Dean for the School of Engineering and Computer Science

Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science

Calvin University Grand Rapids Michigan

Position Summary

The Dean for the School of Engineering and Computer Science is the chief strategic academic operational and external leader for the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Calvin University. The School of Engineering and Computer Science is being developed to prepare graduates who are technically excellent ethically grounded spiritually formed and ready to lead in a rapidly changing technological age. The Dean builds on existing program strength deepens industry and alumni partnerships supports faculty and students guides curricular innovation and advances Calvins distinctive Christian contribution to conversations about technology ethics design human dignity justice sustainability and the common good. The Dean will also be a primary ambassador for the School working closely with faculty staff students university leadership enrollment marketing advancement alumni donors employers and external partners.

Essential Responsibilities

Vision and Strategy

• Provide visionary leadership for the launch growth and long-term development of the School of Engineering and Computer Science.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan that advances the Schools academic excellence growth in enrollment and funding external reputation and mission alignment.
• Establish the Deans Office as a strong leadership and operational hub for the School including appropriate staffing systems communication practices and planning processes.
• Lead the School in ways that strengthen Calvin University as a whole and avoid academic siloing.
• Ensure that engineering computer science and related programs remain responsive to rapidly evolving educational technological and industry needs.
• Align School priorities with Calvin Universitys mission to equip students to think deeply act justly and live wholeheartedly as Christs agents of renewal in the world.

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Partner with University Advancement to secure philanthropic support for the Schools strategic priorities.
• Take the lead in cultivating donor relationships related to the Deans Office faculty compensation and support program innovation student experience facilities and equipment internships outreach and the Center for Faith and Technology.
• Articulate a compelling case for investment in Calvins distinctive approach to integrating Reformed Christian perspectives in engineering computer science and similar disciplines.
• Develop fundraising opportunities that support long-term sustainability including endowment funding and capital investment.

External Partnerships and Community Engagement

• Serve as the chief ambassador for the School to employers alumni donors advisory boards industry partners community organizations professional networks churches peer institutions and prospective students.
• Cultivate strong alumni networks and employer partnerships to support fundraising internship pipelines senior design projects career pathways sponsored research and mentoring.
• Build and sustain relationships with regional and national technology engineering advanced manufacturing healthcare business and nonprofit partners.
• Represent the School credibly and persuasively in public settings donor conversations media opportunities professional gatherings and university events.

Academic Excellence and Program Innovation

• Support rigorous high-quality Christian undergraduate education in engineering computer science and related fields.
• Encourage curricular innovation in emerging technology areas (e.g. artificial intelligence cybersecurity data ethics automation software systems environmental responsibility quantum and technological design).
• Promote educational experiences that integrate advanced technical skill with enduring virtues such as intellectual humility creativity empathy discernment resilience collaboration and service to the common good.
• Strengthen high-impact experiential learning opportunities such as internships senior design undergraduate research off-campus study project-based learning and employer-sponsored initiatives.
• Support assessment accreditation and continuous improvement processes across the Schools programs.

Faculty and Staff Leadership

• Recruit retain support and develop excellent faculty and staff who combine technical expertise teaching excellence scholarly engagement industry awareness and commitment to Christian formation.
• Advocate for competitive faculty compensation and support in fields where faculty are highly sought after by industry and competing institutions.
• Foster a positive collaborative and mission-centered culture characterized by trust transparency accountability shared purpose and mutual respect.
• Supervise department chairs and staff within the School including an operations coordinator or operations manager.
• Support faculty scholarship professional development course innovation interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with industry and professional networks.
• Reduce unnecessary faculty workload by strengthening administrative internship outreach and operational support.

Center for Faith and Technology

• Provide leadership for the development and launch of the Center for Faith and Technology as a signature feature of the School.
• Support a director in building the Center as a distinctive platform for scholarship teaching public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of technology ethics and Christian thought.
• Together with the Center grow Calvins public reputation as a leading Christian voice on the moral and social implications of emerging technologies.

