Dean, College Of Science And Engineering

The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), a nationally ranked and regionally focused comprehensive university within the University of Houston System, seeks its next Dean of the College of Science and Engineering (CSE).

Situated on a 524-acre wildlife preserve, UHCL has become a cornerstone of higher education in Texas. Since opening its doors in 1974, the university has awarded more than 75,000 degrees, each resulting in expanded employment prospects, brighter futures and changed lives. UHCL is a regional comprehensive university that is classified as a doctoral university and offers more than 90 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through its four colleges: Business, Education, Human Sciences and Humanities, and Science and Engineering. The university annually enrolls more than 9,000 students and has earned a distinctive reputation as a student-centered, community-minded, partnership-oriented university. UHCL’s more than 78,000 alumni are leaders in a variety of fields and include 10 astronauts, more than 400 CEOs and at least one best-selling author. Through its ongoing community engagement, UHCL has developed alliances with area businesses, organizations, schools, and governmental agencies that enhance the educational, economic, cultural, scientific, and professional environment across the region. The university is proud to be classified as both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). During the 2021-2022 academic year, UHCL welcomed its sixth president, Richard Walker, Ed.D., and its eleventh provost, Christopher Maynard, Ph.D. UHCL is within close proximity to numerous Science and Engineering-driven facilities, organizations and complexes including the Port of Houston, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and several major chemical manufacturing operations. UHCL is located in Clear Lake, which is part of the Bay Area of thriving and cosmopolitan Houston – the fourth-largest city in the United States – and is near the charming and historic city of Galveston and the broader Galveston Bay.

UHCL was founded to meet the higher education needs of those working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center during the early days of space exploration. Today, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) continues that tradition of innovation and excellence. The college currently includes more than 1,700 undergraduate students, 500 graduate students, and 130 faculty across six departments. These include Biology and Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Physical and Applied Sciences, Computing Sciences, and Engineering. As the fastest-growing college at UHCL, CSE is working to build new and expand existing programs to meet the workforce demands of the region. In 2019, UHCL opened a STEM building that houses 13 faculty research labs and 15 teaching labs for mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety. The Bayou Building, home to research and teaching labs in Biological Sciences, is currently undergoing a nearly $50 million renovation.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the next Dean will contribute to an emerging university experience, participate in institutional planning, build external relationships and community partnerships, develop fundraising and alumni relations efforts, and advance a welcoming culture to support a diverse university community. To fulfill these needs, the next Dean will demonstrate a record of administrative leadership, which will include effective human resource and financial experience, adeptness at conflict resolution and negotiation, extensive experience with grants and partnerships, and a clear focus on student success. The next Dean will also have a record of instruction, scholarship, and research excellence that merits appointment as a tenured professor in one of the departments in the College of Science and Engineering.

More information, including an institutional profile with a full list of responsibilities and qualifications, can be found at this link.

Applications should consist of a substantial letter of interest, a CV, and a list of five professional references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your working relationship with each. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to:

UHCLDeanCSE@academicsearch.org

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Tuesday, April 9, 2024, can be assured full consideration. The University is being assisted by Academic Search. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Hasselmo at Ann.Hasselmo@academicsearch.org and Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org. Further information about the University of Houston-Clear Lake is available at https://www.uhcl.edu/.