James Madison University

Head, Department of Engineering

The Department of Engineering at James Madison University is seeking applicants for a Department Head of Engineering. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2013. The position is a 12-month, tenure-track faculty appointment with a negotiated teaching component and the possibility of tenure upon initial appointment, given appropriate credentials.

The vision of the JMU Department of Engineering is to inspire students to engineer solutions for sustainable societies by applying the appropriate science and technology to relevant human problems. The curriculum focuses on sustainability, engineering design and integrated systems analysis. This highly innovative Department of Engineering was formed in 2007 and graduated its first class in 2012. The department offers a single, interdisciplinary engineering bachelor's degree program that is designed to meet ABET accreditation standards and prepare graduates for the FE examination. For the inaugural class of 2012, 79% of the 2012 graduating class passed the FE exam and 28% were accepted to graduate engineering programs. The department is preparing for its first ABET accreditation visit in the fall of 2012.

The department currently has 13 full-time faculty members, approximately 450 students and several affiliated faculty members and support staff. Its strengths include a dedicated, energetic and collegial faculty; an engaged and invested student body; very strong administrative support and state-of-the-art laboratories and design studios. JMU prizes collaboration among academic units and provides unique opportunities for interdisciplinary, team-based teaching and scholarship, with a strong focus on undergraduate research opportunities. More information about the department may be found at http://www.jmu.edu/engineering.

JMU is a state-supported, comprehensive university enrolling 17,900 undergraduate and 1,822 graduate students. It is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, about 130 miles southwest of Washington, DC. The university is a nationally ranked, primarily undergraduate institution with a student-centered culture, strong support for the STEM disciplines, and a reputation for excellence in a wide range of fields. For 17 consecutive years JMU has been ranked as the top public, masters-level university in the South by U.S. News and World Report. More information about the university may be found at http://www.jmu.edu.

The Department Head is responsible for program administration and strategic leadership and reports to the Dean of the College of Integrated Science and Engineering. Candidates should demonstrate strong administrative and interpersonal skills, a collaborative management style, a distinguished history of scholarship and teaching, experience in curriculum development and a strong record of university/professional service. The successful candidate will be expected to further the department's educational mission, foster recruitment and support of high quality students and faculty and promote the department both inside and outside the university. Experience working with business, industry and government partners will be beneficial, as will experience in ABET accreditation procedures.  

An earned Ph.D. in Engineering or a related field and demonstrated organizational leadership experience are required. Preference will be given to candidates with an academic rank of Associate Professor or higher, but applicants with a strong history of organizational leadership in a technical commercial environment are also encouraged to apply.  

Special instructions to applicants (This field includes all additional documents to be mailed as well as the mailing address):
Review of applications will begin October 15, 2012. To apply for this position, please go to https://JobLink.jmu.edu and follow the procedures to submit an online application for this position. Note that only complete submissions (including a cover letter, teaching statement, research statement (Other Document #1), contact information for three references and a CV) that are uploaded electronically to the JMU JobLink website will be considered by the search committee. Paper applications or applications emailed directly to the search committee will not be considered. References will not be contacted until a candidate is being considered for a campus visit. Please do not request letters of reference until instructed to do so by the search committee co-chairs. For additional information, applicants are encouraged to contact the co-chairs of the search committee: Dr. Sharon Simmons, simmonsj@jmu.edu, 540-568-4196 and Dr. Eric Maslen, masleneh@jmu.edu, 540-568-2740.

James Madison University is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action/equal access employer and especially encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities. Inquiries or requests for reasonable accommodation may be directed to the appropriate university office or the Office of Affirmative Action, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, (540) 568-6991.