Associate Director, Western Rural Development Center
The Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) is seeking an Associate Director who serves as a senior leader responsible for designing, managing, and independently leading a highly specialized and multifaceted research and Extension program. The WRDC, established under the Rural Development Act of 1972, is a collaborative partnership between the USDA and the University of Idaho, funded primarily by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. As one of four regional centers nationwide, WRDC works with land-grant universities across the Western region to conduct research and deliver educational outreach programs. The Associate Director serves as a key leader in advancing the WRDC’s mission by supporting day-to-day operations, promoting collaborative multistate initiatives, and driving integrated research and outreach efforts across the western United States.
This role combines advanced scientific expertise with strategic and administrative oversight. The Associate Director leads the work of junior research and Extension scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and professional staff, establishing priorities, performance standards, and accountability systems. The position ensures that scientific findings are translated into practical, evidence-based applications that strengthen rural communities and inform policy and practice. The Associate Director maintains an independent research and Extension portfolio while collaborating closely with the WRDC Director and institutional partners to guide programmatic initiatives and facilitate integrated teams spanning research, education, and Extension functions.
The College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS) at UNC Charlotte invites applications for the Knight Distinguished Professorship of Public Policy, a full-time, tenured faculty position to begin August 10, 2026.
The Knight Professorship of Public Policy serves as a catalyst for studying critical regional needs in Charlotte and other rapidly growing urban areas in the southeastern United States. Such needs include, but are not limited to, transportation, growth management, economic development, health, education, economic mobility, sustainability, and environmental issues, especially energy policy.
The Knight Professor will have an appointment within an appropriate CHESS Department and will act as a faculty affiliate to the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. The Urban Institute is a non-partisan, applied research and community outreach institute at UNC Charlotte, seeking solutions to the social, economic, and environmental challenges facing our region. The Knight Professor will also be a core member of the interdisciplinary Public Policy Ph.D. program, teaching and mentoring doctoral students.