"Director of the School of Computer Science - Professor, Tenure"

Position Title:

Director of the School of Computer Science - Professor, Tenure

Department:

School of Computer Science

Position Type:

Faculty

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field. The Director must have experience with the student body through excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and mentoring undergraduate, M.S. and Ph.D. students in the School of Computer Science, and demonstrate a commitment to the importance of education.

The successful candidate should have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications with a research focus in CS, and significant external research funding, particularly from competitive sources such as NSF, NIH and DoD that are commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to create and sustain a thriving research environment; evidence of facilitating faculty collaborations and supporting the research success of others is essential.

The Director should have experience of proven professional visibility and the ability to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, a successful track record in fundraising, increasing institutional visibility, and building industry partnerships.

Candidates should embody the following:

• Integrity;
• A growth mindset with a commitment to maintaining a strong commitment to quality;
• Excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the University, community, and society;
• Dedication to cultivating and enhancing collaborative relationships with faculty, students, and staff and valuing others' contributions; and,
• Well-developed communication and listening skills.

In addition, preference is given to candidates who demonstrate:

• Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges of modern academics and research at a R1 institution and demonstrated experience in embracing emerging trends in an evolving environment;
• Vision for advancing computer science education;
• Connection to industry and experience in industrial leadership;
• Commitment to supporting the mentorship of students and junior faculty as they pursue academic careers as well as promotion and tenure;
• Commitment to the University's mission and values; and,
• An ability to contribute to fostering an inclusive culture in all aspects of faculty responsibility, including within the classroom, the academic community, and within their professional communities.

Application Instructions:

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, please submit (1) a cover letter describing your leadership experience, faculty mentorship and research collaboration experience and experience engaging with a variety of stakeholders, (2) your curriculum vita, and (3) a list of at least three references electronically and in confidence, at the following link: https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/21815.

Confidential nominations or referrals should be directed to: OUComputerScienceDirector@storbecksearch.com.

Description:

The School of Computer Science (CS), housed within the Gallogly College of Engineering (GCoE), at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for their next Director. OU seeks an accomplished leader to collaborate with faculty to advance a strong vision for elevating the School's research and education mission and fostering collaboration within the School and across the OU campuses to meet the growing need for computational sciences in many areas. The current strategic focus areas in CS are high-performance computing, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computational biology, computer science education, computational meteorology, cybersecurity, computer networking, human-centered computing, and robotics.

The School of Computer Science offers ABET-accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs. The School currently has 27 regular faculty members with a significant number of junior faculty members. The student enrollment consists of approximately 800 undergraduate students and 140 graduate students. The total research expenditures last year were $5.3 million, 16 percent higher than the previous year. A significant investment by OU in Computer Science is anticipated to promote substantial growth in the next few years.

The College of Engineering has 190 faculty, 4500 students in 7 schools. The college is on an aggressive growth trajectory: faculty numbers are up over 70% since 2017; incoming students have increased by 45% since 2020; and research expenditures have increased by 150% since 2020. Several new innovative programs support student pathways into the college, and numerous advanced programs prepare students for the workforce and graduate school. The college is expanding its footprint with a new building breaking ground, a second new building funded, and a third new building in the planning phases, with several significant renovations underway as well. The CS director will play a strong role in influencing overall college strategy, investments, and direction.

Role of the Director, School of Computer Science:

The Director of Computer Science will join the School during a period of substantial growth. The Director will continue to elevate the School's research profile, create innovative programs, and enhance the visibility of the School of Computer Science nationally and internationally. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of Computer Science as a vibrant, growing school that is an integral part of the College of Engineering and the University of Oklahoma. Serving as an academic thought partner and leader, the Director will play a crucial role in mentoring junior faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, taking the School's research, ranking, and visibility to new heights and inspiring innovative program development.

The next Director of the School of Computer Science will benefit from the School's and College's excellent reputation while also facing a number of opportunities and challenges that call for an entrepreneurial mindset and deep experience with academic leadership. The primary items on the agenda for the new Director include the following:

• Lead the faculty in creating a shared vision for the future of the School of Computer Science. Working closely with faculty and staff, the Director will create an inclusive strategic vision that provides a clear direction for the future of the School and its place on the local, national, and global stage. The Director serves as the most important leader in this effort, as the key advocate of the School of Computer Science, in various internal and external contexts. The next Director will have the opportunity to raise the School's profile and ranking within the University of Oklahoma and among global organizations, leaders, and scholars.
• Expand and improve the School's research profile and research domains, including opportunities for undergraduate and graduate research. The Director will work closely with faculty and students to identify funding sources to continue building the school's research capacity, including support from federal agencies, corporations, and other funding sources. The Director will seek new external partnerships while continuing to build upon existing partnerships with foundations and other organizations for students' teaching, research, and job opportunities and internships. The Director will set ambitious expectations and support faculty to foster a strong interdisciplinary research agenda within the College and engage in productive collaborations with colleagues across campus, e.g., with the OU Health Sciences.
• Optimize enrollment and retention. The success of the school depends on effective, strategic enrollment management. The Director will actively work with college and university leaders to leverage strengths and develop strategies for the growth and strengthening of the student body, especially graduate students, through impactful outputs of students, effective marketing, recruiting globally representative students, and increasing rates of persistence.
• Recruit, develop, and retain talented faculty. The Director will provide leadership for faculty and staff hiring and mentoring to ensure that faculty and staff achieve their full potential. The Director will devote considerable time and attention to identifying, recruiting, retaining, and supporting a talented group of as many as 10-11 faculty in the next two years who either are or will be leaders in the field of computer science.
• Collaborate with the campus community to ensure that the School of Computer Science continues to be an engaged partner within the University community. By building bridges to other schools and colleges, the Director will provide and support new opportunities for the School of Computer Science faculty and students, who will benefit from exposure to leading-edge knowledge in other areas. The Director will also reach across the University to develop multi-disciplinary research and dual-degree programs that enhance the School of Computer Science's work.

Compensation:

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Oklahoma. Salary commensurate with experience with a generous benefits package.