Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Urban Forestry
- Location
- Columbus Campus
- Work mode
- On-site
- Employment type
- Full-time
About the job
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Job Title: Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Urban Forestry
Department: FAES | School of Environment and Natural Resources
Position Description Our aim is to recruit, support, and retain an educator and practitioner who will advance urban forestry education, practice, and engagement across Ohio and beyond. We welcome applicants with expertise in urban forestry, including community and municipal forestry, urban forest planning and management, arboriculture, tree health and risk assessment, urban ecosystem services, green infrastructure, and the role of trees and greenspaces in supporting healthy, sustainable communities. We strongly encourage applications from individuals whose professional work reflects a commitment to preparing the next generation of urban forestry professionals and strengthening connections among people, trees, and communities.
The successful candidate will contribute to teaching (50%), extension and outreach (40%), and service (10%) in areas related to urban forestry practice and planning, arboriculture, urban forest assessment and management, community engagement, and professional workforce development. The position is designed to advance OSU’s land-grant mission through excellence in teaching, student mentoring, partnership and engagement with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders across Ohio.
Teaching and Non-Classroom Instructional Responsibilities (50%) The successful candidate is expected to teach approximately three courses per academic year. Teaching responsibilities will include:
- Two courses to be developed
- Arboriculture and Tree Health Care (or something similar)
- Urban Forestry Practice and Planning (or something similar)
- One additional existing course, based on programmatic needs and candidate expertise, such as (but not limited to):
- ENR 3300 Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife;
- ENR 3321 Biology and Identification of Woody Forest Plants;
- ENR 3323 Forest Biometrics;
- ENR 3600 Recreation Management on Public Lands; or
- ENR 5642 Environmental and Natural Resource Administration.
The successful candidate will develop innovative, experiential, and field-based learning opportunities that connect students with urban forestry professionals, organizations, and communities. Courses – particularly those to be developed – should integrate contemporary tools and technologies appropriate to professional practice, including urban forest inventories, GIS, canopy assessment, and related decision-support approaches.
The incumbent will be an integral member of the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in urban forestry and related environmental and natural resource professions. The successful candidate will also support student internships, capstone projects, professional certifications, and career placement activities.
Extension and Outreach Responsibilities (40%) This position includes a 40% extension appointment, and extension and outreach expectations are commensurate with that level of effort. The successful candidate will develop and deliver a coordinated extension and outreach program in urban forestry that addresses the needs of public agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders across Ohio.
This work will be conducted in collaboration with Extension professionals within SENR, across CFAES, and throughout OSU Extension, as appropriate. Activities may include educational programming, technical assistance, professional training, workshops, and stakeholder engagement. Potential stakeholder groups include city and county governments, park districts, utilities, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and forestry and natural resource professionals.
The extension program is expected to be practical, collaborative, and responsive to stakeholder needs while supporting workforce development and advancing urban forestry initiatives consistent with the land-grant mission of the college and university.
Service (10%) This position includes a 10% service appointment, with expectations commensurate with those of all faculty in SENR. The successful candidate will provide service to SENR, CFAES, and Ohio State through participation in committees, faculty governance activities, and related service contributions. The incumbent will also be expected to engage in professional service through relevant professional societies, certification programs, and urban forestry organizations.
Research Expectations This position has no formal research requirement for promotion. However, the incumbent is not precluded from engaging in applied scholarship, demonstration projects, or other professional activities that complement teaching, Extension programming, stakeholder engagement, or workforce development goals.
Performance Objectives
1. Teaching & Curriculum: Teach and continuously improve courses that support urban forestry education and workforce development, including two courses to be developed with consultation of our forestry faculty, and one additional course to be determined based on programmatic needs and faculty expertise. 2. Experiential Learning: Create and expand experiential, field-based, and community-engaged learning opportunities that prepare students for careers in urban forestry and related professions. 3. Student Advising: Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students consistent with SENR and CFAES expectations. 4. Inclusive Learning Environments: Cultivate supportive and inclusive learning environments that promote student engagement, belonging, and success. 5. Curricular Leadership: Provide leadership in the development and growth of urban forestry education and contribute to programs that meet state, regional, and national workforce needs. 6. Outreach & Extension Program Development: Develop and deliver impactful extension and outreach programming that meets the needs of public agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders across Ohio. 7. Extension Collaboration: Collaborate with Extension professionals within SENR, CFAES, and OSU Extension to share evidence-based and practice-oriented knowledge related to urban forestry. 8. Service: Serve SENR, CFAES, the university, and the urban forestry profession through committee work and other service activities. 9. Collaborative Engagement: Build and maintain partnerships with municipalities, park districts, state agencies, utility companies, consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to advance urban forestry education and practice.
Education and Experience Requirements Required:
- Earned doctorate or other terminal degree along with equivalent experience in Urban Forestry, Forestry, Arboriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in urban forestry, community forestry, arboriculture, natural resource management, green infrastructure, or a related field through professional practice, academic training, teaching, Extension, outreach, scholarship, or other relevant activities.
- Evidence of excellence, or strong potential for excellence, in teaching, mentoring, and advising students.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse academic, professional, governmental, industry, and community partners.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Desired (though not required):
- ISA Certified Arborist and/or other relevant professional credentials.
- Experience developing partnerships with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders.
- Experience designing, implementing, or supporting experiential, workforce-oriented, community-engaged educational programs and/or Extension programming.
- Experience applying GIS, remote sensing, inventory methods, LiDAR, or other technologies to support urban forest planning, assessment, and management
Additional Information: How to Apply To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Application materials should be compiled into one PDF and include the following documentation in this order:
Required:
- Cover letter- Describe your qualifications, area(s) of expertise, career goals, and alignment with desired qualifications and preferred qualifications where applicable
- Curriculum Vita (CV)
- Statement of Teaching and Mentoring (no more than 2 pages)
- Statement of Service/Outreach (no more than 2 pages)
- Names/contact information of three references ( Note: Letters of reference are expected to be solicited prior to advancing to the next stage of the hiring process; inform your references when you apply so that letters can be finalized at/soon after time of request )
Initial consideration will be given to applications received by Monday November 30th, 2026. Review of applications will continue until the position has been filled. We welcome informal inquiries, which can be made by contacting Search Committee Chair Dr. Alia Dietsch at Dietsch.29@osu.edu.
Department/School Information Since its inception in 1968, the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) has evolved and changed to meet the changing needs and demands of society, students, and the various natural resource professions. SENR has become more of an interdisciplinary program that addresses the natural resources sciences for the well-being of society and the biosphere. The School’s foundation is its interdisciplinarity, coupling the natural sciences with the social sciences and human dimensions of sustainable natural resources management for the well-being of people and society.
The School’s vision is a productive society in harmony with a sustainable and healthy environment. SENR will be guided by the enduring vision of a productive society whose use of its resources is in harmony with an environment that is sustainably managed with a deeply held stewardship ethic.
The mission of SENR is to enhance and impart knowledge of natural and social systems and their essential relationships in the context of natural resource use and management and to continuously improve the academic strength of the School through effective teaching, including extension teaching, sound research, and hiring the best possible facul
From The Ohio State University's careers page (Workday), checked 31 Oct 2026.
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Posted 12 Oct 2026 · checked 31 Oct 2026 · Report this job