Company description

Our College uses education as a force - through programs of study and work in fields associated with agroecology, ecology, and education - to address critical problems caused by unlimited growth including: fossil fuel dependence, threats to biodiversity and loss of wild places, destructive agricultural practices, and structural oppression that encourages estrangement from community, nature, and place. To fulfill our mission, Sterling faculty lead with a commitment to create affordable, experiential, place-based learning opportunities that prepare students to be knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible leaders in the communities in which they live.

 

Founded in 1958, the College was a pioneer of the idea that neither the narrow technician nor the uninformed idealist alone can address the issues facing humanity and is one of only nine federally recognized work colleges. Sterling’s transdisciplinary oriented faculty of 18 serves a student body of 125 residential students on its campus in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, and our instructional site in Port Royal, Kentucky. While the College is poised for growth in the number of programs and the population of students it serves,  we are intentionally one of the smallest residential colleges in the nation and view our 7:1 student to faculty ratio and small classes as important strengths. 
 

Additional programs of the College include:

• EcoGather, an online platform for ecological thinking and action that works directly with community, corporate, university, government, and foundation partners around the world to create regenerative communities with food and agriculture at the core.
• The Wendell Berry Farming Program in Port Royal, Kentucky, the nation’s first tuition-free farm-based program leading to a degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems inspired by the teaching and writing of activist and author Wendell Berry and in partnership with The Berry Center.
• The School of the New American Farmstead provides professional study onsite and online for students seeking courses and professional certificates in farming and artisanal food production.

Sterling College is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin or sex in violation of Title VII. Sterling College prohibits discrimination against employees, applicants for employment and students on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran’s status.

 

Job description

Sterling College is conducting searches to identify two new colleagues in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems to join its faculty in the following areas:

Faculty in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Animal-based agroecology, sustainable livestock production, integrated grazing systems, vertebrate biology, pasture or range ecology, and whole farm planning. The candidate will be expected to teach courses in the areas listed above, as well as contribute to the foundational curriculum of the college.  In addition, this candidate would provide curricular oversight in the draft animal power systems minor.  

Faculty in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Farm and food policy, community food security, sustainable diets or human nutrition, entrepreneurialism and/or non-profit management or small business management.  The candidate will be expected to teach courses in the areas listed above, as well as contribute to the foundational curriculum of the college.


Having relevant teaching experience, subject matter expertise, and advanced academic credentials and/or substantial practitioner experience in related fields is essential. Sterling encourages applications from candidates who have professionally demonstrated a commitment to interdisciplinary, experiential, outdoor-oriented, hands-on learning through study and work as well as our ecological thinking and action mission, and a commitment to pedagogy that integrates multicultural perspectives in the curriculum and promotes inclusion in the classroom.  The College is committed to in-person instruction, but experience and familiarity using online tools will be seen as a strength.  Faculty responsibilities include academic advising and service on committees or councils, and contributing to the foundational curriculum of the college, including A Sense of Place, our longstanding student orientation program. Sterling is one of nine federally designated work colleges. As such, new faculty members will also serve as work program supervisors.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $47,000.00 - $50,000.00

Application instructions

Deadline

December 07, 2020