Dean, Frank Batten College of Engineering

Job Description

Old Dominion University (ODU) seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader who will play a central role in continuing the success, growth, and future of the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology (BCET). The dean will lead and support efforts that promote excellence in research, teaching, student learning, and community engagement; demonstrate an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice; and attract external resources while supporting the university’s leadership role in regional economic development.

Role & Expectations Commit to the recruitment, retention, development, and mentorship of faculty, staff, and students from diverse backgrounds.Develop and implement strategies to create innovative and market-driven academic programs aimed at increasing on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate student enrollment.Develop and implement entrepreneurial initiatives to foster collaboration with industries and businesses and enhance the reputation of Old Dominion University as a producer of engineers and scientists in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.Strengthen partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations within the college and across campus.Strengthen existing interdisciplinary research and scholarship to promote excellence in education and scholarship.Conduct regular reviews of departments, programs, institutes, and centers with the mission of alignment with regional and national workforce and labor market demands.Advance the College’s strategic plan, maintain support for critical initiatives, while assuring the College’s ongoing contribution to the advancement of the University’s strategic plan and priorities.Vigorously represent the College with central administration and with other colleges and administrative units within the University.Represent the College in its external relations with alumni, donors, community, and policy makers and in relevant professional settings.Provide leadership in fundraising, revenue generation, external grant acquisitions, and resource allocation to support the College’s aspirations and priorities.Manage the internal budget and available financial resources of the College, allocating and prioritizing faculty and staff lines and other resources as needed, and overseeing the allocation of graduate teaching assistantships.Establish and supervise the administrative structure and activities within the college, including oversight of associate deans, chairs, and non-academic staffSupport leadership development for associate deans, chairs, and non-academic staff within the College.Ensure a highly engaging and rewarding student experience at both the undergraduate and graduate student levels, foster student engagement, and implement strategies to facilitate student success and retention.Embrace and facilitate shared governance by working with the established committee structure and adhering to approved policies and procedures. About BCETThe next Dean will join the Batten College of Engineering at an exciting time in its history. With the University’s recent attainment of the R1 classification, and a newly developed strategic plan, the College has established a direction and made critical investments in its future success.

The College enrolls 2000 undergraduate students across eight majors and 19 minors, as well as 720 graduate students in more than 30 master’s and doctoral programs. More than 100 full-time faculty are housed in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, the Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering, the Department of Engineering Technology, and the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.

The College also houses eight research institutes and centers, including the Applied Research Center, the Center for Bioelectrics, the Coastal Engineering Institute, the Plasma Engineering & Medicine Institute, the Sustainable Development Institute, the Virginia Institute for Photovoltaics, and the newly established Institute for Autonomous and Connected Systems, and the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Health & Human Performance. The College is a major partner in the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) and the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC).

Our Mission
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology serves its students, the engineering profession, the Hampton Roads region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world ethically and equitably through innovative and impactful research and future-focused educational programs that prepare the next generation of engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

Our Vision
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology will be a nationally recognized leader in future-focused, student-centered engineering and engineering technology education, research, and innovation that ethically and equitably contributes to the sustainable economic and societal prosperity of the Hampton Roads region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world.

The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology owes its future to the vision and dedication of the many faculty, staff, students, benefactors, and other supporters who created the foundation on which we look to build on today. As we look to the future and envision all we can be, including all our future students can be, we recognize and respect that we stand on the shoulders of the many giants who went before us.

BCET Diversity & Inclusion Statement
The Batten College of Engineering & Technology recognizes that diversity and inclusion are foundational to developing creative and robust engineering solutions to address complex global challenges. We are committed both to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff and to educating our students on the need for diversity and inclusion in the engineering profession. Position Type FullTime Type of Recruitment General Public Type of Recruitment General Public Minimum Qualifications - knowledge, skills, and abilities Candidates must have demonstrated administrative leadership experience at a research university. Minimum Qualifications - Education or training Candidates must have an earned doctorate degree in one of the disciplines in the College, in addition to a record of distinguished research, teaching, and professional accomplishments meritorious of appointment as a Full Professor with tenure. Minimum Qualifications - Special licenses, registration or certification Preferred Qualifications Prior successful administrative leadership, including budgetary and supervisory experience at or above department chair level.Demonstrated experience with collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.Demonstrated record of success in attracting and retaining underrepresented faculty, staff, and students, and commitment to cultivating and sustaining diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.Demonstrated understanding of fundraising and engagement with alumni, business, and industry.Experience in developing and implementing a strategic plan that aligns with and complements the university strategic plan.Evidence of a participatory leadership style, a track record of facilitating interdisciplinary and cross-campus collaboration, and ability to take decisive action when necessary.Understanding of cutting-edge instructional technologies and methods to support teaching and learning.Experience in program assessments and ABET accreditation.Experience in implementing strategies to develop and expand external partnerships to create opportunities for experiential learning.Demonstrated experience developing programs that increase student enrollment and promote student success (i.e., retention and graduation).Strong interpersonal and communication skills and political adeptness to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and campus administration. Conditions of Employment Location Norfolk, VA Job Open Date 02/19/2024 Application Review Date 03/25/2024 Open Until Filled Yes

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