Dean - Electrical Engineering

Chair of Electrical Engineering

Title: Chair of Electrical Engineering

University: Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, United States

Department: Electrical Engineering

The Opportunity

As a result of three retirements and two internal promotions, the College of Engineering at Lamar University is hiring five Chair positions in the following areas: Chemical & Biomolecular; Civil & Environmental; Electrical; Industrial & Systems; and Mechanical.

This is an exceptional opportunity and transformational time to join a financially sound University and College enjoying strong state funding, rich local resources with unlimited industry partnerships, community support, and alumni involvement in a University with top down support by President Jaime R. Taylor who brings a PhD in Engineering Science and intimate knowledge of the potential held by the College of Engineering.

Lamar University’s College of Engineering offers a modern, affordable education deep in the heart of one of the most economically important regions in the world. The College is ranked first in the state and third nationwide for return on investment for engineering majors out of more than 500 US colleges along with additional national recognition across all departments. Faculty members continually receive state and national recognition in professional excellence as well as secure funding.

Lamar University, a national Carnegie Doctoral Research university and part of the Texas State University System, is filled with inspired and inspiring students and faculty alike who make lifelong impacts in their surrounding communities.

The successful candidate is student focused and through strong industry partnerships and collaboration is committed to grow student investment and enrollment and produce job-ready graduates. The next Chair is a strong promoter of research and faculty development. Exceptional candidates may also be considered for an endowed chair/distinguished professor position. Qualification for this distinguished professorship/endowed chair will be evaluated every three years based on goals, achievements, and leadership.

Research expenditures average $1.5 million annually with projects associated with the Center for Resiliency; Texas Air Research Center; Texas Hazardous Waste Center; Center for Midstream Management and Science and the Center for Advances in Port Management. Research funding sources include the National Science Foundation; National Academies of Sciences; Engineering and Medicine; the State of Texas; the port and terminal; and industry, engineering and manufacturing companies in the Southeast Texas area.

Lamar University is also leading the Southeast Texas Flood Coordination Study which is a partnership of local, state, federal government, industry, and universities looking to mitigate the effects of flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast. Their recently completed, state of the art Emerson Advanced Technology Center – the result of an over $2.1 million investment in Lamar’s training capabilities – allows students to learn control system fundamentals to cutting edge control system technologies in a safe and controlled environment.

Located near The Sabine-Neches Waterway (home of The Port of Beaumont, Port of Port Arthur, Port of Orange and lined with privately owned marine terminals) – a key transportation hub and major economic driver in the state of Texas, with more than 66,000 direct, indirect, induced and related user jobs – as well as 75 petrochemical sites within a 25-mile radius, engineering students are geographically well-resourced to immediately locate important, deeply rewarding engineering jobs upon graduation in the Southeast Texas area.

The surrounding community of Beaumont offers incredible affordability and vibrant lifestyle opportunities – a cosmopolitan city on the gulf coast, with a bustling restaurant scene, warm winter months, and beautiful coastlines – makes this a premier, life changing experience for any up-and-coming engineer or engineering professor.

The Position

Lamar University, a public, Carnegie Doctoral Research University, is seeking a Department Chair to lead the Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. Exceptional candidates may also be considered for and endowed chair/distinguished professor position. Qualification for this distinguished professorship/endowed chair will be evaluated every three years based on goals, achievements, and leadership.

Lamar University (LU), a member of the Texas State University System, has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, with an enrollment of 17,000. LU has been recognized nationally for its general education core curriculum, leadership in online education, and selection as a member of the Honor Roll of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s "Great Colleges to Work For".

LU is located in Beaumont, in the southeastern region of Texas on the Texas Gulf Coast and is a major contributor to the nation’s oil and gas, transportation, refining and supply. LU College of Engineering (COE) is affiliated with six research centers, including the Center for Resiliency (CfR), Center for Advances in Port Management (CAPM), Center of Midstream Management and Science (CMMS), Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality (CAWAQ), Texas Air Research Center (TARC), and the Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center (THWRC).

