College, and serves ex officio on the Advisory Board for the program. The Director may also teach in the program where appropriate. The Director reports to the Provost and supervises the Assistant Director and will co-supervise an admissions counselor dedicated to the program. The Director oversees the day-to-day operations of the program including budgeting and accounting, marketing, admissions, and recruitment, curriculum development, residency coordination, faculty coordination, and organizational and partner relations.
About the College:
Warren Wilson College is located on a beautiful 1,120-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. We enroll approximately 750 undergraduates and 100 graduates. Rooted in liberal arts education, the College provides educational programs that foster students’ curiosity, empathy, and integrity to prepare graduates to engage in groundbreaking scholarship and creative work; pursue meaningful careers with professionalism; and lead purposeful lives dedicated to fostering a just, equitable, and sustainable world. The undergraduate College utilizes an innovative educational approach that intentionally integrates academics and experiential learning through campus work and community engagement for a rich, challenging student experience.
To fulfill this mission, the College, through its Strategic Imperative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is unwavering in our commitment to the dignity of all people—particularly those populations who have been both historically oppressed and continue to experience systemic oppression. As we value the breadth of diversity necessary for a rich campus culture, we also recognize the particular challenge and opportunity for growth and leadership around race, noting that such a focus necessarily intersects with deepening efforts around other aspects of identity (such as ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality, class, and worldview). We are committed to creating a culture of educational access and to ensuring that students and employees from a diverse range of identities and experiences will thrive in this community. We seek and support an academically and culturally diverse faculty and staff with a genuine interest in our innovative approach to education and focus on inclusive excellence, as well as a willingness to fully participate in the life of the College. We welcome applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (e.g., people of African, Latiné, Indigenous, and/or Asian descent) and individuals who have experience working with diverse populations of students and colleagues.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A terminal degree in a relevant field (a master's degree will be considered if the candidate has significant (5-10 years) additional leadership and administrative experience in the field).
- Expertise in an area directly related to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation with appropriate credentials in the field.
- Proven organizational and administrative skills and abilities.
- 2-4 years of experience directing a sustainability, environmental stewardship or climate change related program or organization, or serving as Chair of a department in environmental studies, sustainability, public administration or related field.
- Experience in project-based and applied research design, management, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated excellence as a teacher, especially committed to student-centered instruction.
- At least two years in a supervisory role.
- Demonstrated success partnering with and advising senior leadership and stakeholders in program development, priority and goal setting, and mapping out recruitment plans.
- Demonstrated experience with advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in learning spaces. For instance, experience incorporating inclusive teaching modalities and working with diverse student and faculty populations (e.g., racial/ethnic, income, immigration status, sexual orientation/gender identification, etc.).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in relevant area.
- Experience advising graduate students.
- Experience and expertise in climate related research and projects.
- Experience with student recruitment, marketing, and communications.
- Experience with low residency, hybrid, and/or on-line instructional design.
- Strong track record of interdisciplinary and/or inter-institutional collaborations (e.g. successfully executed programs or projects).
- Fundraising/capacity building experience.
Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter. The cover letter should articulate a vision for this newly developing program, summarize the applicant’s leadership, research, and administrative experience, and discuss demonstrated engagement in diversity, equity, and inclusion in learning spaces. First consideration will be given to candidates who apply by Monday, February 26, 2024. Electronic submission is required.
Warren Wilson College is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
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