Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice — Texas Tech University
Position Description
The Department of Natural Resources Management in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, Assistant Professor of Practice/Associate Professor of Practice to begin in January 2026 (depending on the selection process, the start date could be as early as August 2025).
At Texas Tech University, the Professor of Practice title is used to recruit individuals with exceptional backgrounds and achievements in academic, business, government, or other professional practice. Primary responsibilities are to teach in an area of expertise, mentor students in professional and career preparation, and liaise with professional contacts and entities on behalf of the department.
Breakdown of the workload of this particular Professor of Practice position is 75% teaching, 20% research and 5% service. Teaching responsibilities for this position will be teaching the “NRM3407 Wildlife Management Techniques” course and three others in the area of expertise of the successful applicant per year. Research responsibilities will be to develop a modest research program consistent with a 20% portion of an academic workload that includes funding and publication of research and training of graduate students.
About the University
Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock
Referred to as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock’s Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.
About the College
In addition to the Department of Natural Resources Management, the Davis College is home to the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences, along with multiple research centers and institutes. For the most recent academic year, the College had 2,687 undergraduate and 502 graduate students and generated approximately $14.4 million annually in extramural research funding.
About the Department/School/Area
The Department of Natural Resources Management includes 18 full-time faculty members. There are approximately 350 undergraduate and 70 graduate students currently enrolled. Degrees offered include a B.S. in Natural Resources Management with emphasis areas in Conservation Science, Fisheries Biology, Ranch Management, Range Conservation, or Wildlife Biology, as well as a separate B.S. in Conservation Law Enforcement. The Department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management. The department has a strong record of multidisciplinary teaching and research and houses management and research staff from state and federal natural resources agencies. The Department is home to the United States Geological Survey Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and promotes teaching and research activity at the Llano River Field Station in Junction, Texas. The Department is part of the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University, along with six additional departments: Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences.
Major/Essential Functions
At Texas Tech University, the Professor of Practice title is used to recruit individuals with exceptional backgrounds and achievements in academic, business, government, or other professional practice. Primary responsibilities normally will be to teach in an area of expertise, mentor students in professional and career preparation, and liaise with professional contacts and entities on behalf of the department or program.
In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.
Faculty Qualifications
Specific required qualifications are:
- Ph.D. in natural resources management, ecology, environmental science or closely related field;
- 8 years or more of experience as a student, educator, and/or practitioner in the field of natural resources management, ecology, environmental science or closely related field; and
- Strong commitment to teaching and research in the area of natural resources management, ecology, environmental science or closely related field.
- To apply at the Associate Professor level, additional qualifications include holding the rank of Associate Professor or similar rank in non-academic positions at the time of application and significant involvement in education, outreach and engagement activities.
Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Research experience/interests in amphibians and/or reptiles although any other taxon will be considered
- Commitment to educating and empowering a diverse student body, including first-generation students
- Proven experience as an instructor of record (e.g. lecturer, instructor, teaching assistant) for courses in the area of expertise of the applicant;
- experience conducting field-based research using diverse wildlife surveying techniques;
- A history of successful engagement with stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, other public and private natural resources managers, academic students, teachers, and researchers, as well as relevant scientific or professional societies
Special Instructions to Applicants
Apply to this job through Brassring TTU website: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25898&sit...
Please include the following documents in your application:
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Teaching portfolio (including the candidate’s teaching philosophy, an example course syllabus for Wildlife Techniques, and sample lesson plans for one classroom lecture/discussion and one field-based experiential learning activity
- Statement of past, current and future research interests and accomplishments
- Contact information for three professional references
Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Carlos Portillo-Quintero, Search Committee Chair at carlos.portillo@ttu.edu or Department of Natural Resources Management Interim Chairperson Dr. Richard Stevens at richard.stevens@ttu.edu. If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at hrs.recruiting@ttu.edu or 806-742-3851.
https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25898&sit...