Director (School Of Mechanical, Aerospace And Materials Engineering)

The School Director is the chief academic and fiscal officer of the School and has the responsibility for the academic programs and the effectiveness of the teaching, research and service efforts of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Materials Engineering. The Director is expected to manage and expand the resources of the School and to be the School's advocate both within and external to the University.

The Director is expected to: 

• provide leadership and work with faculty, staff, and students in the School to enhance the existing undergraduate and graduate programs and develop new programs; 

• enhance learning outcomes for students enrolled in the School's programs; 

• provide leadership in fostering an environment that advances the University's goals regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and intolerance of discrimination; 

• increase significantly student enrollment, retention and academic success; 

• enhance the research enterprise and significantly increase research funding; 

• increase school productivity; 

• develop and administer the school's budget; and 

• develop and enhance distance learning programs.

Additional responsibilities include strategic planning, class scheduling, annual reporting to faculty on the state of the School, faculty and staff workload assignment, and motivation and performance evaluation of the faculty and staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

Director must have an earned doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field by date of hire.  The Director should have excellent leadership qualities. The Director must have excellent experience in promoting excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, student recruitment and retention for enrollment growth, and growth of externally funded research program. The director must have an outstanding track record in teaching, and scholarly and externally funded research qualified for being appointed as a tenured full professor at a top R2 public research institution aspiring for achieving R1 status in the next couple of years.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with ABET accreditation and related assessment is preferred.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a Carnegie Doctoral Research University offering 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.  

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about employee benefits and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:  https://jobs.siu.edu. 

Contact: Judy Sherwood, judy@siu.edu