DEAN, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES Western Michigan University seeks nominations and applications for the position of Dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Western Michigan University embraces a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff that develop scholar-leaders who are globally competent, culturally aware, and committed to advancing education, discovery, and global engagement. The University and the Community Western Michigan University is an accessible, student centered university, and is, as well, a nationally recognized research university one of just 76 public universities so classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. WMU offers nearly 250 academic programs to students pursuing degrees through the doctoral level. More than 20 percent of its 24,300 students are enrolled in graduate course work. The University s vision is founded on three pillars and aspires to distinguish itself as learner centered, discovery driven, and globally engaged. For more information on the University s vision and strategic plan, please visit http://www.wmich.edu/strategic/. WMU s students come from across the nation and more than 90 other countries, and it is one of the largest of the state s 15 public universities each with an autonomous governing board. WMU has seven degree-granting colleges, a dynamic graduate college, and one of the oldest honors colleges in the nation. Undergraduate students may choose from 141 program offerings while graduate students may choose from 71 masters, one specialist, and 30 doctoral programs. After more than a century of existence, the University has garnered international fame in disciplines as diverse as atomic physics, aviation, business, engineering
management, graph theory, medieval studies, and vocal jazz. For more information on WMU and the Kalamazoo Community, see http://www.discoverkalamazoo.com and http://www.southwestmichiganfirst.com. The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences The College is comprised of the Departments of Chemical and Paper Engineering; Civil and Construction Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering; Manufacturing Engineering; and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The faculty includes approximately 90 full-time professors and another 18 part-time instructors who complement the teaching ranks. A total of 2,706 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in programs leading to bachelor s, master s, and doctoral degrees. The college recruits, retains, and graduates a diverse student population who are in high demand by top employers across the region and the nation. The mission of Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is to educate our learning community for life-long excellence in responsible professional leadership; to increase knowledge through collaborative discovery, teaching, and application; to serve as a resource and partner to our constituents; and to prepare career-ready graduates for the global market. The College s $100 million, 343,000-square-foot facility is one of its greatest assets. Completed in 2003, the engineering building is the University s largest. It features two two-story brick wings each more than 600 feet long joined by a central glass hub. Designed with significant input from faculty and students, the light-filled building houses 75 research and teaching laboratories and seven computer teaching labs, as well as flexible classroom and lecture spaces, study lounges, breakout rooms and a dining hall. The engineering complex, which also includes two attached parking ramps, a Paper Coating Pilot Plant, and an energy resource center, sits on the University s 265-acre Parkview Campus. Located three miles from the main campus and surrounded by a nature preserve and wildlife, Parkview also houses a Business Technology and Research Park. The BTR Park is home to 42 companies in the life sciences, information technology, and advanced engineering and has been designated a Michigan SmartZone. The College has developed close relationships with many of these companies, both in the form of research partnerships and internship/employment opportunities for students and alumni. 2
The Position Western Michigan University seeks an experienced and accomplished leader to serve as Dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The dean will maintain and further enhance the collegial environment of the College and will recognize the importance of consensus building, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external funding, while also defining the College s role in the broader mission of the University. The dean reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and is responsible for visionary, innovative leadership, as well as effective day-to-day administration of, the College. The dean also serves on the Provost s Council, which is engaged in university-wide policy and planning. The Dean s specific responsibilities within the College include: Overseeing research, undergraduate and graduate education, enrollment management, academic and strategic planning; Supporting the development of the College s faculty, students, and staff; Securing grant and other external funding and pursuing collaborations with external partners; Further enhancing the overall quality of the College s programs and management as well as the national profile and position of the College; and, Actively engaging in fundraising and development activities to support the vision and mission of the College. Opportunities and Challenges Academic Vision: The dean will provide support and guidance to faculty and staff in their efforts to further enhance the regional and national profile of the College, while simultaneously striving to achieve an optimal balance between studentcentered teaching and cutting-edge applied research. S/he will also seek ways to further expand the College s graduate programs while retaining the core focus on developing and mentoring undergraduate students. External Partnerships: The dean will expand existing and develop new partnerships with a wide range of constituencies beyond the College, especially alumni, industry groups, and governmental organizations. The region boasts a diverse range of companies who are ready to collaborate with WMU faculty and students under the leadership of an entrepreneurial and collaborative dean. Expanding in bold ways the research profile of the College with these and other partners while remaining true to 3
its traditional mission will be a key charge for the new dean. In addition, the dean will continue expanding the already broad range of opportunities for students to work with industry partners via internships, research projects, and part or full-time employment. Faculty: The dean will have the opportunity to recruit, develop, and retain additional excellent faculty members as the College continues to grow and expand. Fundraising: Building and maintaining relationships with alumni, industry, and other partners in order to secure additional resources will remain vital to advancing the College s mission. The new dean will have the opportunity to be entrepreneurial and innovative in seeking new partnerships for the College. Internal Relationships: The dean is the College s chief ambassador and will be expected to work collegially and effectively with the Provost, the Vice President for Research, fellow deans, and many others throughout the University community. Diversity: WMU is continually committed to cultivating and expanding a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff and the dean will play a key role in these efforts. The College is particularly proud of its success in attracting master s students from other countries and seeks to build upon that solid foundation in keeping with the University s commitment to global engagement. Community Building: As the leader of the College, the dean will support the existing culture of collegiality, consensus, and collaboration and seek new ways of bringing the community together to achieve its shared goals. Required Qualifications Earned doctorate degree in a related field; Record of successful qualifications that warrant rank of tenured full professor; Record of excellence in leadership, education, scholarship, and research; Professional career activities demonstrating the highest ethical standard; Demonstrated commitment to faculty engagement and success; Demonstrated ability to form collaborative relationships with faculty in an atmosphere of shared governance; Demonstrated commitment to student engagement and success; Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion; Record of administrative experiences in a university or college setting, including management of budgets, personnel, and curriculum; Demonstrated ability to foster interdisciplinary, intercollegiate, community, and industry partnerships and programs to advance college and university goals; Demonstrated fund-raising ability and success in securing external funding and 4
resources; Demonstrated record of enhancing the domestic image and reputation of an entity; Excellent analytical, written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills that are adaptable to a diverse range of audiences. Desired Qualifications Demonstrated record of enhancing the global image and reputation of an entity; Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in an academic collective bargaining environment; Demonstrated success with alumni relations. Application The search process is underway and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be forwarded, in confidence, to: Sue May, Principal Lisa Bogdanski, Associate Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LP WMUEngineering@storbeckpimentel.com For best consideration, please electronically submit applications (curriculum vitae, cover letter including relevant experiences, and a list of five references with contact information). References will be contacted only with candidate s permission. WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. 5