UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), UW–River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and UW–Platteville College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture are pleased to announce an internal search for a tenured faculty member to serve as the faculty director of the Dairy Innovation Hub.

The Dairy Innovation Hub (DIH), which the state of Wisconsin supports with funding of $7.8 million per year, harnesses research and development at UW–Madison, UW–Platteville and UW–River Falls campuses to keep Wisconsin’s $45.6 billion dairy community at the global forefront in producing nutritious dairy products in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

Heather White, who has very ably served as the faculty director of the DIH since fall 2019, will step down from the director role to serve as the CALS associate dean for faculty affairs at UW–Madison. We are grateful for her leadership and service in this important role, and we hope to fill the position with a successor who will continue to champion the vision and mission of the hub with the same positive energy.

The Dairy Innovation Hub Leadership Committee intends to appoint a new director by the September 2024 semester and is currently seeking applications.

The DIH faculty director (FD) is responsible for the overall leadership of the Hub across the three campuses and works directly with the leadership committee. The list of responsibilities include:

• Supervise the Hub shared administrative staff.
• Provide leadership for the implementation of the vision of the hub, as advised by the advisory committee, and continue strategic planning for the hub.
• Review budget for the hub, in conjunction with the executive committee and as advised by advisory committee.
• Coordinate hub activities among the three campuses.
• Liaise with stakeholders and cooperative partners.
• Serve ex officio (non-voting) on hub’s advisory committee; work with the committee’s chair to set the agenda.
• Oversee annual reporting and planning of the hub’s dairy summits.
• Additional duties for the Hub at their home institution, including engagement with the local steering committee, coordinating requests for proposals, involvement in faculty hiring and participation in other local campus activities.

For full consideration, applications should be received by September 2, 2024. Application packages should include a statement of interest and current CV.

Applications may be sent to Troy Runge via email (trunge@wisc.edu). Runge will work with the Dairy Innovation Hub Leadership Committee to select the next director.

Questions on the position or process may be directed to Heather White (heather.white@wisc.edu) or Troy Runge (trunge@wisc.edu).