Assistant Professor in Residence of Landscape Architecture

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA), part of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), at the University of Connecticut (UConn) is pleased to invite applications for a full-time, career-track, 11-month appointment, that is 80% teaching and 20% research, focused on teaching and design pedagogy. The position will begin on August 23, 2024.

The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and be capable of teaching introductory, upper-level undergraduate, and graduate courses that contribute to the core curriculum in landscape architecture. Teaching responsibilities include the undergraduate design studio and courses across a range of core topics including graphics, history/theory, and construction. Teaching duties will average four courses per year to meet the needs of the LA program. The successful candidate will also advise undergraduate students and take an active leadership role in student recruiting. The selected candidate is also expected to develop a research program that synergistically magnifies expertise in the classroom through a focus on design pedagogy with an emphasis broadly on, but not limited to diversity, justice, and the built environment. Preference will be given to those candidates whose work embraces the intersection of landscape architecture, planning, ecology, plant science, and design education, and with complementary expertise to the existing four faculty in the Landscape Architecture Program.  The successful candidate will also contribute research scholarship in their area of expertise and will have the capability of attracting external grant funding to support graduate students in their area of research scholarship. All faculty in the college are expected to contribute 10% of their time towards service.

The Program and Institutional Structure

The Landscape Architecture Program offers an LAAB accredited BSLA degree, as well as MS and PhD degrees with a multi-disciplinary focus. The program is working to expand its graduate programs and its applied research opportunities. The current community includes approximately 70 undergraduate majors, a small cohort of graduate students, four full-time faculty, and a dedicated staff. With several new hires in the past five years, faculty supporting the Landscape Architecture Program are an energetic and cooperative group that is collaboratively working to redefine the program, including designing future courses for undergraduate education, enhancing pathways toward graduate education, and growing research endeavors. Research centers around climate, justice, service, collaboration, and craft. Together, there are a wide range of interrelated interests including, but not limited to climate adaptation and decision-making, urban climatology, urban biodiversity, socio-ecological systems, health and well-being, urban abandonment, property reform, climate justice, co-design, environmental governance, urban political economy, and critical visualization. Faculty in the Landscape Architecture Program teach, research, design, and incorporate public outreach, to imagine vibrant communities and create places of value, while caring for our natural and cultural resources. Collectively, they have defined a common goal to strive towards actionable and collaborative practices that address climate justice and social equity. 

Teaching infrastructure within the Landscape Architecture Program includes approximately 3,000 square feet of studio space, 450 square feet of flexible classroom, presentation, and exhibition space, and 425 square feet for shared equipment, which are all located in the W.B. Young Building in addition to assigned individual faculty offices. Resources within the Landscape Architecture Program include state-of-the-art equipment for printing, plotting, fabrication, and photography. In addition, two rooms are under renovation with a $250k investment to create a 3-D virtual reality teaching and research space in the Rackliffe Hicks Building, as well as graduate student studio space. The Landscape Architecture Program is developing additional teaching resources and actively engages with the PSLA Research and Education Farm, the Floriculture Greenhouses, the UConn Forest, the Digital Art Service Lab, the exhibit and classroom spaces at the Homer Babbidge Library, and other facilities across campus.

The Landscape Architecture Program is uniquely positioned within the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) where faculty also hold their tenure home. PSLA is one of nine academic units within the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Within the Department, there are 21 faculty (15 tenure-track faculty and 6 non-tenure track professionals with FTE distribution of 7.4 teaching, 7.1 research, 5.8 extension, and 0.7 administrative) and 12-member support staff that comprise a collegial team devoted to excellence in research, teaching, and extension. PSLA is a department that proudly serves the needs of Connecticut through graduate and undergraduate education, outstanding public outreach programs associated with formal extension and engaged scholarship, and nationally competitive research programs. PSLA is typically the top academic department in the College in external grant funding per faculty line. The plant science program is nationally known for a longstanding breeding program on ornamental plants with dozens of patents adopted by the industry, impactful outreach on integrated pest management in the green industry, progressive teaching and research on hemp in controlled environment agriculture, applied research to solve problems in the green industry, and fundamental research in plant biology. Landscape architects have been an integral part of the department since the 1930’s and formalized the BSLA program in the late 90’s, which remains the only LAAB accredited program in the state. The Landscape Architecture Program is now widely recognized for its public engagement with local communities to advance sustainable development and climate adaptation working on more than 50 projects in 30 cities over eight years, and training some of the best landscape architects in the region. The Department is centrally located on the UConn campus in Storrs, CT, within driving distance of many major New England cities and towns, including Hartford and Boston.

Faculty in the Landscape Architecture Program are directly involved with the implementation of CAHNR’s Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and Extension programs in the years 2020-2025. Faculty hired for this position will be expected to make significant contributions in their area of expertise, contributing to the advancement of one or more of the CAHNR’s five strategic priorities.

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply;
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally and globally;
• Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces;
• Advancing resilience and adaptation in a changing climate; and
• Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for anti-racist policies, practices, and norms.

The CAHNR Strategic Vision (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues ) provides additional information on the strategic initiatives and their related areas of emphasis. It is important to note that an essential component of the Strategic Vision is a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, research, and extension and addressing structural racism by broadening participation and integrating culturally sustaining approaches in all College activities.

Founded in 1881, the University of Connecticut is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and a member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal degree in their discipline (Master’s or PhD) and engage in the built environment through practice, research, and/or creative inquiry.
• At least one professional degree in landscape architecture (undergraduate or graduate). Equivalent foreign degrees are accepted.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Ph.D. degree or licensure in Landscape Architecture or related field.
• Demonstrated interest in teaching and the future of design pedagogy.
• Experience creating new and engaged coursework at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Track record of successful grant writing, evidence of leadership in professional organizations, or collaborative research.
• Demonstrated commitment to and/or record of efforts to enhance diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, career-track, durational, 11-month position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2024. The successful candidate’s primary academic appointment will be at the Storrs Campus. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online via Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27162 . Submission must include:

• Letter of interest, including how your work at UConn will contribute to one or more of CAHNR’s strategic priorities;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Research statement (2 pages);
• Teaching statement (2 pages);
• Diversity statement (including broadening participation, integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research, and applying effective pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles);
• Teaching portfolio with student work included;
• Professional portfolio with design/planned work and writing samples;
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial copies accepted);
• Names and contact information of three references.

Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received no later than March 1, 2024. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled but are not guaranteed a review. Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent on the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. Inquiries about the position should be directed to Prof. Jill Desimini ([email protected]).  

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce.  The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner.  This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all.  We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same.  All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.