UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has announced the launch of a national search for the new director of the Center for Security Research and Education (CSRE).
CSRE is a collaborative, University-wide effort to promote and facilitate interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach in global, national, and homeland security. CSRE seeks to address topics involving threats to homeland, national, and global peace and security, the underlying causes of those threats, strategies and techniques for prevention and consequence management, and the effects of security measures on individual liberties, human rights, economic well-being, and culture. CSRE was created in 2016 by the offices of the provost and senior vice president for research, and the leadership of 13 colleges, campuses, and research institutes.
Vice Admiral James W. Houck, JAG Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), distinguished scholar in residence and interim dean of Penn State Law in University Park and the School of International Affairs, currently serves as the inaugural director of CSRE.
“During CSRE’s first five years, we’ve laid a solid foundation for interdisciplinary research and education,” said Houck. “We’re seeking a director who will help take this innovative idea to the next level.”
Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global, is the chair of the search committee to identify Houck’s successor. “I am honored to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to the selection of the next leader for this important initiative,” said Behring.
The director would be responsible for planning and executing CSRE initiatives and programming and would report to the CSRE Executive Board. Leading Penn State’s effort to secure external funding to support interdisciplinary research on security-relevant topics, with emphasis on critical infrastructure protection, would be the director’s primary responsibility. Additional duties would include bringing Penn State faculty from diverse disciplines together around security-related topics; supervising the CSRE seed grant program; facilitating and coordinating relevant proposal efforts and providing support to sponsored programs; and organizing and hosting both University-wide and public events.
A Ph.D. or terminal degree is strongly preferred, and applicants must be eligible for an academic appointment within a relevant Penn State academic unit. The director must be prepared to spend 25%-50% of their time on CSRE business, with the specific allocation agreed upon by the relevant academic unit(s) and CSRE. The successful candidate will be appointed to tenure-line or non-tenured academic rank commensurate with their qualifications.
Interested individuals can apply through Penn State’s employment website by December 3, 2021. Questions about the position or nominations of candidates can be directed to John Hodgson, CSRE associate director, via email at jgh161@psu.edu. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applications without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. If unable to use the online application due to impairment or disability, please contact HR Services at 814-865-1473.
More information about CSRE is available on the CSRE website.