Kenyon College seeks an innovative academic leader to serve as the Founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Computing. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape and grow an integrative interdisciplinary program at one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. The Founding Director will be responsible for building a distinctive and inclusive academic program that integrates computing with existing academic disciplines across the College, fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, builds on current faculty strengths in computing and computational applications, and identifies priorities for future program growth. The program will prepare students to think critically about the role of computing in society while gaining first-hand experience in the integration of computing in multiple disciplines.

Founded in 1824 and celebrating its Bicentennial this year, Kenyon College is the oldest private institution of higher education in the state of Ohio and ranks among the top tier of national liberal arts colleges. Kenyon offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations to a national and international student body of nearly 2,000 students. Known for its rigorous academic programs, beautiful campus, and vibrant intellectual community, Kenyon College fosters an inclusive and supportive environment for students and faculty, where innovative teaching, research, and interdisciplinarity are highly valued and the commitment to student-centered learning is strong. Kenyon faculty members are highly regarded as excellent teachers who maintain active research programs and involve undergraduate students in their work. Kenyon’s rigorous and demanding academic environment attracts diverse, engaged, and highly-motivated students who are eager to learn.

Kenyon is situated on a beautiful 1,200-acre hilltop campus in Gambier, a picturesque village in central Ohio, which offers a quiet and intellectually stimulating environment while being within driving distance of major cities like Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.

Reporting to the Provost, the Founding Director will be responsible for building an interdisciplinary program that enables the development of the discipline of computer science within the College and at the same time, weaves computing together with applications across the arts and sciences. Working with the program’s faculty Steering Committee, the Founding Director will provide vision, leadership, and strategy to influence the growth and development of the interdisciplinary program in computing, to include curriculum development, faculty hiring, student engagement, and partnerships with other academic areas.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development of a program that is one of the College’s central priorities. The Founding Director will demonstrate a broad understanding of the future of computer science education and research and a vision for how computing can contribute to a liberal arts education. An earned doctorate in computer science would be ideal, but candidates with earned doctorates in closely related disciplines coincident with an understanding of disciplinary computer science coursework will be considered, as will equivalent professional experience with expertise in computing applied to interdisciplinary fields. Academic qualifications must merit appointment as a tenured faculty member (likely a full professor) in the computing program, with possibility of a joint appointment, if warranted. The successful candidates will demonstrate a strong record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and mentorship at the undergraduate level; a track record of providing clear vision and strategic direction for an academic program; a record of fostering interdisciplinary activities and a passion for interdisciplinarity; collaborative and creative energy; and a demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

Screening will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. Completed applications should include a CV, a cover letter addressing (1) interest, (2) how the candidate’s experience will help Kenyon to achieve its aspirations for the Interdisciplinary Program in Computing, (3) their teaching and learning experiences and research accomplishments and directions, and (4) their efforts to foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment. This information should be submitted using DSG’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries should be directed electronically to:  KenyonComputingDirector@divsearch.com.

Kim M. Morrisson, Ph.D., and Euris E. Belle, Managing Directors
Christine Falcone, Senior Associate Consultant
The Diversified Search Group
One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 3300, Philadelphia PA  19103

Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer. It is the College’s policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law.