SESE Professor and Director

Location

Tempe Campus

Open Date

Nov 07, 2025

Description

The Opportunity:

Arizona State University, a leading public research university rated first in the U.S. for innovation, seeks a dynamic, future-looking director for the School of Earth and Space Exploration, with a concurrent appointment as a tenured Professor. ASU is a unique, internationally recognized institution dedicated to interdisciplinary collaborations, to reimagining university education, and to integrating excellence in research, teaching, and service. Guided by its charter, ASU serves more than 180,000 students on five campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area, one of the fastest growing urban centers in the nation, and globally through ASU Online.

The next director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration will lead one of ASU's most distinguished units on the flagship Tempe campus. Established in 2006, the school integrates and promotes exploration, discovery, and interdisciplinary collaboration across astrobiology, astrophysics, cosmology, geosciences, and planetary sciences, along with aligned discipline-based education research and technology development. It is home to 56 tenured/tenure track faculty (2 are members of the National Academy, 4 are Regents' or President's Professors and 5 hold named professorships, and many have won prestigious professional recognitions), 17 career track faculty (14 research faculty, 3 teaching faculty), 27 academic professionals, along with research staff, core staff and postdoctoral scholars. Together they educate 1,050 undergraduate majors and 140 graduate students. Over the last seven years, research expenditures averaged $47.3M. The faculty work collegially across the various areas of interest and emphasis within the school and collaborate extensively with many of ASU's interdisciplinary centers, schools and institutes.

The new director will be a respected leader who is passionate about advancing access and excellence in both education and research. As an inclusive relationship builder, the new director will demonstrate the capacity to engage faculty across a range of disciplines while sustaining a culture of collaboration and interdisciplinary engagement within and beyond the school. The new director is envisioned to be a systems thinker and will lead the school's energetic and committed community into the future by strategically identifying and fostering areas for growth, innovation, and partnership. The new director will report to the dean of natural sciences within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

About the School of Earth and Space Exploration

The School of Earth and Space Exploration unites research, education, outreach and community to explore fundamental questions about the great unknowns of the Earth, our Solar System and the Universe beyond. It aims to bridge science and engineering, educate the next generation, inspire curiosity and build an inclusive community dedicated to discovery.

Our students work with faculty in astronomy, cosmology, geosciences, planetary sciences, exploration systems engineering, and science education, asking important questions with deep consequences, solving problems on our planet and leading new discoveries outside the boundaries of our atmosphere.

The School of Earth and Space Exploration breaks down the boundaries between these disciplines to answer the biggest questions that cannot be answered within a single discipline. Our degrees are designed to challenge students to encourage critical thinking and scientific inquiry and to inspire exploration.

Undergraduate degrees

Astronomical and Planetary Sciences (BS)

Earth and Environmental Sciences (BA)

Earth and Environmental Sciences (BS)

Earth and Space Exploration (BS)

Earth and Space Exploration (Astrobiology and Biogeosciences) (BS)

Earth and Space Exploration (Astrophysics) (BS)

Earth and Space Exploration (Systems Design) (BS)

Earth and Space Exploration (Geological and Planetary Sciences) (BS)

Graduate degrees

Astrophysics and Astronomy (MS)

Astrophysics (PhD)

Exploration Systems Design (MS)

Exploration Systems Design (Instrumentation) (PhD)

Exploration Systems Design (Sensor Networks) (MS)

Exploration Systems Design (Sensor Networks) (PhD)

Exploration Systems Design (Systems Engineering) (MS)

Exploration Systems Design (Systems Engineering) (PhD)

Geological Sciences (MS)

Geological Sciences (PhD)

Natural Science (Earth and Space Sciences) (MNS)

Centers and Initiatives

Beus Center for Cosmic Foundations

Beyond Center

Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies

Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science

Cosmology Initiative

ETX Center

FORCE: Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment

Milo Space Science Institute

NewSpace

Ronald Greeley Center for Planetary Studies

Research Focus Areas

Cosmology, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Planetary Science

Science Education

Systems Engineering

Instrument facilities and laboratories

The School of Earth and Space Exploration is home to more than 40 instrument facilities and laboratories, available to faculty, research staff, graduate students and undergraduates.

