UTC RAVE Alert

Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science

CECS EMCS building

The University

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) is a regional comprehensive university and a national model for metropolitan universities. Located in downtown Chattanooga, a renaissance city of 500,000 residents in Southeast Tennessee, the main footprint of campus offers the beauty of a campus located in a college town with the amenities of a metropolitan location.  UTC serves a vibrant and diverse student body, metropolitan area, and region. The university has an enrollment of over 11,000 students, 58% of whom identify as female. Approximately 23% of the student body self-identify as members of a minority group and 20% are first generation students.

UTC is the second largest institution in the University of Tennessee System. Founded in 1886 as a private college, it became part of the UT system in 1969. The four degree-granting colleges (College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Gary W. Rollins College of Business, and College of Health, Education and Professional Studies) offer 47 undergraduate degree programs with 98 concentrations. Together they offer 29 graduate programs including 6 doctoral programs. The Honors College and the Library, both led by Deans, further enrich the academic culture on campus.  UTC has ten Chairs of Excellence and an array of endowed professorships. The University’s Division 1 athletic program has been strengthened measurably over the past several years, lifting the profile of the university regionally and nationally. 

The Chattanooga metropolitan area is often used as an extension of the classroom, with partnerships and collaborations across the city that provide for immersive, hands-on research, internships, and practicum experiences for UTC students. Through these experiences, our students are better prepared to contribute to the regional and state economy and workforce. Indeed, the university’s strategic plan has an ambitious goal to embed high impact practices within all degree programs.

The City of Chattanooga

UTC is part of the fabric of Chattanooga and plays an important role in the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of the city, Tennessee, and nearby bordering areas in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. It is within a day’s drive of the best beaches in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Eastern US Seaboard, and a short drive away from either the beautiful Appalachian Mountains or metropolitan areas such as Atlanta or Nashville.  The city provides natural beauty, a revitalized riverfront, outdoor adventure areas, and a thriving environment for arts and culture.  The metropolitan area is enhanced by the diversity of its population and economy, and by a strong spirit of innovation and entrepreneurism.  The community offers an excellent quality of life and an affordable cost of living. Chattanooga is included on “must visit” destination lists of several media outlets including in the New York Times, Travel and Leisure, Outside Magazine, and Southern Living.  

Chattanooga is widely recognized a one of the innovative smart US cities internationally and was among the first US cities to be officially recognized by US Ignite as a Smart Gigabit Community.  This designation indicates a commitment by the community to leverage advanced science, mathematics, engineering, computing, and networking technologies to improve city processes and quality of life for all citizens.  The city’s ongoing dedication to advancing technology has attracted dozens of startups to join companies already here such as Volkswagen, Amazon, Novonix, Unum, McKee Foods, U.S. Xpress, and Coca-Cola Bottling Company United.  Economic development includes successful innovation in areas such as advanced manufacturing, resilient and secure electric grid, decarbonizing transportation and mobility, and healthcare. UTC plays a significant role in these efforts through R&D, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, as well as through growing the number of public-private partnerships. An example includes the recent announcement of the construction of the first 7 km of a commercial quantum network with an access node on the UTC campus.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS)

The College has approximately 200 graduate students and 1400 undergraduate students, up 33% over the past 10 years. The College publishes an annual Year-in-Review for more information on recent accomplishments.  The College of Engineering and Computer Science is home for five departments: Civil and Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management and Technology, and Mechanical Engineering.  The College offers the following undergraduate degrees:

The College plays a leading role in an interdisciplinary PhD program in Computational Science, with concentrations in Computational and Applied Mathematics, Computational Engineering, and Computer Science. It also offers the following master’s degree programs:

The Dean Position

The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, manages the day to day operations of the college, and provides strategic leadership related to the college’s academic programs and mission.  The Dean will have the opportunity to guide and expand the college’s collaborative role in the university in support of the UTC’s Strategic Plan and the university’s goal of becoming a top regional university in the Southeast.  The college has excellent relationships with the community and several external program initiatives.

The Dean will:

  • Develop a collaborative vision for the future of CECS educational and R&D programs by engaging internal and external stakeholders in strategic planning;
  • Strengthen internal collaborations that integrate Science and Technology in cross-disciplinary efforts;
  • Promote the success of the college’s academic programs;
  • Oversee the recruitment, professional development, and retention of outstanding faculty and staff and make recommendations for appointment, retention, tenure, and promotion;
  • Manage all aspects of CECS operations assisted by an effective leadership team;
  • Mentor department heads and model transparency, effective communication, and collaboration for the faculty, staff and students in CECS;  
  • Improve the diversity of the college’s faculty, staff, and students and promote an inclusive environment in which to live, work, and learn;
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to enhance student success;
  • Work with the Office of Advancement to engage alumni and to advance philanthropic giving to the college;
  • Enhance the overall research profile of the college through externally funded research and through effective collaborations in the community;
  • Engage with the Chattanooga metropolitan community to develop opportunities that synergistically benefit our students, faculty, and community.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:

  • Terminal degree from an accredited university and in a discipline represented in the college,
  • Successful administrative experience at the level of Chair, Head, or above, with experience in building and/or leading a successful unit—getting associates and colleagues to think, plan, and act together in a cohesive and cooperative manner,
  • A strong record of research meriting appointment at the rank of professor,
  • A demonstrated record of intentional and successful actions to foster and enhance inclusion, equity, and diversity,
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a complex organization, including experience with program or institutional accreditation, strategic long-range planning, financial stewardship, human resource development, management, evaluation, and resource allocation,
  • A commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary instruction and scholarship
  • Sound judgment and decision-making,
  • Outstanding oral and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills,
  • Integrity and professionalism that is above reproach,
  • Professional values and achievements compatible with UTC’s strategic plan,
  • Experience building and growing productive ties to the community,
  • Experience balancing the conflicting and competing demands upon faculty time and attention, and creating successful support programs to assist/improve faculty productivity,
  • Experience in student success and development efforts, including activities related to life skills ,
  • Success in fundraising and alumni engagement.

Application Process

The Search Committee invites applications, inquiries, and nominations for this position. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, a statement of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the names and contact information of at least five professional references to the search firm assisting the University.  Review of applications will begin immediately, however, it is preferred that all nominations and applications be received by end of business March 20, 2023.  The desired start date is July 1, 2023.  All inquiries, applications, and nominations in confidence should be directed to:

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President
Erin Raines, Principal
Parker Executive Search
[email protected] || [email protected]
Phone:  770-804-1996 ext.: 109 Fax:  770-804-1917

UTC takes its commitment to inclusion, equity, and diversity seriously.  Letters of interest and other application materials should specifically address the candidate’s intentional and systematic initiatives and accomplishments related to that commitment.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its educational and employment programs and services.  All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability or covered veteran status.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Engineering and Computer Science