Dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences The SearchThe University of Vermont invites applications for the position of Dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS). This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader to shape the future of the College embedded within a Carnegie R1 designated University. CEMS is a community of problem solvers, inspiring each other to build true world solutions that will lead to healthy, sustainable societies. The College offers modern facilities, focused energies, and unique interdisciplinary partnerships that span the campus, the state, and the region.
UVM seeks a distinguished scholar and educator with a record of academic and administrative excellence, leadership in institutional planning, and enrollment management. Experience with curriculum innovation, program assessment, fiscal management, policy and technology development, and promoting the values enshrined in UVM's
"Our Common Ground" are preferred. The Dean must exhibit a balanced appreciation for engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics, an aptitude for creating interdisciplinary collaborations across the University, and the desire to collegially promote UVM's collective goals. A record of fundraising, philanthropic development, and securing other forms of external funding is highly desired. A doctorate in an appropriate discipline and a stellar record of teaching and scholarship, as evidenced through promotion to full professor (or attributes enabling appointment as a full professor at UVM), are required. For information regarding nomination or expression of personal interest, please consult the section entitled Procedure for Candidacy.
UVM, located in Burlington, VT, is a Carnegie R1 designated public research university that offers a challenging academic experience and has a strong record of student success. UVM celebrates its interdisciplinary community of scholars, scientists, and learners with seven undergraduate colleges in addition to the Patrick Leahy Honors College, the Graduate College, the Larner College of Medicine (LCOM), and Professional and Continuing Education.
As part of this educational and research ecosystem, CEMS includes the Departments of
Civil and Environmental Engineering ,
Electrical and Biomedical Engineering ,
Mechanical Engineering ,
Mathematics & Statistics ,
Physics , and
Computer Science . The faculty and programs are highly collaborative, with established connections to virtually every other college at the University. The College is home to 1,400 undergraduates, 260 graduate students, 70 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 40 lecturers and senior lecturers, 30 research faculty and associates, and 30 staff. In addition, CEMS houses several research centers: the UVM Transportation Research Center, the Center for Resilient Energy and Autonomous Technologies in Engineering (CREATE), the Center for Biomedical Innovation, and the Vermont Space Grant Consortium.
Enrollments have stabilized in the last five years after a period of strong growth and are anticipated to grow again at both undergraduate and graduate levels. CEMS is on a sound financial footing; its budget and fundraising success have enabled continual strategic growth and investment. The new Dean will be responsible for ensuring the successful completion of the ABET accreditation process in 2027 in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The new Dean will be expected to shepherd the growth, manage finances strategically, develop new revenue, recruit and support distinguished faculty, and build innovative academic programs.
Opportunities and Expectations for LeadershipThe following priorities have been identified for the incoming Dean:
Articulate a Vision and StrategyThe Dean will join UVM under new presidential leadership, and the Dean will have the opportunity to develop a compelling vision and corresponding strategic plan consistent with the University's pending new plan, and with the College's commitment to research and teaching excellence and practical impact. It is imperative that the next Dean articulates and disseminates the College's strengths to attract and retain the highest quality students who will transition into engaged alumni. The College will benefit from highlighting its outstanding academic programs that position graduates for success in the STEM workforce, in collaboration with regional industry partners and trade associations. The Dean will evaluate the College's current organizational structure and resources, making appropriate changes to support its continued growth and success.
Promote Academic Excellence across All ProgramsThe Dean will engage faculty in assessing the curriculum and current programmatic strengths to address current demand and emerging needs of STEM fields. This includes exploring opportunities to expand and enhance industry partnerships, technology development, and interdisciplinary programs with other UVM colleges or institutions in the region. It is expected that the Dean will lead collaboration across departments and programs to ensure cohesion and to leverage intra- and extramural collaborations. The Dean will also identify opportunities to increase student enrollment, increase the College's revenues and funding, and identify areas where technology can enhance productivity and lead to innovative teaching methods.
Recruit and Retain a Distinguished Faculty CEMS faculty are accomplished in their areas of expertise and continually strive for success at all levels. The Dean will continue developing a faculty of distinction, establishing the highest standards in faculty recruitment, appointment, tenure, and promotion to enhance consistent excellence in teaching and research. This will include identifying recruitment needs to support curriculum changes and program expansion at the junior, mid-level and senior faculty levels, and retaining and recruiting faculty with strong records in STEM education and research. The Dean will support the ongoing professional development of the faculty, by mentoring early career faculty and emerging academic leaders, and encouraging faculty engagement in curriculum evaluation and program development.
Advance Scholarship and ResearchBuilding upon the College's current research activity, the new Dean will lead further expansion of research productivity and funding, consistent with an R1 institution. UVM achieved Carnegie R1 status in 2025, a designation earned by less than 3 percent of U.S. higher education institutions. The Dean will identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with industry partners and other external organizations, fostering the development of synergistic relationships that will advance UVM's research enterprise.
Engage Stakeholders and Develop Resources and OpportunitiesAs a public research and land-grant university, UVM is committed to providing regional, national, and international leadership in STEM fields through CEMS. As the voice and advocate of the College for an array of audiences, the CEMS Dean must be engaging and able to foster commitment to UVM's sustained success. The Dean is responsible for bringing prominence to CEMS and for developing beneficial collaborations, opportunities, and resources. They will advocate within and beyond UVM for the many societal benefits of CEMS' educational, research, and service programs.
As leader of the research enterprise, the Dean will ensure effective infrastructure and engage in strategic planning to enhance the breadth, depth, and impact of CEMS activities. Opportunities exist for significant expansion of extramural support for research in the College. The Dean will emphasize the importance of graduate students to advance the research agenda and advocate for the entire research spectrum - from basic to applied research, and the translation of technologies into commercial assets. The Dean must also appreciate how single investigator projects and multi-investigator transdisciplinary initiatives both contribute to the University's overarching research mission.
The Dean's interactions involve a wide range of constituencies within and beyond the College; these include the administration, deans, faculty, students, foundations, government and funding agencies, industry partners, trade associations, civic leaders, donors, and alumni. The Dean serves as the principal architect for building and maintaining relationships with various partners to develop research opportunities and academic initiatives, to enhance revenue streams, and to stimulate economic growth and workforce development in the state and beyond. The Dean will support current partnerships within New England, especially its northern tier, and Canada, and is expected to develop new partnerships to advance the mission of the College.
Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities UVM seeks a visionary scholar with impeccable credentials to lead the College into the future. The background, skills, and qualities the successful candidate will offer, ideally, are these:
Leadership - Academic accomplishment: A record of instruction, scholarship, and research excellence that merits appointment as a tenured professor in one of the departments of the College.
- Commitment to excellence: Sincere and intense appreciation for excellence in research and scholarly endeavors, and a record of recruiting and developing people and programs of the highest quality.
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