Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor

Position Function:

This 90% Extension, 10% College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) position is administratively and programmatically responsible to the Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition & Health Promotion. The major thrust of this position is on providing applied research and public outreach in health education.

Salary Grade:  UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Biochemistry, Nutrition & Health Promotion

The Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition & Health Promotion (BNHP) has academic, research, and extension education missions within the traditions of land-grant universities. The Department has roughly 30 faculty in biochemistry, nutrition/dietetics, food science, and health promotion disciplines. The Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees and currently advises approximately 450 undergraduate and 30 graduate students.

Area of Specialization:

Social and behavioral sciences, environmental health sciences

Anticipated Appointment Date:

April 1, 2025. 

Tenure Track Status:

Yes. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate responsibilities include:
• Planning, directing, and coordinating Extension Health programs across the state, as well as providing leadership and in-service training to MSU Extension Health personnel and agents.
• Ensure program quality and collaborate with Extension staff, partner organizations (Dept. of Health, Dept. of Human Services, etc.), and community stakeholders, and provide technical assistance and evaluation to establish and maintain program fidelity.
• Strategically and collaboratively design, develop, and implement policy initiatives that address health equity and the reduction of health disparities in Mississippi.
• Manage strategic relationships for Extension Health programs, cultivate and maintain relationships with community partners, leaders, and community members, and provide subject matter expertise related to Extension public health programming (i.e., mental health, diabetes, etc.)
• Provide leadership and supervision for MSU Extension Health personnel and provide evidence-based support for County Extension Agents and programs used to deliver population-based chronic disease prevention programs.
• Secure external funding and serve as the PI or co-PI on awards to support Extension community outreach initiatives.
• Oversee and provide evaluation guidance, technical assistance, and evaluation support for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of Extension Health programming and performance measures.
• Collaborate with departmental faculty, other State Specialists, and County Agents on interdisciplinary programming and publications in peer-reviewed outlets, Extension publications, web-based media, and popular press.
• Supervise graduate students, participate in departmental committees, teach the course “Intro to Health Professions” as part of the Rural Medical & Science Scholars program (currently offered in the summer), or other courses as assigned.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Department Head.

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates should have a Ph.D. degree in public health, health promotion, epidemiology, or biosciences, M.D., or an equivalent degree. Experience in proposal writing and publications in refereed journals and Extension/outreach articles, presentations, etc. Ability to work collaboratively, strong communication skills with the ability to convey technical information to a non-technical audience orally and in writing, and values fostering a collaborative and collegial work environment, and to work effectively with others as a team member.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):

Yes. 

Preferred Qualifications:

Major success in obtaining competitive grants and strong publication records is needed for the rank of associate and full professor. Experience working in mental health first aid, community counseling, and rural health. Evi