Space missions

Faculty, scientists, and students are engaged in dozens of active space missions – leading missions and instruments, building spaceflight hardware, collecting and analyzing data, and training students to work on scientific space missions exploring planets including Earth, the Moon, asteroids, our solar system and the universe.

Leading global impact and intellectual inquiry

• Top-ranked degree programs and world-class research opportunities.
• No. 4 in geological and earth sciences, ahead of the California Institute of Technology, the University of Texas at Austin and Columbia University. (NSF HERD, 2023).
• Top 20 among U.S. public universities in geography (2), earth sciences (10)according to the 2024 Shanghai Rankings for academic subjects.
• Students and faculty build spaceflight hardware, collect and analyze data and lead NASA missions, such as the ASU-led Psyche Mission — the first to explore a metal asteroid.
• ASU students and scientists played important roles in the Europa Clipper mission, in which a robotic, solar-powered spacecraft — and the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission — will explore Jupiter's icy moon Europa to investigate whether conditions on Europa could support life.
• Four faculty are directly involved in a NASA mission to send the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, the most sophisticated rover NASA has ever sent to the red planet, to collect samples, capture images and search for signs of ancient microbial life.
• Over 20+ NASA and private industry partner missions and/or instruments in development.
• Home to some of the best university facilities for building flight instruments and spacecraft for exploring our moon, planets, asteroids, and the unknowns of the universe.

Leadership Opportunities for the Next Director

The School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) community is composed of scholars and educators who have intentionally built research and education programs that address fundamental questions about the universe, planetary processes and the origins and future of life across disciplinary boundaries. The next director will expand SESE's transdisciplinary approach to both research and education and embrace its team-based culture of collaboration and collegiality.

Given its successes, SESE enjoys a high profile at ASU. Its faculty have the highest per capita research expenditures at the institution. The director will foster and advance this research productivity, by building relationships both internally (within SESE and across ASU) and externally (with federal, state, university, philanthropic, and industry partners) to further expand the footprint and impact of SESE's work. The director will need to be strategic and creative in identifying funding sources and opportunities in further support of the School's large initiatives.

Student access and success are foundational to ASU's Charter, and the director will be expected to expand that by growing student enrollment and retention without compromising SESE's standards of excellence. Recent enrollment of immersive students has remained steady while there has been a burst of growth in online student enrollment for three new degree offerings (BS Astronomical and Planetary Sciences; BA,BS Earth and Environmental Sciences). Data suggest that these online degrees have tapped into a broader community of learners. The director will be expected to build on this growth at the undergraduate and masters levels, taking advantage of ASU's resources and reputation for educational innovation and excellence, and SESE's commitment to building the transdisciplinary future-focused workforce needed to tackle tomorrow's problems.

A key component of the School's success is its sense of community and collegiality. The director will recognize this and model it with a team-based approach that involves inclusive planning, transparent decision making, and open communication. The director will also work to recruit and retain exceptional faculty and staff including ensuring that early career faculty have appropriate mentorship and resources. The support and expansion of faculty and staff will be a particularly important aspect of the new director's job to ensure that anticipated School growth is manageable, and that any curricular and research gaps opened by departures are filled. The director will need to create innovative solutions regarding facilities and space to support its growth. As a leader of a signature ASU program, the new director's successes in SESE can be expected to resonate across the institution and beyond.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national, and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. The College educates the next generation in the power of language, culture and society, critical thinking, scientific exploration and discovery. Through first-of-their-kind degree programs, world-class research and innovative learning experiences, The College is committed to improving communities on a local, national and global scale, while supporting the largest student population within ASU.

Over 90% of all ASU undergraduates (immersion and online) take at least one course in The College, and over 50% of all undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in at least one course in The College, known as the academic heart of ASU.

