Position Summary

The Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) at Michigan State University invites applications 
for a full-time, 12-month, fixed-term Specialist-Outreach position that will serve as the Michigan 
FFA Association Contest & Recognition Coordinator. The selected candidate will manage contest and 
recognition programs for the Michigan FFA Association - a student organization with 9,200 members 
in 134 high-school chapters throughout the state while also supporting the mission statements of 
the MSU College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR) and CSUS. The expected start date is July 14, 
2025.

Duties and Responsibilities:

●    Support secondary Career and Technical Education programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources 
in the areas of FFA contests and recognition.
●    Assist with professional development activities and resource development for high-school 
teachers, including pre-service and in-service training related to FFA contests and recognition at 
the state and national level.
●    Lead the annual review and update of contests to improve the academic and technical skills of 
students by strengthening the components of FFA and integrating academic and technical education 
skills in the state leadership and career development events (LDEs and CDEs) and other recognition 
programs.
●    Supervise the planning of the state agriculture skills contests and district, regional, and 
state leadership contests, including the preparation of materials and volunteers, and coordination 
of events.
●    Coordinate the submission, feedback, scoring, and award processes for various recognition 
programs including, but not limited to, Stars Over Michigan, Proficiencies, State Degrees, 
Outstanding Juniors, National Chapter, and Academic Excellence.
●    Work with the State FFA Foundation Director to create partnerships among local education 
agencies, postsecondary institutions, employers, labor organizations, commodity groups, industry 
associations, parents and other interested parties.
●    Prepare materials for distribution to FFA chapters and affiliated organizations.
●    Serve as an ex-officio member of the Michigan FFA Board of Directors and work closely with the 
board and the state advisor to evaluate FFA programs and activities and enforce policies and 
guidelines that uphold the Michigan FFA Constitution.
●    Coordinate Michigan’s participation in National FFA Organization activities related to 
contests and recognition. Attend National FFA conferences as needed.
●    Represent Michigan FFA at various FFA events and industry activities.
●    Work with the CSUS faculty/staff to advance the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) 
teacher education program at Michigan State University. Assist the AFNR Education team and its 
partners with teacher in-service/professional development.
●    Assist with supporting state officers and attend some overnight events/trainings.
●    Perform other related duties as needed and appropriate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -AFNR Education or related field

Desired Degree

Masters

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in AFNR Education, related field, or equivalent experience.

• Demonstrated experience in AFNR education and FFA.

• Willingness to foster positive change, inclusivity, and a commitment to implement programs that foster and sustain belonging and engagement within AFNR Education.

• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication and technology competencies.

• Ability to work and travel to some evening and weekend events and conferences.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in AFNR Education, related field, or equivalent experience.

• At least one year of successful secondary teaching experience in AFNR or related field.

• Demonstrated experience in AFNR education and FFA.

• Willingness to foster positive change, inclusivity, and a commitment to implement programs that foster and sustain belonging and engagement within AFNR Education.

• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication and technology competencies.

• Ability to work and travel to some evening and weekend events and conferences.

Required Application Materials

Upload the following required documents: 1) letter of interest that includes a) qualifications for the position and b) statement of teaching and/or leadership  philosophy highlighting how your experiences align with the position (2-page maximum); 2) current curriculum vitae or resume; 3) a description of how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging and engagement; and 4) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Special Instructions

Review of Applications: The search committee will begin reviewing applications on May 21, 2025, and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.  

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Tiffany Rogers-Randolph:, Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, roger187@msu.edu. 

Review of Applications Begins On

05/21/2025

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/csus/

Department Statement

The Department of Community Sustainability is a vibrant community of scholars who engage with colleagues, students, stakeholders and communities to address sustainability challenges within specific environmental, economic and cultural contexts. We do this by:

• Focusing on sustainability engagement that embraces the decisions inherent in the transition to a more sustainable future;

• Creating and supporting dedicated faculty working on sustainability-related issues; 

• Incorporating a systems-thinking view of sustainability into curricula at the undergraduate level, graduate level, and lifelong learner level; and

• Conducting sustainability scholarship that is international in scope while attending to regional and local contexts.

As scholar-practitioners, and as a multidisciplinary department, we address critical issues at the interface of agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and communities. Through engaged scholarship, we aim to generate knowledge that will be useful to people in their roles as residents, landowners, businesses, and governmental and non-profit institutions.

We seek to understand the dynamic interactions in communities, ecosystems, and the world, as well as opportunities for sustainable development. This work is rooted in our view of a just, engaged, and dynamic society. Toward that end, we are guided by an ethic of responsible and responsive scholarship that engages people and communities. 

Consistent with its mission to contribute to the development of sustainable communities, the Department offers three undergraduate majors (Bachelor of Science) linked by a common core in community sustainability: (1) Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ESS); (2) Sustainable Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SPRT): and (3) Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education. Michigan State University is the only institution in Michigan certifying school-based secondary agricultural teachers. The Department offers graduate degrees in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education (MA), Community Sustainability (MS and PhD), and Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management (MS and PhD). In both undergraduate and graduate programs, the Department of Community Sustainability embraces international as well as domestic applications, engagement, and opportunities

Additional information about the Department is available at www.csus.msu.edu. 

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.