Enrollment Marketing and Student Success

• Collaborate with Enrollment Marketing and Communications to increase the Schools visibility reputation and appeal to prospective students and families.
• Help recruit a larger and more diverse student body into engineering computer science and related programs.
• Initiate and support outreach efforts such as summer camps targeted recruitment initiatives high school engagement and community-facing events.
• Ensure that students receive excellent academic advising career preparation internship support and mentoring.
• Promote a student experience that prepares graduates for faithful leadership technical excellence ethical discernment and meaningful vocation.

Facilities Equipment and Operational Stewardship

• Lead planning related to co-location renovation and expansion of labs classrooms senior design spaces project areas and collaborative learning environments.
• Advocate for equipment software furnishings and supplies necessary to support excellent hands-on learning.
• Manage the Schools budget and resources responsibly aligning financial decisions with strategic priorities.
• Ensure operational effectiveness across communications events outreach scheduling staffing strategic projects and student-facing services.
• Maintain financial diligence and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the School.

Reporting Relationships

The Dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science:

Reports to:

• Provost

Supervises:

• Department chairs within the School
• School staff including operations personnel
• Leaders of centers initiatives or programs housed within the School as appropriate

Relates closely to:

• Faculty and staff
• Students
• Other school deans
• Enrollment Marketing and Advancement teams
• Alumni and donors
• Employer and industry partners
• Advisory boards
• Community partners
• Churches and professional organizations

Required Qualifications

• An advanced degree in engineering computer science or a closely related technology discipline from an accredited institution.
• Significant leadership experience in higher education industry or a related professional setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to Christian higher education and Calvin Universitys Reformed mission.
• Ability to articulate and support the integration of Christian faith ethical reflection and technological excellence.
• Strong interest in or demonstrated success in fundraising donor relations grant development or external resource development.
• Evidence of successful collaboration across disciplines departments or organizational units.
• Strong communication administrative and relational skills.
• Experience managing people budgets programs or strategic initiatives.
• Ability to represent the School credibly to external audiences including employers donors alumni advisory boards and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Academic administrative experience such as service as dean associate dean department chair program director center director or comparable leadership role.
• Experience with ABET accreditation or other relevant accreditation and assessment processes.
• Record of teaching scholarship professional practice or industry engagement in engineering computer science or a related field.
• Experience building employer partnerships internship programs advisory boards or alumni networks.
• Experience launching new programs centers interdisciplinary initiatives or strategic partnerships.
• Familiarity with emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence cybersecurity data science automation software engineering robotics or ethical technology design.
• Ability to contribute to public conversations about technology ethics Christian thought and the common good.

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate will be:

• An inspirational mission-driven leader with a deep commitment to Jesus Christ.
• A person whose spiritual example is known and respected.
• Committed to the essential theological commitments of the Reformed Christian tradition and their translation in higher-education setting.
• Willing to become an active participant in a congregation of the Christian Reformed Church in North America a church in ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRCNA or a Calvin University-supporting Protestant congregation.
• A gifted communicator and attentive listener who brings clarity candor responsiveness and conviction.
• A relational leader who builds trust fosters collaboration and cultivates teamwork across diverse constituencies.
• A strategic thinker who can translate vision into operational plans measurable goals and sustainable structures.
• A credible advocate for faculty staff students and the broader mission of the university.
• Confident and steady in complex or evolving environments.
• Humble gracious discerning and optimistic while remaining realistic.
• Deeply respectful of Calvin Universitys unique contribution to Christian higher education.
• Passionate about preparing students to use technological knowledge and skill in service of Gods world.

To Apply:

Complete the online application process and attach the following:

• Letter of application that addresses the requirements and responsibilities of the position

• Full curriculum vitae

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith learning and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including but not limited to race gender physical limitations class or religious perspectives.