Assistant Professor of Practice

Oregon State University (OSU) Forestry & Natural Resources Extension is recruiting an energetic, creative, and collaborative individual committed to sustaining natural resources and strengthening communities and economies by serving as an Extension forester. This is a full-time, county-based Extension and fixed-term professorial position (professor of practice), covering Klamath and Lake Counties in Oregon.



This Extension forester will be part of the Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Extension team that provides non-formal education on forestry and natural resource issues to a wide range of audiences. “Non-formal” refers to off-campus, non-credit learning opportunities such as workshops, field trips, property tours, and demonstrations, as well as indoor presentations, narrative communications such as blog posts and other social media, videos, and articles. Educational audiences and partners may include adults who are private woodland owners, homeowners in the wildland-urban interface, professional natural resource managers such as foresters and forest workers, collaborative conservation groups and watershed councils, tribes, policymakers, economic development officials, and teachers. Extension foresters also commonly engage a broad spectrum of youth through teacher professional development or directly through outdoor schools, camps, and other youth events. Educational topics could include sustaining forest health, wildlife habitats, and forest productivity through subjects such as forest ecology, silviculture, wildfire preparedness, reforestation, forest restoration, water resources, climate change, bioenergy, and collaborative conservation and recreation.



You will address clientele’s needs using your own skills and knowledge along with those of local partners and the collective resources of the FNR team, including the new Extension Fire Program. You will work independently, and also collaboratively with FNR colleagues to address both local and statewide needs. You will use modern learning tools including online and hybrid classes, to help Extension build a culture of engaged scholarship where we seek active partnerships between the University and community and promote integration of programs across disciplines. We rely on active and effective communication with colleagues, staff, partner organizations, and stakeholders. The position will require travel.



This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Forester position, with service to Klamath and Lake Counties. This position will be based in either Klamath Falls or Lakeview, Oregon. You will have the academic rank of Assistant Professor of Practice and will have an academic home either in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management or the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society within the College of Forestry at OSU. The academic home must be designated within one year of the start date. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Southern Regional Director and the Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Program Leader.



Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:



Oregon State University is committed to creating and maintaining compassionate and inclusive learning and working environments for all learners, visitors and employees. We envision collaborative community environments that enhance civility and embrace diversity. All employees are responsible for achieving this commitment. This commitment includes, but is not limited to, complying with Civil Rights and Language Access regulations. In addition, faculty members will design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Extension programs to ensure that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.



OSU Division of Extension and Engagement’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion https://extension.oregonstate.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

OSU Moving Forward Together

https://leadership.oregonstate.edu/president/moving-forward-together

This faculty member embeds the commitment of the university to a collaborative and inclusive community in all interactions and duties performed. This individual ensures that educational programs and outreach activities serve diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation.



80% – Extension Programming

Assess needs of target audiences and use results to focus program development efforts.



Design, deliver, and evaluate non-credit educational programs and events, such as classes, workshops, short courses, seminars, field tours, webinars, web-based instructional modules, etc. on forest and natural resource related subjects important to clientele in the service area.



Develop educational materials such as Extension bulletins, magazine and newsletter articles, websites, blogs, videos, and other social or mass media content.



Engage with a diverse array of conservation groups and collaborative partnerships in the service area, including Klamath-Lake Forest Health Partnership (KLFHP), Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Councils, and agency partners.



Engage youth through teacher professional development or directly through outdoor schools, camps, and other youth events.



Recruit, train, and support appropriate volunteer cadres (example: Master Woodland Manager, Oregon Master Naturalist Program). Adopt and utilize the Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) core curriculum such as Tree School, Master Woodland Manager, Mentored Management Planning, Backyard Woodlands, and Ties to the Land.



Assist with the development of programs and service to the Oregon Small Woodlands Association, its local chapters, and other landowner organizations.



Develop marketing strategies and utilize appropriate tools (digital and print assets, video, press releases, social media) to reach intended audience segments.



Develop applied demonstration areas to use in educational programs.



Contribute to the maintenance of the existing core curriculum and development of additional modules to the core curriculum, in cooperation with other FNR Extension colleagues.



Provide expertise to other service areas around the state, and in turn, work with other FNR Extension colleagues to bring specialized knowledge into the service area. Collaborate closely with FNR Extension colleagues in adjacent counties.



Participate in professional development opportunities that are appropriate for the current assignment and specialty.



Supervise student employees, volunteers, and/or program assistants on either a permanent or intermittent basis.



Travel is required to provide these Extension educational programming and services throughout Klamath and Lake counties.



10% – Applied Research and Scholarly Outcomes

Assigned duties for this position are expected to result in scholarly outcomes.



Scholarly work encompasses intellectual work whose significance is validated by peers and that is communicated. Emphasis in scholarship should be placed on outcomes that recognize activities as a professional practitioner in community settings as defined by the incumbent’s position description.



This may include outcomes of applied research related to forestry and natural resources to inform forestry practices in the region or to assess impacts of forestry and natural resources practices in collaboration with colleagues at OSU, state and federal agencies, tribes, private landowners, and other partners.



Appropriate types of scholarship for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Authorship of Extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials and electronic information delivery media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals which might cover description and evaluation of novel community-based professional practice or research application, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, or case reports among others.
• Invited presentations, poster and podium presentations, and published abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels, provided that evidence of peer validation is provided.
• Documented impact due to local or regional adoption of improved practices developed through research activities.
• Secured competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.

For more information on the scholarly outcome expectations for this position, please refer to the “Guidelines for Professor of Practice Appointments and Promotion” contained in the OSU Faculty Handbook.



Best practice is to ensure an inclusive scholarship:

• Including diverse perspectives on the research team, particularly among co-principal investigators.
• Emphasizing diversity to address broadening participation in grant proposals.
• Writing articles and books that address issues of diversity/social justice.
• Presenting conference papers on issues of diversity/social justice.
• Increasing the diversity of students who serve as research assistants.

5% – Program Development and Management

Develop an annual plan of work addressing educational needs as well as evaluate the quality and impact of educational programs provided to audiences as appropriate.



Pursue engagement opportunities that may include, but are not limited to the creation of internal and external partnerships; identification of community and educational needs; etc.



Organize and maintain program advisory and management committees or networks to identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.



Provide community and statewide opinion leaders and decision makers the context and understanding of how your program work relates to overall Extension programming output.



Use multiple methods of electronic communication and social media (i.e., websites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods) to collaborate internally and externally as appropriate.



Utilize technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery, including participating with Ask Extension.



Provide educational content to the KnowYourForest.org website in collaboration with the Partnership for Forestry Education. Keep content current and answer questions routed through the website.



Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices, develop partnerships, and solicit external funding to support and enhance educational programs. Actively contribute to Extension’s efforts to achieve financial stability in assigned counties.



Participate in leadership training opportunities that builds expertise around equity, inclusion, and diversity.



Contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of teaching, educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes. Outputs and impacts of efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity should be included in promotion dossiers.



5% – Service

Establish and maintain professional relationships with appropriate organizations, societies, and public agencies.



Participate in professional activities and serve on professional association, county, university, department, college, and Extension committees as appropriate.



Participate fully as a member of the FNR Extension Team and attend meetings, take on assignments, and otherwise contribute to the functioning of the Program.



Promote Extension programs locally, statewide, and nationally.



Work as a team with other Extension faculty and staff in planning, implementing, evaluating, and marketing programs on a county and regional/state basis.



Respond to the needs of constituents and the public concerning forest products/forestry issues and questions.



Practice a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.