The University of Louisville (UofL) is seeking a collaborative, visionary, and inspirational leader to serve as the next Dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering (Speed School).
Spread across three campuses, the University of Louisville is a state-supported research university that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It is one of only two universities in the state of Kentucky to earn the Carnegie Foundation designation as an R1 (highest research activity) institution. With an enrollment more than 25,000, its academic programs attract students from every state in the U.S. and from countries all over the world. UofL offers graduate, professional, and baccalaureate degrees, as well as certificates in over 215 fields of study. UofL is especially well-known for excellence in teaching, research, and service to the Louisville community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky advancing educational opportunity for its citizens. With more than 151,000 alumni residing in the United States and around the world, UofL's reach extends far beyond the region in which it resides. Through the efforts of its faculty, staff, and students, UofL is one of only 69 universities in the United States to achieve both Carnegie Foundation Research 1 and Community Engagement classifications.
Since its founding in 1925 as a memorial to the late James Breckenridge Speed, the J.B. Speed School of Engineering has been recognized as a premier, metropolitan engineering institution. The School is built on a foundation of exemplary faculty and staff, talented and committed students, accomplished alumni, and generous donors. It is a special place where the dreams of many for a better life and a better world have been realized. Enrolling approximately 2,908 total students, the Speed School offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees through departments of Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Importantly, the Speed School also boasts a Department of Engineering Fundamentals that is dedicated to the instruction of foundational courses in engineering mathematics, as well as engineering methods, tools and practices, providing (mostly) first- and second- year students with the support they need to succeed in their chosen major. The Speed School continues to evolve to meet emerging industry needs, expanding its portfolio of online master's programs in areas such as Engineering Management, Civil Engineering, and Computer Science. The Speed School is also very fortunate to have an Industrial Board of Advisors (IBA) consisting of approximately 35 CEO's, owners, presidents, and vice presidents of companies, as well as several notable faculty administrators from peer institutions.
Reporting to the Executive Vice President and University Provost, the next Dean of the Speed School will enter at a pivotal moment, with a strong foundation and significant recent investments—including a new state-of-the-art Student Success and Research Building—and a clear opportunity to shape the School's future trajectory. Building on a recently completed five-year strategic plan, the Dean will be charged with developing and executing a resource-aligned growth strategy that advances enrollment, strengthens student success within a distinctive co-op model, and enhances research and external engagement. Success will require a collaborative, visible leader who can recruit and support outstanding faculty and staff, elevate interdisciplinary research, enhance external partnerships and donor relations, and foster a culture of transparency, shared governance, and operational excellence.
The next Dean of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering will be an accomplished academic leader with a distinguished record of achievement and the credentials necessary for appointment as a tenured professor in the Speed School. This individual will bring proven executive leadership experience in complex environments, demonstrating the ability to foster collaboration, empower faculty and staff, and advance student success. The ideal candidate will combine strategic vision with strong operational and financial acumen, effectively aligning academic priorities with budgeting and fundraising efforts. A visible, collaborative leadership style grounded in shared governance, exceptional communication, and integrity will be essential, as will the ability to build meaningful partnerships, advocate for the School within the university, and inspire a high-performing, mission-driven academic community.
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Louisville in this search. Applications can be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. Applicants should submit, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest that addresses the themes outlined in the leadership profile. For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 21, 2026.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search:
Jessica Herrington | jherrington@wittkieffer.com
Cathryn Davis | cdavis@wittkieffer.com