Founding Director, School of Engineering

The Opportunity

Ohio Wesleyan University invites applications and nominations for the Founding Director of the Conrades School of Engineering. This is a career-defining opportunity to design, build, and lead an undergraduate engineering program from the ground up at one of the nation’s most distinguished liberal arts universities.

Announced in December 2025, the Conrades School of Engineering is supported by $17 million in alumni contributions, including a lead $13 million gift from George Conrades ’61 and Patricia “Patsy” Belt Conrades ’63. The School launches with a major in mechanical engineering leading to a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), two engineering minors, and groundbreaking collaborations with industry partners. The first cohort of students will enroll in fall 2027.

The Founding Director will join a university deeply committed to flexibility, interdisciplinarity, and inclusivity with opportunities for mentoring, professional development, and collaboration across the Ohio Five Liberal Arts Colleges and Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) consortia. New faculty at OWU benefit from strong institutional support, including the opportunity to apply for start-up funding, a pre-tenure sabbatical, extensive opportunities for student-faculty collaboration through the Summer Scholarship and Research Program and our signature experience, The OWU Connection, and faculty development and mentoring from the Smith Center for Faculty Excellence.

About the Conrades School of Engineering

The Conrades School of Engineering represents a strategic investment in OWU’s future and a commitment to prepare liberally educated engineers who bring humanistic perspective, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving to technical challenges. The School will initially be housed in the Schimmel/Conrades Science Center and encompass:

• A Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree program launching in fall 2027, with plans to pursue accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
• Two engineering minors, Engineering Science and Science and Engineering in the Public Interest, designed to serve students across the liberal arts curriculum.
• Existing 3-2 engineering partnerships with the California Institute of Technology, Washington University in St. Louis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Case Western Reserve University.
• Industry collaborations that connect students with regional and national employers through internships, capstone projects, and career pathways.
• Central Ohio’s thriving advanced manufacturing, technology, and defense sectors, anchored by Honda, Intel’s semiconductor fabrication facilities to open in 2030, Battelle, and a rapidly expanding innovation corridor, provide an exceptional environment for building industry partnerships, placing student interns, and recruiting prospective engineering students.

Role and Responsibilities

Few roles in higher education offer the chance to design an engineering program from first principles, with $17 million already committed, at a top liberal arts college sitting inside one of the country's fastest-growing technology corridors. The Founding Director will serve as both the academic and strategic leader of the School of Engineering, reporting to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. Primary responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership and External Engagement

• Serve as the program’s primary advocate and public representative.
• Actively recruit prospective students in collaboration with the Office of Admission. 
• Engage with alumni, donors, and the Board of Trustees on engineering.
• Manage the program budget, including equipment procurement and resource allocation.
• Support fundraising efforts in collaboration with University Advancement.

Program Launch

• Implement and refine the curriculum for the BSME degree.
• Lead the program through internal governance approvals and external accreditation processes.
• Plan, specify, and oversee the outfitting of spaces for engineering laboratories.
• Establish curricular connections between the engineering program and the OWU Connection.

Faculty Recruitment and Teaching

• Recruit, mentor, and supervise engineering faculty and staff.
• Teach introductory engineering courses and courses appropriate to the candidate’s area of expertise.
• Teach courses that contribute to the general education curriculum, including First Year Seminar. 
• Foster a culture of teaching excellence, scholarship, and undergraduate research mentorship.

Qualifications

Required

• An earned Ph.D. in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Evidence of teaching experience.
• Evidence of scholarly activity including the ability to work well with undergraduates on mentored research projects.
• A commitment to undergraduate education within a liberal arts context, including mentoring undergraduate research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and external stakeholders.

Preferred

Undergraduate teaching experience. Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, with evidence of ability to build programs, develop curriculum, or manage academic units. Experience with ABET accreditation processes. Professional Engineering (PE) licensure or eligibility. Substantive experience in equipping and managing engineering laboratory spaces. Demonstrated success in industry partnerships, grant writing, or fundraising in support of academic programs. Familiarity with the distinctive opportunities and culture of liberal arts colleges.

Appointment and Compensation

This is a full-time, tenure-track faculty appointment. Faculty rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, with appointment possible at any tenure-track rank. Credit toward the tenure probationary period may be awarded for relevant prior service at other institutions. Ohio Wesleyan offers a comprehensive benefits package including health and dental insurance, retirement plan contributions, tuition benefits, and relocation support. The anticipated start date is no later than October 1, 2026.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• Cover letter: addressing the candidate’s vision for engineering education within a liberal arts context and how the candidate’s qualifications and background align with the requirements of the role.
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Teaching and Student Engagement Statement (no more than 2 pages): Please provide a statement that articulates your teaching philosophy with attention to undergraduate pedagogy, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary approaches. In your response, address your ability to teach a broad range of courses and to employ pedagogical approaches that support students with varied perspectives and experiences leading to their success. Describe how you connect students with opportunities, resources, and networks that expand their access to your field of study. Include examples of outreach, advising, or program activities that have supported students whose pathways into the discipline may not follow a traditional trajectory.
• Research statement (no more than 2 pages): a statement outlining the central aims of the research program you would like to develop and how it will thrive at Ohio Wesleyan. Please also address ideas for incorporating undergraduate mentorship into your research program.
• Three professional references: Please provide the names and contact information of your references. Questions may be directed to the chair of the search committee: Laura Tuhela-Reuning, Division Chair for the Natural Sciences at lmtuhela@owu.edu.

Please submit all materials, preferably in PDF format, via www.owu.edu/joinOWUfaculty, where you will find additional information about working at Ohio Wesleyan. To be considered for the initial round of review, you must submit your cover letter, CV, teaching and student engagement statement, research statement, and contacts for three professional references. Letters of recommendation and official transcripts will be required before being considered for an on-campus interview.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

About Ohio Wesleyan University

Located in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area, Ohio Wesleyan is a selective residential liberal arts college enrolling approximately 1,600+ students from across the nation and around the world. The college’s signature program, The OWU Connection, empowers students to complete research, community service, internships, and study abroad, teaching students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives and was recently listed as the No. 1 liberal arts college in Ohio for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report. OWU is located in Delaware, Ohio, a lively college town less than 30 minutes from Columbus, the 14th most populous city in the United States and part of the fastest growing, most economically vibrant areas of the Midwest. Columbus, known increasingly as the “Silicon Valley of the Midwest,” was named by LinkedIn as one of the top 10 U.S. cities in which to launch your career.

To achieve our mission, we continually strive to foster a campus community where every individual is respected, supported, and able to flourish. We affirm the worth of all persons and welcome people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Ohio Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity institution and seeks applications from individuals who will contribute to, and help strengthen, our commitment to academic excellence, mutual respect, and the shared pursuit of knowledge.