Specialist - Advisor-Fixed Term

Position Summary

Position description : The Department of Forestry at Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking a full-time (12- month, fixed term) Academic Specialist to oversee undergraduate programs.

• The position start date is anticipated to be 1 January 2025. Reporting to the Department Chairperson, the undergraduate academic advisor will be responsible for recruiting students to the major and minors;
• advising students on their academic program and progress; coordinating the professional internship program; providing career advice, professional development opportunities and assistance in job placement;

participation in the development and implementation of activities and projects supporting student success; and contributing to the innovative development of undergraduate programs and experiences, supported through securing external grants.

In addition, the advisor will administer the undergraduate program including assisting students with course substitutions, waivers and transfers and degree clearance;

managing course enrollment; participating in New Student Orientation; and coordinating the scholarship application and award process.

The advisor will represent the Department as liaison to the Honors College and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Office of Academic and Student Affairs and act as the advisor to the MSU Forestry Club and the Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters.

The position also includes teaching responsibilities, as needed to meet Department learning outcomes and aligned with the advisor’s expertise.

The Department of Forestry is a vibrant, growing, internationally recognized unit committed to interdisciplinary education, research and extension to understand and resolve environmental and natural resource issues.

Established in 1902, MSU’s Department of Forestry was among the first undergraduate forestry programs in the U.S. and continues to innovate and lead in education, research and extension.

Michigan State University has a strong plant science focus (160+ faculty) of international stature, including relevant interdepartmental centers and programs (e.

g., Plant Resilience Institute; Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program; Environmental Science and Policy Program).

Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging : Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi people.

The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity.

We are an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.

Candidates are invited to view the Department of Forestry’s community norms at .

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair : Dr. David MacFarlane, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, .

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Academic Advising, Education, Leadership and Natural Resources, broadly defined

Desired Degree

Doctorate -A natural resources field

Minimum Requirements

Required qualifications : The successful candidate will have a combination of educational background and professional experience in 1) academic advising, education or leadership, and 2) natural resources, broadly defined.

The minimum requirement is a Master’s degree. We seek an enthusiastic academic advisor, dedicated to fostering the success of our undergraduates, growing our dynamic and intellectually rigorous undergraduate program and using their knowledge of Natural Resources career options and professional networks to help place students in exciting internships and lifelong careers.

Desired Qualifications

An earned Ph.D. in a natural resources field is preferred.