Dean, School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering

California State University, Bakersfield

Dean, School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering

California State University, Bakersfield (CSU Bakersfield) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications from visionary and inspiring leaders interested in serving as the University’s next Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering.

The University

Founded in 1965, California State University, Bakersfield is a regional, comprehensive university serving the San Joaquin Valley of California. The University’s service area covers nearly 25,000 square miles and is home to a socially, economically, and ethnically diverse population. CSU Bakersfield is the only four-year granting degree institution within a 100-mile radius and, as a result, plays a vital role in the educational obtainment, economic development, and quality of life of its community. CSU Bakersfield is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); 61% of the University’s students are Latino, 18% are Caucasian or White, 7% are Asian, 5% are African-American, and 2% are multiracial.

The University serves more than 11,000 students on its main campus in Bakersfield and its Antelope Valley campus and counts over 50,000 alumni from its four schools: Arts and Humanities; Business and Public Administration; Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering; and Social Sciences and Education. The University offers undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate and credential programs, and a doctoral program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.). In Fall 2020, CSU Bakersfield serves a total of 11,397 full- and part-time students; 86% of students are undergraduate, 7% credential, and 7% are graduate/post-baccalaureate students. 

The impact of CSU Bakersfield’s students, faculty, staff, research centers, and community activities resonates throughout the region, and continues to shape the future of Kern County. Each year CSU Bakersfield contributes thousands of new alumni to the community’s educated and skilled workforce, where over 70% of its alumni remain and work within the Central Valley.
 

The School

The School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering (NSME) is committed to serve the state and community in matters relating to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and nursing. NSME is active in seeking external funding from both the public and private sectors to support research, academic activities, and outreach programs. Current active grants for NSME faculty and staff total nearly $22 million. 

NSME is composed of seven departments: Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nursing, and Physics and Engineering. There are approximately 130 full-time faculty and 40 staff across these departments. Students work closely with faculty members on research that helps empower the economy of the region. NSME houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities with cutting-edge equipment, including the Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory, the Sediment Analysis Laboratory, the Computer Mapping/Simulation Laboratory, the Plant Physiology Laboratory Mineral/Elemental Composition Laboratory, the Materials Testing Laboratory, the California Well Sample Repository, and the Fab Lab.

NSME offers opportunities for community members of all ages to explore their own projects in its Fab Lab, one of more than 1,600 around the world with a network of makers from different backgrounds. The Fab Lab opened in 2014 thanks to funding from Chevron and is the first brick-and-mortar Fab Lab in the CSU and UC university systems.

The Position

The next Dean of NSME will play a leadership role in the future growth of the School as well as ensure the School’s success in education and community impact. The Dean will support a collegial and collaborative environment to advance innovative initiatives and programs that build upon the School’s strengths and that incorporate new ideas in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary education. The Dean will be a strong advocate for the needs of students, support faculty development, creativity, and scholarship, and raise the visibility of the School. The successful candidate will meet the following:

Required Qualifications

• An earned doctorate and a solid record of teaching, scholarly achievement, service, and other qualifications sufficient to merit appointment as Professor in one of the NSME disciplines;
• Appropriate academic administrative experience, including budgetary, personnel and tenure and promotion evaluation, and strategic plan development experience;
• Demonstrated success in the acquisition of external grant support and in working with external constituencies to build relationships and obtain funding;
• A record of effective engagement with faculty, students, staff, university administrators, and members of the greater community;
• Demonstrated commitment to collegiality both within an academic unit with varied departments and across a campus; and
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion and evidence of dedication to student success for a highly diverse, primarily first-generation student population.

Application / Nomination Process

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae, a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position, and a diversity statement. Submission of materials via e-mail is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address, and telephone number of the nominee. Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:            

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Emy Peña, Partner

Email: apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com  

Refer to code “CSUB NSME” in the subject line

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates

6512 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90601                     

BACKGROUND CHECK:  Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment.  CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

DESIGNATED POSITION:  This position is currently on the List of Conflict of Interest Designated Positions for CSU Bakersfield.  This requires the filing of a statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every two years thereafter.      

MANDATED REPORTER:  The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:  California State University, Bakersfield is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.