The LUCOE offers a modern, affordable education deep in the heart of one of the most economically important regions in the world. Seventy-five petrochemical facilities are located within a 20-mile radius of Lamar University’s beautiful campus. The LUCOE is consistently ranked in the top five nationally for higher education value and return on investment. Our six research centers offer a tremendous amount of support to the College of Engineering’s faculty and students.

The LUCOE has a longstanding history of providing a high value, student-centric education and collaboration with industry. The LUCOE is embarking on an exciting journey of growth and enhanced partnerships with industry, while continuing to enrich our student-centric world class education. The opportunity for the LUCOE to hire five world class leaders to serve as department chairs for all five of LUCOE’s engineering departments provides successful candidates an amazing transformative opportunity.

Position Summary/Basic Function

Lamar University invites applicants for a full-time, tenured faculty position (essential that the successful candidate will be able receive tenure at Lamar University) at the Associate/Full Professor level in the Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering.

Position Description

The Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering offers a bachelor of science in electrical engineering, master of engineering in electrical engineering, master of engineering science in electrical engineering, and a doctor of engineering in electrical engineering. The bachelor’s program in electrical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org/. The department has approximately 250 students and 9 faculty.

The department chair will represent and advocate for all departmental faculty, staff, students and programs; manage departmental personnel, budget and resources; oversee program reviews; evaluate faculty and staff; oversee course schedule building process, lead departmental recruiting and retention efforts; develop new academic programs; assist in building/strengthening industry partnership; and provide leadership in the university, state, and region, thus promoting excellence in Electrical Engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Duties and Responsibilities 1) Lead the department’s domestic and international student recruiting and retention efforts at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 2) Provide leadership for all departmental programs and ensure that curriculum, instruction, assessment, and research are innovative, of the highest quality, aligned with college and university strategic plans, and ABET and SACS requirements. 3) Modernize the curriculum and methods of course delivery. Develop certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels within the department and through collaboration with other departments within the college of engineering. 4) Serve as a leader in departmental and collaborative governmental and industry funded research efforts. 5) Oversee departmental administration including scheduling and staffing courses, administering the budget, overseeing staff, and the day-to-day operations of the department. 6) Provide leadership and effective representation for the department at the college and university levels, including establishment and implementation of college and university policies, procedures, and guidelines. 7) Foster effective, mutually beneficial relationships with local, state, and national agencies, as well other constituencies relevant to programs represented in the Department. 8) Facilitate faculty development and collaboration and engage in meaningful evaluation of faculty.

Minimum Required Qualifications and Experience 1) Earned terminal degree in electrical engineering or equivalent. 2) Demonstrated experience to be appointed to the academic rank of Associate/Full Professor with tenure. 3) Excellent written and oral communication skills. 4) Demonstrated effective leadership. 5) Demonstrated experience with ABET and SACS accreditation processes. 6) Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds. 7) Success securing and mentoring external funding. 8) Demonstrated experience in recruiting and retention.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who meet the requirements listed above and one or more of the following

• Experience in higher education as a department chair, program coordinator or comparable leadership position.
• Experience developing new academic programs and certificates, etc
• Experience in online education.
• Experience evaluating and mentoring faculty and managing other personnel.
• Experience serving as an ABET PEV.
• Experience in industry/university partnership development and operations.
• Be a licensed Professional Engineer

Qualifications  for an Endowed Chair/Distinguished Professor Position

Endowed chair/distinguished professor candidates are expected to have an established record of outstanding intellectual achievement in research and education, as measured by scholarly activity, an international professional reputation, and a demonstrated ability for leadership.

Expectations of an Endowed Chair/Distinguished Professor

The endowed chair/distinguished professor holder is expected to continue their outstanding scholarly activity. This may include scholarship in discovery, integration, application, or teaching. Evaluation criteria include impact and contribution to the holder’s department, the profession, and society at large.

