Director and Instructional Professor of General Engineering and Director of Strategic Initiatives

Note for Current UM Employees

Current employees must apply internally via connectU > connectu.olemiss.edu

Position Description

The School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi is seeking an experienced educator and administrator for the Director of General Engineering and Director of Strategic Initiatives position. The instructional faculty appointment will be at a rank commensurate with qualifications and experience.

 

General Engineering Program
The Bachelor of Engineering (BoE) program was established in 1972. The BoE program was initially designed to provide students maximum flexibility in selecting a curriculum to suit individual interests. The School of Engineering decided to transition to a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved the proposal in October 2019. The first freshman class in the BSE program enrolled in Fall 2020, and the first graduates of the BSE program graduated in May 2021. The BSE program received its initial ABET accreditation in 2023. The program had about 80 undergraduate students in Fall 2022 and graduated 18 in May 2023.

 

The Program has one full-time Instructional Assistant Professor and one full-time Assistant Professor of Practice shared with the Center for Manufacturing Excellence. However, there is strong interest in growing the General Engineering faculty to teach many of the Engineering Science core courses (thermodynamics, statics, circuits, materials, etc.) taken by most undergraduate students in the School of Engineering.

 

Responsibilities:
As the Director of General Engineering and instructional faculty, you will oversee and offer courses in the BSE program. This position primarily focuses on curriculum development, student engagement, and program management. Key responsibilities include:
•    Designing, implementing, and continuously improving the General Engineering curriculum.
•    Collaborating with faculty to ensure high-quality instruction and student success.
•    Providing leadership in accreditation processes and maintaining program compliance.
•    Mentoring students to foster academic and professional development.
•    Managing administrative aspects of the General Engineering program.
•    Teaching courses in the General Engineering curriculum, including the capstone design sequence

 

As the Director of Strategic Initiatives, you will support school-wide strategic initiatives in line with the School’s strategic plan. Key responsibilities include:
•    Supports the school’s integrated and comprehensive strategic planning process.
•    Evaluates and makes recommendations towards enhancing or improving the school’s strategic plan, performance measures, and initiatives to improve effectiveness.
•    Consults with school leaders to develop, implement, and measure strategic goals.

 

School of Engineering
The School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi was established in 1900, making it the oldest engineering school in Mississippi. Over the decades, the school has grown to ten undergraduate programs, both master’s and doctoral degrees, a diverse faculty and student body, and alumni excelling in public and private fields. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,100 students and a graduate enrollment of 150. There are around 70 faculty members in seven departments

Position Details

Appointment: 12 Month

Assignment Type: Non-Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have:
•    A Ph.D. in an engineering discipline and five years of relevant experience.
•    Demonstrated leadership experience in an academic or professional setting.
•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
•    A commitment to excellence in engineering education.
•    A record of collaboration with a wide range of constituents (faculty, staff, students; industry and government officials; and private, state, and federal sponsors);
•    Excellent listening, decision-making, and consensus-building skills; and
•    An ability to develop a shared vision for the General Engineering program through open communication and transparency.

 

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

 

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit the following documents: a letter describing the qualifications listed in the Position Description section above, a full curriculum vitae, a vision for the program, a diversity and inclusion statement, a teaching statement, and names/contact informa