Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science Search

by Witt/Kieffer | Thursday, Dec 01, 2016
Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science Search

Florida Atlantic University (FAU), a dynamic public research university serving Florida's southeast coast, welcomes applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.


FAU was founded in 1964 in Boca Raton, and a year later the College of Engineering and Computer Science was formed. With the nation’s first undergraduate degree program in ocean engineering, the College has grown to encompass three academic departments and nine technical disciplines. The three academic departments include: the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering; the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science; and the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. The College offers eight undergraduate degree programs, eight master’s programs and five Ph.D. programs. Baccalaureate degree programs in civil, computer, electrical, geomatics, mechanical and ocean engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. The baccalaureate program in computer science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET.

Since 2011, the College has been headquartered in a 97,000-square-foot, five-story building that has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility houses state-of-the-art electrical instrumentation labs, computer build/circuitry labs, 5G technologies and specialized research labs. A distinguisher for the College is the CAPTURE Program, which is the result of a $3.5-million state grant (awarded to FAU, Broward College and Palm Beach State College)to create an accelerated pipeline for students in the economically important fields of computer science and computer engineering. With 2,369 undergraduate students, 381 graduate students, 121 faculty and staff and annual externally funded research expenditures in excess of $3.5 million, the College ranks nationally as a mid-sized college of engineering. Known for strong teaching and advising, diversity of the student body, K-12 outreach programs, collaborations with business and industry, and quality and quantity of research, the College intends to be an institution of choice in the southeast region of the United States.

The new Dean will be the chief academic and administrative officer of the College, reporting to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean provides leadership for the College in strategic planning, budgeting, fostering research, recruiting faculty and students, fundraising, improving retention and supporting students, increasing research and scholarly activity, engaging alumni and the community in College priorities, and other activities that foster excellence in teaching, research and service.

The Dean will support an interdisciplinary curriculum and actively engage the College in collaboration with the global research institutes, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) and the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). Together with these private institutes and FAU’s own programs, the College of Engineering and Computer Science is developing into an international hub for scientific research, STEM education, and an important center for economic growth in the state of Florida.

The successful candidate will possess an earned Ph.D. or equivalent from an accredited university in engineering, computer science, or related discipline; a scholarship and teaching record that would support an appointment at the rank of professor; administrative experience in a higher education context; scholarly research including referred publications and funded grants. A commitment to supporting innovation and interdisciplinary areas is essential, as is a record of valuing instructional excellence at all levels and supporting faculty and student research. Prior experience with public and private fundraising is highly desired.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Review of applications has begun and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a resume, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in this leadership profile, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to Florida Atlantic University’s consultants Amy Crutchfield, Veena Abraham, and Lucy Leske at FAUDeanEngCS@wittkieffer.com. The consultants can be reached by telephone through the desk of the assistant for the search, Laura Novak, at 630.575.6943.


Search Committee Members
Russ Ivy, Ph.D., Committee Chair, Associate Provost Evangelos Kaisar, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Edgar An, Ph.D., Professor Elnaz Limouchi, Graduate Student
Lynn Asseff, Director of Operations Scott Verner, College Executive Advisory Board Chair
Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., Professor Yan Yong, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor
Shihong Huang, Ph.D., Professor  

The Florida Atlantic University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.