The endowed chair/distinguished professor holder is expected to:

• Provide leadership and impact, on an ongoing basis, throughout his or her term as an endowed chair/distinguished professorship holder.
• Examples of this leadership include, but are not limited to: a. Developing and executing a high impact research agenda b. Developing multi-investigator programs and multi-disciplinary laboratories c. Developing innovative educational programs and curricula, fostering collaborations across the College, University, academic field, and industry d. The recruitment and supervision of high-quality graduate and undergraduate students e. The recruitment and mentoring of new faculty members f. Outreach to the broader community.

Through these tasks, the holder will build and/or enhance the reputation of the department, the College, and the University.

The endowed position holder is also expected to interact fully with other faculty members, maintain a teaching load involving both undergraduate and graduate courses, and responsibilities for student supervision and committee assignments. The endowed

chair/distinguished professor holder’s activities, teaching load, departmental leadership, and other assignments will be reviewed annually with the dean, subject to departmental, college and university policy and existing agreements. The endowed chair/distinguished professor position performance will be formally reviewed every three years subject to university policy.

About the University

Home to more than 17,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. Lamar University (LU) is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 100 degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals.

The university streses academic achievement by emphasizing hands-on learning at all levels, providing ample opportunities for undergraduate research and supporting an excellent Honors Program. Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is one of 29 public universities recognized as a Doctoral/Research University by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Several LU colleges and programs hold additional specialized certifications and accreditations recognizing their quality and expertise.

Lamar University ranks in top 10 best public universities in Texas.

For additional information about Lamar University, the College of Engineering and the Phillip M. Drayer Department of Electrical Engineering please visit: https://www.lamar.edu/, https://www.lamar.edu/engineering/index.html and https://www.lamar.edu/engineering/electrical/index.html.

About the College of Engineering

The College of Engineering has five academic departments: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Bachelors, Masters, and doctoral degrees are offered in each of the five departments. College of Engineering (LUCOE) students have numerous employment opportunities during and after graduation through the co-op and internship program.

With 46 full-time faculty members, 1,313 undergraduate students, 227 masters’ students and 70 doctoral students, LUCOE remains steadfast in their commitment to students who may have difficulties in the recovering job market. All 15 masters’ degree options in the LUCOE now offer 4+1 pathways, and there are six new certificates that students can take as part of their degree program or as a standalone certificate for nondegree seeking students. More information about the 4+1s and the certificates can be found at Degrees and Programs.

Lamar University recently created the Center for Resiliency (CfR) that will serve the State of Texas by establishing a networking center and data collaborative for multi-disaster resiliency in alignment with the Lamar University vision of leadership in quality educational opportunities, community engagement, economic impact, and accessibility. The College of Engineering offers the opportunities and attention of a private university, at the expense of a public institution with the motto of "Imagine it. Design it. Build it. Improve it."

Living in the Area

With a population of over 115,000 in Beaumont and 409,000 in the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan area, the region boasts a lower cost of living than the national average and most cities in the state. The area’s destiny changed course dramatically in 1901 when the first oil well blew in the nearby Spindletop field and turned the area from a quiet lumber and port town into a thriving oil and gas economy, with one of the largest concentrations of oil refineries, oil, and petrochemical-related businesses in the state.

This has given way to countless job opportunities in the area – for science, research, engineering, and higher education. Living in Beaumont has a cosmopolitan and small town feel wrapped in one – it can be fast paced, as people typically live and work closely together, but also has strong small town community roots and friendly neighbors ready to lend a hand.

There is always a new restaurant to try and good nightlife in the area. Education options are abundant in Beaumont, with all education rankings high on national and statewide levels compared to other cities. The gulf coastline offers sweeping, gorgeous sunsets and beach strolls, with exciting places like Houston or Lake Charles, LA for getaways only an hour away.

To Apply

Academic Career and Executive Search (ACES) is assisting Lamar University. Inquiries, nominations, and applications will be treated confidentially.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita.

Please do not email applications. To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjy7d24s

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to lamaree@acesrch.com

Nominations and referrals: Please send to nominations@acesrch.com

The successful candidate must submit official transcripts of the terminal degree and successfully undergo a background check.

Lamar University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Lamar University not to discriminate on the basis of non-relevant criteria including, but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices.

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