Assistant Professor of Applied Economics and Land Valuation State Extension Specialist

The Ness School of Management and Economics at South Dakota State University (SDSU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Applied Economics and Land Valuation, State Extension Specialist. Located on our main campus in Brookings, South Dakota, this position is nine months, full time, benefits eligible, renewable, and tenure track, with the possibility of supplemental summer salary. The position is supervised by the Director of the Ness School of Management and Economics.

The Ness School, home to approximately 30 full-time faculty members and a team of academic advisors, reflects the philosophy that economics and quantitative analysis are essential for thriving in and critically evaluating the modern global economy. Upholding the university’s land-grant mission, the school serves as the region’s premier source of economics and business intelligence. It engages stakeholders in the classroom, through research, and through outreach, formally via SDSU Extension and other channels. The school is a unit of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, while SDSU Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station are administered and funded through the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences.

Currently, the Ness School is pursuing AACSB accreditation, managing significant enrollment growth, and balancing new opportunities in core business fields with its traditional strengths in economics and quantitative analysis. The school values interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration across its research, teaching, and outreach efforts. Over 1,000 students majoring in the Ness School take courses in intermediate economics, calculus, statistics, accounting, and business finance. Majors in business economics, agricultural business, entrepreneurial studies, or operations management complete a comprehensive suite of business courses, including those in our management core. Additionally, thousands of students pursue one of the school’s thirteen minors, such as accounting, economics, management, and real estate and land valuation.

Students in the master’s program in economics can choose between an economic-theory option, which emphasizes applied economic research culminating in a graduate thesis, or a business-economics option, which includes courses in managerial economics, advanced business decision science, financial management, marketing strategy and analytics, and a capstone experience that often involves industry collaboration. Graduate students may also earn a certificate in real estate. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: The annual workload attached to the position includes a 75 percent extension appointment funded by SDSU Extension and a 25 percent research appointment funded by the SDSU Agricultural Extension Station.

Extension Education: 75%
Develop, deliver, and evaluate nationally and internationally recognized extension instructional programs focused on agricultural land-valuation and rental-rate market trends relevant to South Dakota. Identify key stakeholders and develop relationships with them to understand their needs for instruction. Instruct stakeholders in topics related to applied economics and land valuation, leveraging research and expertise to develop and deliver information in ways that align with stakeholders’ learning styles and address stakeholders’ professional challenges. Teach stakeholders how to leverage extension resources and outcomes of scholarly research to achieve their goals.

Research: 25%
Develop, deliver, and evaluate nationally and internationally recognized scholarly research programs focused on agricultural land-valuation and rental-rate market trends relevant to South Dakota. Maintain high research productivity resulting regularly in peer-reviewed, scholarly publications in top-tier academic journals, external funding, and presentations at national or international forums that tightly align with the field areas associated with this position, that meet the school’s tenure-and-promotion standards, and that satisfy the academic standards the school associates with its AACSB-faculty-status classification, Scholarly Academic.

Service: Participate in Ness School and university general-service activities. Participate in inter- and multi-disciplinary efforts, collaborating with colleagues on research and outreach efforts that raise the profile and stature of agricultural land valuation and real-estate economics more generally.

BENEFITS:
SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university’s guidelines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Hold a Ph.D. in economics or closely related field by start date. Potential for success in extension and scholarly research. Potential for research and outreach collaborations. Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
SDState accepts applications through an on-line employment site. To apply, visit: https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position title, view the job announcement, and click on “apply for this job.” This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, Curriculum Vitae, and a reference page with the contact information for three professional references. Email applications will not be accepted. Please contact SDState Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check. SDState is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

Posting Date: 09-05-2025
Closing Date: 10-06-2025
Appointment Percentage: 100%
Tenure Status: Tenure Track
Proposed Rank: Assistant Professor

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