Full Professor and Director

Cornell CALS Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, NY. The academic home for this position is the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University. 

Cornell University, a world-leading research and land-grant institution, has an exciting opportunity for an outstanding individual to help build and lead the new Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment (Ashley School). The Inaugural Director will play a key role in shaping the strategic vision, mission, and programming of the new Ashley School with accomplished faculty and staff from existing academic units within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The Director will support existing efforts in global development, environmental science, sustainability, applied economics, and natural resource management, facilitate interaction and synergies among programs, and identify gaps and opportunities that can address the complex social-ecological challenges of the 21st century – across teaching, research and outreach missions.

The Ashley School was recently established to integrate Cornell’s leadership in environmental and social sciences addressing the urgent global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, food insecurity, widening socioeconomic inequalities, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. The Ashley School provides a framework for interdisciplinary research, education, and engagement that connects local action with global sustainability goals.

The Ashley School currently encompasses 48 tenure stream faculty, 37 research, teaching, and extension (non-tenure stream) faculty, 41 administrative and professional staff, and engages approximately 600 undergraduate students and 138 professional and graduate students. The Ashley School unites expertise and innovation from two former departments, Global Development and Natural Resources and the Environment, spanning diverse disciplines, theoretical perspectives, and methodologies across the ecological and social sciences and applied economics. Through its collaborative ethos and land-grant mission, the Ashley School advances fundamental understanding and applied solutions, co-producing knowledge and solutions with communities, Tribal nations, governments, and partners in New York State and around the world to secure a sustainable and equitable future for all. Key to this endeavor will be a seamless integration of the Ashley School’s research, teaching and extension missions in recognition of Cornell's unique role as an Ivy League land-grant university.

The Inaugural Director will provide visionary and inclusive leadership to unite faculty, staff, and students across social and ecological disciplines around shared values and a common mission. The Director will strategically position the Ashley School for long-term success—cultivating interdisciplinary excellence in research, education, and public engagement that advances sustainability and justice locally and globally.

The Director will be responsible for building the Ashley School’s intellectual identity and global visibility; fostering a supportive, collaborative, and diverse community; promoting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research collaborations; developing innovative and integrative academic programs; guiding, in collaboration with appropriate members of the Ashley School leadership team, faculty recruitment and mentoring; and promoting excellence and equity across teaching, research, and extension. The Director will work closely with CALS leadership and with other colleges and schools and units across Cornell - including, but not limited to, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, the SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Engineering, to advance cross-campus initiatives and to engage with external partners in academia, government, civil society, and the private sector.

In addition to the administrative appointment, following a university review commensurate with rank, the Director will hold a tenure track professorship within the Ashley School and is expected to maintain an active, impactful program of scholarship. The initial term of appointment for the Directorship is five years, renewable for an additional term upon successful review. The term for the Professor, tenure-track position will be up to 5 years, pending tenure approval.

Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 70% administration and 30% research while in the director role and should the candidate return to a faculty only position the position will be 50% research and 50% teaching.

The Director will:

• Lead an inclusive process to develop the new Ashley School’s identity, vision, governance structures, strategic planning, and implementation strategy to advance the Ashley School’s mission of integrating environmental and development scholarship, teaching, and engagement to achieve sustainability and equity outcomes.
• Work with the members of the Ashley School leadership team to advance a culture of collaboration, inclusion, transparency, and shared governance across all levels of the Ashley School.
• Facilitate innovative, interdisciplinary research and extension initiatives that connect social-ecological systems, community development, human well-being, and policy solutions.
• Facilitate partnerships with New York state to advance the Land Grant mission of the university.
• Support the academic programs of the Ashley School, including undergraduate majors in Environment & Sustainability (a shared major with the College of Arts and Sciences) and Global Development, and graduate fields in Natural Resources and the Environment, Global Development, and Development Studies.
• Support members of the Ashley School leadership team in recruiting, mentoring, and evaluating faculty and academic staff; encourage professional development and leadership growth.
• Lead the Ashley School’s assessment and reporting processes, ensuring alignment with CALS and university goals.
• Oversee fiscal management, facilities, and operations in partnership with the Ashley School’s administrative and financial leadership.
• Strengthen partnerships across Cornell’s colleges and centers, and with national and international collaborators.
• Promote and support access and community engagement as foundational to excellence in all aspects of the Ashley School’s work.
• Represent the Ashley School to alumni, donors, funding agencies, and partners to enhance visibility, build strategic relationships, and work with CALS Office of Alumni Affairs and Development to secure external funding.

Required Qualifications

• D. or equivalent terminal degree in a discipline relevant to environment, and development studies, natural resources, applied economics, or sustainability.
• Distinguished record of scholarship and service commensurate with a tenured Full Professor at Cornell University.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership and management, including strategic planning, fiscal management, and personnel supervision.
• Proven ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and to lead diverse teams across social, natural, and policy sciences.
• Commitment to supporting a respectful and vibrant academic community.
• Strong communication and engagement skills, with the ability to connect across disciplines and to represent the Ashley School effectively to internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated success in securing extramural funding.
• Strong record teaching or extension and outreach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cultivating donor relationships and developing fundraising strategies that align with institutional priorities and advance research, teaching, and engagement initiatives.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2026, or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) a statement describing leadership experience and philosophy, and vision for the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, (5) copies of four relevant publications, (6) names and contact information for three references, and (7) unofficial transcripts. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/31386. Applications received by January 31, 2026, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Finalists for this position will be asked to sign an affidavit that they have not been found to have violated employer policies at their previous institutions.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Mario Herrero or Jocelyn Rose, Search Committee Chairs

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: mh2258@cornell.edu; jr286@cornell.edu

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this professor position is $160,000 - $225,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “…any person…any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.