Applications are invited for the position of Founding Director of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. The new School will be a national and international leader for improving human well-being and quality of life through learning, discovery and engagement in plant and environmental sciences. The School’s faculty will integrate fundamental discovery as well as applied science to enhance plant and soil health, protect water resources and quality, improve food security, design intelligent human landscapes, and promote environmental stewardship. The School will integrate three outstanding departments that share certain mission elements: Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science. These units already share cross-cutting interdisciplinary research, and will be further connected through undergraduate curricula and linked graduate programs, as well as through statewide Research, Extension and Outreach activities. The School will initially consist of 86 affiliated faculty and postdocs, 64 staff, and over 100 graduate students, and will have over $8M in annual research expenditures. The School will provide an unparalleled opportunity for interdisciplinary research in the food, energy, water nexus as part of a new University focus on Global Systems Science.
The director will provide leadership for the design and implementation of the curricula, infrastructure, and new hires for the School. The responsibilities of the Director will be to provide strategic leadership and vision for the School, effectively oversee administrative, fiscal and human resource matters, advocate with external stakeholders, and pursue development opportunities. In addition to those core responsibilities, the Director will actively conduct impactful scholarship within the School’s mission. The individual will be hired at full Professor rank, with the expectation of tenure.
Applicants must apply online (https://listings.jobs.vt.edu, use posting # TR0170012). When applying for this position, please include in the online application a Curriculum vitae, a cover letter summarizing leadership philosophy and vision for the position, along with the names of three references who may be contacted. Inquiries concerning the position or application process should be directed to Dr. Glenda Gillaspy (gillaspy@vt.edu). Applications received by September 15, 2017, will receive full consideration, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Congratulations to Barbara Leshyn and Lisa Lipsey! The tree they decorated for the VT Inn’s Fashion for Evergreens contest won 2nd place!! There were approximately 20 trees decorated by different local organizations. Check them all out here: 
