Dean, College of Engineering

Dean, College of Engineering

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania

Villanova University seeks an exceptional leader to serve as Dean of the College of Engineering (CoE).  Located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, on the Philadelphia Main Line, Villanova University is a preeminent Catholic university founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine.  Villanova’s Augustinian tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately, and succeed while serving others.   Villanova has 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students enrolled in six colleges and schools.   Recently reclassified as a doctoral/research institution, Villanova is ranked nationally at #46 by U.S. News & World Report. 

The Villanova CoE aims to deliver a rigorous engineering education that teaches students to solve problems, think creatively, and work collaboratively.  The college serves more than 1,030 undergraduate, 350 masters’, and 80 doctoral students that are part of the largest doctoral program in the university.  Academic programs are offered through four departments – Chemical and Biological Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering – and the graduate program in Sustainable Engineering.  The college also offers interdisciplinary minors in biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, engineering entrepreneurship, and sustainability studies, among others as well as a range of certificate programs. All of the undergraduate engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).   Planning is currently underway for a significant renovation and enlargement of the Center for Engineering Education and Research (CEER), the College’s home, that will triple the teaching and research space and bring together all the engineering programs that are currently spread across campus.   This is an exciting opportunity for a new leader to realize the College’s commitment to provide engineering education and research for the Common Good.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is the chief academic and executive officer of CoE and serves as a member of the University’s academic leadership team.  The Dean oversees a $21 million budget and 83 full-time faculty, and works with a talented team of associate  and assistant deans.  The new dean will be expected to build a strategic vision and enhance the reputation of CoE; promote excellent teaching; lead the college into the era of increased research productivity; achieve continued success in fundraising, resources, and revenue generation; promote inclusive governance, university citizenship and collaboration; support leadership development; and demonstrate a commitment to the University’s Augustinian mission and the promotion of a diverse and inclusive community.

The University seeks an innovative and strategic thinker with significant managerial and leadership experience to lead CoE. The Dean will ideally come from a background of substantive leadership with a proven academic or professional record in an engineering field. The successful candidate will have the reputation, stature, and credibility to attract strong faculty and students and the ability to articulate and implement a vision that positions CoE to thrive.  The Dean will demonstrate a collaborative leadership style, human resources and financial management skills, and a track record of building diverse teams and engaging diverse stakeholders. An earned doctorate in engineering or a related field is required, together with a successful track record in funded research and teaching that warrants a tenured faculty appointment.  The Dean will have a demonstrated record of successfully promoting and advancing research and teaching; at least five years of demonstrated managerial and leadership experience; demonstrated commitment to the mission of an Augustinian university with greater research aspirations and emphasis on academic excellence; and evidence of ability to engage others, with a preference for demonstrated success over a sustained period in external fundraising with corporate partners, donors, alumni and other constituents.

Nominations, inquiries, and applications (including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names of five references) should be directed electronically in confidence to: VillanovaEngineeringDean@divsearch.com.

Kim M. Morrisson, Ph.D., Senior Managing Director, Education and Not-for-Profit Leadership Searches

Andrew C. Wheeler, Practice Leader, Education and Not-for-Profit Practice and Managing Director

Holly Bowers, Vice President and Senior Associate

Diversified Search

One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 3300, Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-656-3555

www.diversifiedsearch.com

Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University’s mission.  The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.