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Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by Tarleton State University for Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department and Tenured Associate or Full Professor Search

(February 11, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Head of Agricultural Education and Communication Department and Tenured Associate or Full Professor at Tarleton State University. Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department Head serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the department and will oversee a department of 15 faculty (and growing), which currently enrolls the second-largest student population among academic units. The successful candidate will bring the credibility, judgment, and leadership presence to set direction, establish clear expectations, and unify a growing academic unit, while supporting faculty development, strengthening academic programs, and advancing college and university priorities. Housed within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Department is part of one of Tarleton State University’s most established and high-impact academic units, known for its strong applied-learning focus and deep connections to Texas’s agricultural, natural resource, and rural communities. There is one doctoral program in the college (Animal and Natural Resource Sciences) with one more planned for submission in 2027. This 12-month, tenured appointment (50% administrative) is based primarily on Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville, Texas.

As a founding member of and the second largest institution within The Texas A&M University System, Tarleton is breaking records, in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement, while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, A&M RELLIS at Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity, and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.  Tarleton is a vibrant learning community with nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a doctorate in education and criminal justice, within nine academic colleges including Agricultural and Natural Resources; Business; Education; Engineering; Graduate Studies; Health Sciences; Liberal and Fine Arts; Science and Mathematics; and University College.  Guided by the university’s long-range plan, Tarleton Forward 2030, the institution is pursuing ambitious goals related to academic distinction, research growth, and community engagement. Tarleton’s rising national profile, including its Carnegie R2 designation, reflects a growing emphasis on scholarship, external funding, and innovation.

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/.