The College sends more students to medical school and law school than any other college at ASU. Its degree programs and research centers are organized within three divisions: humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. With over 100 undergraduate programs and 150 graduate programs, students of all ages and backgrounds graduate as socially and globally aware citizens with critical writing and thinking skills that prepare them for successful and fulfilling careers addressing the challenges of the twentyfirst century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority..

• 21 schools and departments
• 50+ research centers and institutes
• 100+ undergraduate programs
• 150+ graduate programs
• Total enrollment: 31,863 (fall 2024)
• On-campus students: 14,765 (fall 2024)
• Online students: 17,098 (fall 2024)
• Undergraduates (campus and online): 27,571 (fall 2024)
• Graduates (campus and online): 4,292 (fall 2024)
• Total faculty: 1,297 (fall 2024)
• Tenured and tenure-track faculty: 763 (fall 2023)
• Career-track faculty (non-tenure faculty): 534 (fall 2024)
• Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1 (fall 2024)
• First-generation students: 21% (fall 2024)
• Female students: 63% (fall 2024)
• Historically underrepresented minority students: 31% (fall 2024)

Greater Phoenix

Phoenix offers the amenities of a major metropolitan region. As the fifth largest city in the U.S. and one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in the nation.

Climate

Enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year.

Arts and Culture

Greater Phoenix is a rich arts and culture environment with museums, theater, concert halls and cultural centers, such as the renowned Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Science Center, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona and the Arizona Theatre Company.

Outdoors

Phoenix has a number of lakes just a short drive away offering opportunities for boating, sailing, windsurfing, water and jet skiing, fishing and more. The area is home to dozens of parks and preserves — both in and around the city — with hundreds of miles of multiuse trails for hiking and biking. The state is home to three national parks, including the Grand Canyon, thirteen national monuments, and other popular destination spots like Sedona.

Sports

All three of Arizona's major professional sports teams — Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) — call the metro Phoenix area home, as do the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Rattlers (IFL) and Phoenix Rising FC (USL). The area has over 170 golf courses.

Cost of living

Greater Phoenix offers the amenities of a major metropolitan region without the high cost of living. As the fifth largest city in the U.S. and one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in the nation, living and working here is both exciting and affordable.

Low tax position

Low personal income taxes and low effective property tax rates offer affordability and opportunities for everyone to thrive.

Business and industry

Arizona is home to a surging industrial ecosystem, early stage entrepreneurs, and tech-savvy millennial talent who are breaking new ground across a wide range of industry growth sectors. What's more, Arizona offers a robust portfolio of programs and resources supporting both large and emerging tech companies. The state's rich startup culture continues to thrive and is a preferred choice for technology companies seeking growth. Leading startups have collectively taken advantage of Arizona's high-skills talent base. Arizona's solid reputation and assertive stance on innovation led Fast Company to rank Arizona No. 1 in the country for "entrepreneurial activity."

Arizona State University

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution committed to excellence, access and impact — the New American University: A comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. Nine design aspirations guide the ongoing evolution of ASU. These institutional objectives are integrated in innovative ways throughout the university to achieve excellence, access and impact.

Year after year, ASU ranks at or near the top of the list in areas that matter. Consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the country's most innovative school, ASU also takes the top spot in the nation for sustainability (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) and global impact (Times Higher Education). The ASU faculty is at the forefront nationally in advancing research and discovery. Our more than 6,000 faculty members inspire new ways of thinking, innovating and solving problems socially, culturally and economically in our region and in the international community. According to the latest HERD survey for fiscal year 2023, ASU's total research expenditures were nearly $904 million. ASU ranked No. 21 among all U.S. public institutions, ahead of the University of California, Irvine; Rutgers University; and Virginia Tech.

