Associate Professor in LAEP & Associate Director of NLI

Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning
The Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning at NC State University is a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture education, with a strong track record of ASLA national recognition-including 12 national student awards since 2020 and , most recently, a 2026 Honor Award in Urban Design for the Tlatelolco, Mexico City study on environmental and cultural resilience.

Housed within a STEM-designated, LAAB-accredited MLA program, LAEP integrates design, ecology, and environmental planning from a global, cross-contextual, and cross cultural perspective, addressing environmental stewardship amid rapid urbanization. Faculty study and design landscapes across both international and regional territories, leading international workshops on urban design, habitat protection, and coastal resilience, and advancing this work through distinctive labs: The Just Lab, connecting landscape practice with African and Indigenous communities and the ancestral ties linking North Carolina to the African continent; the Natural Learning Initiative, creating nature-based environments to support healthy child development and community well-being in diverse and disadvantaged communities; and the Coastal Dynamics Design Lab, addressing coastal resilience through applied design along the North Carolina coast.

The Natural Learning Initiative
The Natural Learning Initiative ( NLI, founded in January 2000) is an interdisciplinary, cross-sector research, education, design programming, and communications lab at the College of Design, NC State University. NLI aims to create state-of-the-art environments that support healthy human development and a healthy biosphere by engaging children and families with nature in the spaces of daily life, particularly in disadvantaged, diverse communities.

To achieve this goal, NLI tracks trends, research findings, and emerging approaches and disseminates information to guide innovative, nature-based design solutions, combined with education programs and public events such as design institutes, conferences, and distance education courses.

The NLI team designs and implements original research studies and post-occupancy evaluations, producing findings that inform guidelines, toolkits, publications, and media disseminated via NLI's website, YouTube channel, and downloadable resources.

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

The successful candidate, a full-time tenure-track/tenured Associate Professor in a 9-month faculty appointment, will dedicate 50% of their efforts to the LAEP department, including teaching courses and contributing to departmental committees. The remaining 50% will be allocated to NLI, focusing on developing a robust research agenda, advising doctoral students, continuing certificate programs, building partnerships and collaborations, managing NLI staff, and securing external funding.

LAEP Associate Professor Duties (50% Effort)

NLI Duties (under the Associate Professor role) (50% Effort)

Duties as NLI Associate Director (Administrative Supplement)

Supervisory duties: Direct supervision and management of dedicated NLI staff to ensure smooth daily operations, as well as supervision of NLI student assistants.

Maintain recruitment, training, mentoring, and retention of student assistance from LAEP, other design disciplines, and elsewhere on campus. Fulfill Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ( RPT) expectations, which will be equitably weighted in the Statement of Faculty Responsibilities ( SFR).

N/A

Applicants are required to submit:

Do not submit these materials via email. Email inquiries and nominations to the search committee co-chair, Dr. Nilda Cosco, at ngcosco@ncsu.edu

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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