Career Services

Assistant Professor of Community and Social Entrepreneurship

The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) at the University of Vermont invites applicants for the position of Assistant Professor of Community and Social Entrepreneurship. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) 9-month, tenure track position. CDAE is a transdisciplinary department housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Our undergraduate majors include Community Entrepreneurship, Public Communication, Community and International Development, and Community-Centered Design. Our department also hosts a nationally accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, a research-focused master’s program in Community Development and Applied Economics, and a Ph.D. program in Sustainable Development, Policy, Economics, and Governance.

We are seeking a new faculty member to support and grow the Community Entrepreneurship program at UVM, which was launched twenty years ago as the first of its kind. We lead students through a multi-disciplinary education that equips them with the knowledge and mindset to tackle serious problems facing the world, especially those related to food systems, environmental sustainability, and community development. At the same time, we train students in applied skills that will help them launch and lead for-profit and non-profit ventures or become intrapreneurs and leaders driving innovation within existing organizations and institutions. The Community Entrepreneurship program is committed to an immersive, learning-by-doing pedagogy. This approach is exemplified by PopUp Enterprise, a service-based, team-focused learning experience that introduces students to entrepreneurship by leading them through the process of forming and running an on-campus business that raises thousands of dollars for local non-profits.

Our nationally accredited MPA program holds a “Best Graduate Schools” distinction in public affairs by the U.S. News & World Report. In fulfillment of its land grand mission, UVM’s MPA Program inspires and equips students to foster a resilient, sustainable society by drawing on the traditions and innovative spirit of Vermont communities.

Applications will be reviewed beginning December 11, 2023 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The successful candidate is expected to start in August 2024. We are especially interested in applicants with the ability to teach undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship and graduate courses focused on non-profit leadership and administration in our MPA program, applied research interests in community development or sustainability, and experience working across academic disciplines. Qualified applicants must possess a Ph.D. and relevant training at the time of appointment. Real-world experience in entrepreneurship and non-profit leadership is also highly valued.

Responsibilities

The new Assistant Professor of Community and Social Entrepreneurship will develop a portfolio of work that balances teaching, research, advising, service, and community engagement. They will primarily teach undergraduate courses in the Community Entrepreneurship major and graduate non-profit management courses in the MPA program. They will also have the opportunity to advise masters and Ph.D. students.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the capacity to:

• Contribute to cross-university collaborations within the UVM Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
• Teach both core and elective courses related to entrepreneurship and non-profit management
• Build partnerships with Vermont’s vibrant entrepreneurship community that will enhance student engagement opportunities
• Collaborate effectively with diverse groups of colleagues, students, and community partners
• Embrace principles of inclusion, accessibility, and equity in teaching, research, and collaboration
• Provide service at the departmental, college, and university levels

About Us 

The CDAE Department is home to over 400 undergraduate majors and 85 graduate students. Our students, faculty, and staff are known for cutting-edge research and practice with local, national, and global impact. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work across the department, college and university and interact with several Centers and Institutes, including the Food Systems Research Center, Center for Rural Studies, Center for Rural Partnerships, and the Gund Institute for the Environment.

The University of Vermont is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and inclusive excellence of the academic community through their teaching, service and research, scholarship, and/or creative arts. The University of Vermont is an educationally purposeful community seeking to prepare students to live in a diverse and changing world. We who work, live, study, teach, do research, conduct business, or participate in the University of Vermont are members of this community. As members, we believe in the transforming power of education and agree to help create and foster an environment where we can discover and reach our true potential.

Members of the University of Vermont community embrace and advance the values of Our Common Ground: Openness, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Innovation, and Justice. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the ideals of accessibility, inclusiveness, and academic excellence as reflected in the tenets of Our Common Ground. To learn more about Our Common Ground please visit: https://www.uvm.edu/president/our-common-ground

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law.

Required Material 

Applications must be submitted online at www.uvmjobs.com (Position # 00026854) Applicants must provide: 

• Cover letter specifically addressing the candidate’s interests and experience relevant to the position
• Academic C.V. including teaching, publications, internal and external funding, and service activities.
• One-page diversity statement that discusses skills, experiences, and commitment to: teaching and mentoring diverse and historically underserved student populations; professional service that assists in achieving equity, inclusion, and diversity; and ways in which past or future activities address fundamental questions important to an increasingly diverse society.
• Names and (e-mail) addresses of at least three references who may be contacted after the initial application review. The names of the references are entered into the UVMJobs application and reference letters will be requested, collected, and managed via that system.

Applications without each of these components will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; for full consideration applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials by December 10. Salary will be made at a level appropriate to the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience. For further information about this position, please contact: Trisha Shrum, Search Committee Chair: tshrum@uvm.edu or Dr. Asim Zia, Interim CDAE Chair: asim.zia@uvm.edu.