[DESIGN ASPIRATIONS SECTION]

• Leverage Our Place

• Enable Student Success

• Transform Society

• Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

• Value Entrepreneurship

• Be Socially Embedded

• Conduct Use-Inspired Research

• Engage Globally

• Practice Principled Innovation

[FACULTY BY THE NUMBERS SECTION]

• 5 Nobel laureates

• 11 Pulitzer Prize winners

• 12 MacArthur fellows

• 43 Guggenheim fellows

• 177 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows

• 305 Fulbright American Scholars

• 12 National Academy of Engineering members

• 27 National Academy of Sciences members

• 29 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellows

Qualifications

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

• The director's responsibilities include (not in priority order):
• Provide intellectual leadership and a strong commitment to the growth of education (undergraduate and graduate) and research programs within SESE.
• In collaboration with ASU leadership and SESE faculty and staff, develop a collective vision and implement a strategic direction that fosters continued academic and research growth and is aligned with institutional priorities.
• Foster a school culture that integrates and supports tenure/tenure track faculty, non-tenure eligible career track faculty, research staff, staff, early career researchers, and students in a strong, cohesive, and collegial community environment.
• Creatively leverage and manage resources to fuel SESE's aspirations (e.g., foster the growth of world-class research; enhance student access by evaluating new audiences and modes of content delivery; develop partnerships; and fundraise).
• Build networks that forge and strengthen alliances both internally (within SESE and across ASU) and externally (with federal, state, university, philanthropic, and industry partners) to further expand SESE's impact.
• Oversee the operation and management of SESE's undergraduate and graduate academic programs, fostering efforts to enhance student access, improve student experiences and career preparedness, and elevate student success.
• Identify new areas of opportunity to grow undergraduate and graduate student enrollment in SESE immersive and online programs.
• Ensure that SESE is aligned with the ASU Charter.
• Recruit, retain, and support excellent faculty and staff.

Required Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in a field related to SESE disciplinary strengths, such as (but not limited to) astrophysics, chemistry, education, engineering, geology, physics, or planetary sciences.
• A record of distinguished scholarly research, instructional experience, and professional accomplishments that merits appointment as a full professor with tenure in an area relevant to SESE.
• Demonstrated record of effective and impactful administrative leadership.

Desired Qualifications:

• A creative, bold and innovative thinker who is a connector and relationship builder with a natural orientation to interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work.
• Extensive research experience and scholarly achievement in one of the disciplines represented in SESE.
• An established record of research funding and knowledge of funding sources (federal agencies, state and local government programs, industry, and private philanthropy) to advance basic and applied research and community outreach activities.
• Experience developing and implementing a strategic plan that fosters academic and research excellence and growth and advocates for the resources required for SESE to achieve its goals.
• Team-based, collaborative and collegial leadership style that facilitates communication across disciplines, within the university and with external partners.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and advancement activities.
• Ability to function as a spokesperson for SESE and its interests in both internal and external environments.
• Experience with the management and operation of undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
• Experience with the creation and implementation of new immersive and online undergraduate and graduate program offerings.
• Experience with budgeting and resource allocation.
• Instructional excellence aligned with promoting student access and success as outlined in the ASU Charter.
• Experience with innovative and evidence-based teaching practices for both immersive and online learning.
• Effective communication style that imbues the faculty, staff, and students with a sense of pride and purpose for the SESE vision and mission.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate effectively how and why decisions are made.
• An active listener and strong communicator who leads with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
• Experience recruiting, retaining, and supporting faculty and staff, including staff career development, faculty promotion and tenure, and mentoring.
• An entrepreneurial approach toward nourishing and growing public-private partnerships that align with and enhance the mission of SESE.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with faculty, staff, students and communities to advance the principles of the ASU Charter.

Application Instructions

Applications, Nominations, and Expressions of Interest

AGB Search is pleased to assist Arizona State University with this search.

To apply for the director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration position, candidates are requested to submit the following:

• A curriculum vitae
• A letter of interest that addresses the leadership opportunities and qualifications in the profile
• Contact information for four references (to be contacted with candidate's permission at a later date)

Send materials (in Word or PDF) to by January 5, 2026, for best consideration.

Nominations and expressions of interest in the director of School of Earth and Space Exploration opportunity are encouraged. Please direct them to or to the AGB search consultants listed below.

Kimberly Templeton, JD, Principal

C:

Nancy Targett, PhD, Executive Search Consultant

C:

Anne Hoffman, Executive Search Associate

C:

Application Process

This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

See and

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department

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