PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Chair of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Abilene Christian University

(September 4, 2025, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Dr. Samuel Funk, securing the role as the Chair of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Abilene Christian University.

Dr. Samuel Funk earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, his M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University, and his B.S. from the University of Missouri. His career spans more than two decades of research, consulting, and executive leadership across public, private, and academic sectors. Most recently, he served as Director of the Williston Research Extension Center at North Dakota State University, where he led a multidisciplinary team to advance agricultural research and outreach for diverse stakeholders. In addition, Dr. Funk is the Managing Member of AgServe, LLC, providing strategic consulting and entrepreneurial leadership in rural business and agribusiness ventures. He has held senior roles with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, United Soybean Board, Rabobank RaboResearch, and Doane Advisory Services, contributing to national policy analysis, commodity market research, and agricultural investment evaluation. His expertise in agricultural markets, technology adoption, and policy impacts has been widely cited in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, and CNBC. A recognized leader in professional associations, Dr. Funk has served on the Council on Food, Agricultural & Resource Economics (C-FARE) and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA), participating in policy panels, editorial boards, and research symposia. As department chair, Dr. Funk will provide vision and leadership for a diverse and growing department offering B.S. degrees in Agribusiness, Animal Science, and Environmental Science, while overseeing the department’s 400-acre Rhoden Farm and Field Lab.

Founded in 1906, Abilene Christian University (ACU) is one of the largest private institutions in the Southwest with a student population of 6,219. ACU has two campuses. The main campus is located in Abilene, TX and their branch campus, which is the hub for the university’s online programs, is in Dallas. ACU has six academic colleges (College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Onstead College of Science and Engineering; College of Biblical Studies; College of Business Administration; the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies) offering more than 79 majors, 164 areas of study and 12 accelerated degree programs. ACU is nationally recognized for student academic programs and experiences. In the U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 “Programs to Look For” benchmark, ACU was ranked in the top 10 for Service Learning, First-year Experience and Learning Communities.

Affordable Excellence

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability. Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.