Visiting Associate Professor or Visiting Professor and Director, School of Applied Engineering

Summary

The University of Illinois Springfield invites applications for the inaugural Director of the School of Applied Engineering at the rank of Visiting Associate Professor or Visiting Professor. The Director will provide academic, strategic, and operational leadership, working to establish a School and launching a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Technology delivered through a work-based learning model. This visiting leadership role is designed to establish the School's academic, cultural, and partnership foundations and position the program for long-term sustainability and future accreditation. Preferred start date is July or August, 2026.

This is a 12-month full-time on-campus and benefit-eligible non-tenured academic appointment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Teaching: This visiting position will fill a foundational teaching and leadership gap by providing initial instructional capacity in upper-division applied engineering technology coursework.

Service: Service as Inaugural Director and Unit Executive Officer (UEO) of the School, once established; leadership of faculty recruitment and onboarding; engagement with industry and community college partners; participation in College and University leadership as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or a closely related field by start date
• Significant applied or professional engineering experience appropriate for engineering technology programs
• Demonstrated academic or organizational leadership experience (e.g., program director, department chair, center director, or comparable role)
• Experience with curriculum development and academic assessment
• Ability to build and sustain partnerships with employers and external stakeholders
• Record of successful teaching, scholarly activity, and service that merits appointment at the associate or full professor rank, including demonstrated excellence in teaching at the university level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience launching new academic programs or academic units
• Experience with work-based learning, cooperative education, or experiential learning models
• Familiarity with ABET accreditation standards
• Experience working with community colleges and transfer pathways