Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station

Iowa State University, one of the nation’s leading land-grant institutions, seeks nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station. Iowa State seeks a proven leader and innovator who can build upon the College’s strengths in plant and animal sciences, food and human nutrition, agricultural and biosystems engineering, life sciences, and natural resources management in Iowa and throughout the world. Given these strengths, the Dean should effectively promote and champion the College to internal and external stakeholders, exhibit a passion for the convergent disciplines that fuel its success, and create a clear, strategic vision for advancing its research, teaching, and extension activities. For more information about the College, visit www.cals.iastate.edu.
 

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has one of the most cited research programs in the world and is comprised of 15 academic departments and 26 centers and institutes. Reporting to the university’s Senior Vice President and Provost, the Dean provides forward-looking planning for the education of approximately 3,500 undergraduates and 550 graduate students. The College has a budget for teaching, research, and extension that exceeds $106 million.
 

Iowa State enrolls over 30,000 students from all 50 states and 110 countries. The university is located in the nation’s heartland in the college town of Ames – an exceptional community of 67,000 that has been ranked as one of the 10 most livable small cities in the nation – and its campus has been recognized as one of the nation’s most beautiful. For more information about Iowa State, visit www.iastate.edu.
 

The selected candidate must possess an earned doctoral degree and have a distinguished record that qualifies the candidate for tenure at the rank of full professor in one of the College’s departments. They must also have:

• A vibrant vision for the teaching, research and outreach missions of a premier land-grant university;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated achievement working with individuals and stakeholder groups locally, nationally, and internationally, including an appreciation of the role of commodity groups;
• Leadership experience in a complex academic, governmental, or business organization;
• The ability to build and sustain internal and external collaborations;
   

Preferred qualifications include extensive experience in private fund raising and securing philanthropic gifts to support student scholarships, academic programs, facilities, and research.
 

See https://www.provost.iastate.edu/about/search-cals for additional information about the search.

The Search Committee invites nominations, expressions of interest, or applications (a letter of interest, comprehensive curriculum vitae, and contact information of five or more references) which may be submitted in confidence to the Buffkin/Baker search firm:

Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner Buffkin/Baker

10 Cadillac Drive, Suite 190

Brentwood, TN 37027 martin@buffkinbaker.com
 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to receive full consideration, it is preferred that applications be submitted by October 5, 2026.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program