Contributes to the university's mission through teaching in an area of expertise, mentoring students in professional and career preparation and serving as liaison with professional contacts and entities on behalf of the department or program. This is a non-tenure track, multi-year renewable appointment contingent on successful annual and cumulative performance appraisals as well as a majority affirmative vote of the academic unit. Summer appointments possible, but not guaranteed, contingent on demand for courses and availability of funding.

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, non-tenure-earning Assistant Professor of Practice in Livestock Production to begin before September 1, 2026. The anticipated allocation of effort is 85% teaching and 15% service.

Professors of Practice at Texas Tech University are appointed based on exceptional professional accomplishments and are expected to advance the teaching, outreach, and student development missions of the institution. Consistent with university policy, this position does not include a research appointment; rather, effort expectations focus on high-quality instruction, leadership of experiential learning programs, student mentorship, and service to the department and broader livestock industry.

The successful candidate will provide academic instruction in animal science, coordinate and coach the nationally recognized Texas Tech University Livestock Judging Team, and contribute to student recruitment, youth outreach, and stakeholder engagement. This faculty member will play a central role in supporting student success and maintaining TTU’s longstanding reputation for excellence in livestock evaluation and industry engagement.

As a faculty member in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, the successful candidate will be expected to:

• Teach undergraduate courses in animal science aligned with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs.
• Provide high-impact experiential learning through coaching, mentoring, and preparing students for intercollegiate livestock judging competitions.
• Coordinating the livestock judging program, including recruitment, curriculum integration, stakeholder engagement, and program administration.
• Lead outreach and engagement activities with youth, producers, commodity groups, and industry partners to support recruitment and strengthen the program’s national reputation.
• Advise and mentor students with an emphasis on career readiness, leadership development, and professional competencies.
• Contribute to departmental service needs, including committee participation, program development, and community engagement.