Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Dean of the College of Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) seeks a forward-looking, innovative and engaged leader with a deep commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary research and education to serve as the next Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of the College of Engineering. Reporting directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz, Ph.D., the dean serves as the principal academic and administrative officer of the College of Engineering. Applications, inquiries and nominations are invited.

Penn State, a public, land grant, research-intensive university, educates more than 88,000 students at its 25 campuses, including 24 throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the University’s online World Campus. The Penn State College of Engineering, established in 1896, is the largest college within Penn State and houses 13 academic departments and degree programs and 30 major research centers and laboratories. Its 353 tenure line faculty, 82 research faculty, 131 lecturers, instructors or teaching faculty and 6 professors of practice support over 12,000 students and 95 postdoctoral researchers. The college’s research expenditures topped $181 million for the 2022-2023 academic year. In the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Engineering Programs rankings released in March, engineering at Penn State University Park ranked No. 32 overall and No. 18 among public institutions. Seven engineering specialty disciplines offered by the College of Engineering also climbed in the rankings, and eight are now ranked in the top 20 nationally.

In the Penn State College of Engineering, excellence, equity, sustainability, and social mobility anchor the college’s culture and decision-making processes and support the strategic capstone of impact. The college is guided by a current strategic plan that establishes a clear mission and vision for the college along with extensive goals and objectives for the 2020-2025 timeframe. Additionally, the college has developed an equity action plan as well as new promotion and tenure guidelines and criteria. Collectively, these documents work together to guide the college. More information can be found at: https://www.engr.psu.edu/strategic-plan-and-initiatives.

The new dean will help to create and advance a renewed, forward-looking vision for the College of Engineering at Penn State. This vision will build upon the University’s strategic plan, the College of Engineering’s strengths and its commitments to student success, impactful research and building community. The vision must also include a strategy for a more equitable and inclusive community while recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented faculty, staff and student body. The incoming dean will also work with the provost and other campus leaders to implement the University’s new budget model that has shifted greater financial responsibility to individual academic units. They will also develop a clearly articulated, comprehensive and innovative strategy to attract graduate students and grow enrollment. The incoming dean will also be a strong partner to University leadership and build relationships across the University, including the Commonwealth Campuses, to promote and expand interdisciplinary education and research. Working closely with college and University development and alumni relations colleagues, the dean will develop, lead and support all corporate, alumni and donor relations strategies and activities on behalf of the college.

The next dean must have a record of scholarly achievement appropriate for a tenured appointment at the level of full professor in a department within the college. The dean must have a substantial record of administrative leadership and demonstrate the administrative, fiscal and operational acumen required to manage a complex program in a highly interdisciplinary environment. The dean should demonstrate inspiring leadership qualities and exceptional interpersonal, collaboration and communication skills. The next dean must have the ability to formulate and complete transformative initiatives to improve organizational efficiency, resilience and revenue. Additionally, the dean should be an experienced fundraiser and, in coordination with the development team within the college, forge strong relationships and engage donors, alumni and industry leaders in supporting strategic priorities of the college. The dean will be a highly engaged and accessible leader and must have a deep and steadfast commitment and track record of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

WittKieffer is assisting Penn State in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received no later than August 28, 2023. All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited.

Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile which can be found at https://www.wittkieffer.com/position/24798-dean-of-the-college-of-engineering/.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s https://apptrkr.com/4322087.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Suzanne Teer, Jessica Herrington and Cathryn Davis at https://tinyurl.com/bdf5ytmk.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report, which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to https://www.police.psu.edu/clery, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.