Dean of the College of Engineering

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Dean of the College of Engineering

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University (WSU), the premier urban-serving, public research university in Kansas, seeks a visionary, engaged leader and educator to be the next Dean of the College of Engineering (the College). Founded in 1895, WSU has a keen focus on student success, powerful industry partnerships, and innovative faculty conducting cutting-edge applied research in state-of-the-art facilities. It is a growth-minded university where collaboration and innovative ideas shape the future, with an entrepreneurial spirit embedded in its foundation.

The Dean will continue the College’s remarkable trajectory by providing strategic leadership in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and other key internal and external stakeholders, including an actively engaged Industry Advisory Board (IAB). Rated the number one engineering school in Kansas, the College has a total enrollment of 2,708 students and includes six academic departments. Furthering its momentum, the Kansas Board of Regents recently approved the creation of a new School of Computing which will be embedded within the College. In addition to programmatic impact, WSU has received significant support from both research and philanthropic efforts. The University as a whole set a record for total research and development awards in recent years with a current total of $169M in research funding. Recently celebrating the closing of WSU’s goal-surpassing Shock the World fundraising campaign, raising over $307M, the University maintains a $350M in managed assets inclusive of the endowment and investments.  

The Dean will be charged to advance the academic quality and stature of a College that is student-centered, innovation-driven, and entrepreneurial-focused. This requires a visionary leader who is committed to strategic planning, inter-disciplinary collaboration, ethical leadership, and who is skilled in human and financial resource management. Demonstrated experience working with and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is a priority. The Dean will assist with the advancement of WSU as an innovation university by focusing on increasing enrollment, applied learning, funded research, tech transfer, and private fundraising. Close collaboration with industry, entities on the Innovation Campus and with NIAR will be essential. The Dean will serve as the College’s visionary advocate and will empower the faculty to achieve prominence, focusing on increasing the College’s research profile and supporting faculty in seeking funding opportunities. The new Dean will continue to support a strong tradition of undergraduate and graduate education and engagement by investing in applied learning opportunities and will pay special attention to recruitment and retention of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students. The Dean will also be responsible for ongoing fundraising efforts in close partnership with the WSU Foundation.

WSU has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in this search. Please direct all inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications in strict confidence to Jackie Milder or Robin Dougherty via www.imsearch.com/7830

Wichita State University (WSU) does not discriminate in its employment practices, or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of age (40 years or older), ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran. WSU also prohibits retaliation against any person making a complaint of discrimination or against any person involved or participating in the investigation of any such allegation. Sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking are forms of sex discrimination and are prohibited under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, other federal law, and WSU policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding WSU’s non-discrimination policies: the Institutional Equity and Compliance Director (Telephone: (316) 978-3205), Title IX Coordinator (Telephone: (316) 978-5177),or Equal Opportunity Coordinator (Telephone: (316) 978-3186), each located at Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260, Human Resources Building.