Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice - Extension Controlled Environment Agriculture Specialist

The primary focus of this position will be Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), ensuring that small farms have the knowledge and resources to utilize these systems for profitable food production. This position provides educational leadership in the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of research-based, integrative statewide Extension programs that meet the needs of limited-resource and socially disadvantaged audiences. It delivers training and educational support materials for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agents, technicians, and their clientele/customers in CEA, including greenhouse production, high tunnels, indoor food production, mushrooms, vertical farming, microgreens, and hydroponics. These efforts align with the philosophy, policy, and overall mission, goals, and educational objectives of Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The position works both individually and collaboratively to plan, deliver, and assess the effectiveness of Extension programs related to CEA, with a primary focus on expanding opportunities for small farms. Additionally, it secures external research funding to engage limited-resource audiences in the revitalization, growth, and profitability of small farms.

This is a non-tenured track faculty (NTTF), twelve-month position at the rank of “Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice – Controlled Environment Agriculture Specialist” in North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension. Position’s incumbent is eligible for title promotion and academically housed in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design.

As NTTF faculty, this position can be released, up to 25% of time and effort once per year, to teach for-credit academic coursework.