Dean, College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

Dean, College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

Northern Arizona University is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader, educator, and scholar for the position of Inaugural Dean of the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences. The Dean, in close partnership with the Provost and President, will lead the University’s newest college in aggressively expanding its competitive research opportunities and building on its foundation of excellent educational programs.

Northern Arizona University

Located in Flagstaff, a scenic town of 70,000 nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, NAU has seen tremendous growth in its student population and research agenda. Today, NAU serves more than 31,000 students across 20 statewide locations and online. More than 23,000 students attend the Flagstaff Mountain campus, recognized as the “3^rd Best College Town in the U.S.” by the American Institute for Economic Research’s 2017 College Destinations Index. NAU is one of the top 200 institutions ranked by NSF for non-medical school research expenditures, with institutional research expenditures of over $46M reported for FY17. NAU is committed to diversity, as seen through its historical strength in supporting first generation and Native American students, as well as its designation as an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Job Description

The Dean of the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences is the chief academic and administrative officer of the College and reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean will develop productive working relationships with institutional administration, faculty, and students, as well as industry and community partners.

The Dean will be responsible for:

• Vision and Planning: Create a vision, in concert with strategic planning, for the college that aligns with the goals and strategic plan for the university.
• Fiduciary Decisions: manage the budget and other resources.
• Departmental Administration: appoint department chairs and college administrators, and periodically review the performance of chairs and administrators in concert with the Provost.
• Personnel: hiring; establish job titles and salaries; make decisions and review policies regarding renewal, tenure, promotion, and dismissal; authorize faculty leave; review faculty annual evaluations; promote departmental mentoring and development opportunities, and support professional development of faculty and staff.
• Educational Leadership: provide leadership and vision for academic programs, considering innovation, cost effectiveness, fidelity to standards and accreditation; establish and maintain high academic standards; ensure effective student quality, recruitment and retention.
• Endowment and Outreach:establish a foundation for active and sustainable fund raising; participate in various councils, commissions, and committees as set forth in university policy; represent the college within state and national boards and organizations, and other appropriate groups.
• College Governance:create ad hoc committees of the collegiate faculty; hear faculty grievances; promote academic freedom and responsibility; ensure that the college provides a diverse, opportunity- and perspective-rich environment.
• Diversity and Inclusion: foster diversity and inclusivity among students, faculty and staff.
• Effectively demonstrate a commitment to Northern Arizona University core values and engage the college in the campus, state and national communities.

College Resources

The College is home to 95 faculty and 10 staff who serve close to 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students in a range of high-quality programs. Our faculty members are rapidly accelerating their engagement in impactful research, and the College currently oversees over $6M in annual research expenditures. Our current departments consist of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering (CECMEE); Mechanical Engineering (ME); and the School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems (SICCS). The College houses two research centers, the Center for Bioengineering Innovation (CBI) and the Center for Materials Interfaces in Research and Applications (MIRA). We are also on track to launch a Department in Bioengineering and a Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science. We offer ABET-accredited bachelor’s degrees in computer science, and civil, environmental, mechanical, computer, and electrical engineering; an ACCE-accredited degree in construction management; and degrees in applied computer science, informatics, physics. As of Fall 2020 we will offer five doctoral degrees in applied physics and materials science, bioengineering, civil and environmental engineering, informatics and computing, and mechanical engineering.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess an earned doctorate from an accredited institution in one of the disciplines of the College, including engineering, computer science, material science, physics or informatics, or in a closely related field.
• Have a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and leadership that warrants a tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor.
• Have demonstrated successful administrative leadership experience in higher education as a center or institute leader, chair, associate dean, dean, or comparable position with responsibilities that included budgets, strategic planning, personnel management, performance reviews, and promotion and tenure decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in the administration of complex academic units and management of diverse types of faculty and staff.
• Successful record of developing and sustaining high quality, student-centered university coursework and curricula at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional programs.
• Successful record of impactful scholarship and the acquisition and management of extramural funding.
• Proven record of accomplishment in donor development, alumni engagement, and fundraising activities.
• Demonstrated experience in successful ABET program review and accreditation processes.
• Demonstrated strengths in effective communication, mentoring, and consensus building.
• Successful record of leadership and vision for academic programs, including consideration of innovation, cost effectiveness, and fidelity to standards and accreditation; establishment and maintenance of high academic standards; oversight of effective student quality, recruitment, enrollment growth and retention initiatives.

How to Apply

Parker Executive Search is assisting Northern Arizona University in this search. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.  Interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials by March 29, 2019, to receive optimal consideration. Inquiries and nominations are strongly encouraged and will be considered in confidence. Application materials should include a letter addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements, a curriculum vitae and contact information for at least three references. Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to https://www.parkersearch.com/current-opportunities or:

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Grant Higgison, Principal

pwilliams@parkersearch.com  || ghiggison@parkersearch.com  

Phone: 770-804-1996 ext. 118 Fax: 770-804-1917

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements.

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.