Dean

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and savvy organizational leader and a distinguished academic with a track record of strategic innovation to serve as its next dean of the College of Engineering. This individual will have the opportunity to lead a world-renowned college at the forefront of engineering education and research.

Recognized for the excellence and societal impact of its programs, the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon consistently ranks as one of the top engineering colleges in the country, currently ranked #7 in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranking of graduate engineering programs. Approximately 900 faculty and staff members span ten academic degree-granting departments and institutes, and the College’s global reach includes degree-granting locations in Rwanda and Silicon Valley in addition to the main campus in Pittsburgh. With a student enrollment of more than 4,700, the College of Engineering constitutes the largest of Carnegie Mellon’s schools and colleges. It offers 11 undergraduate majors across seven departments, 20 master’s programs, and 11 doctoral programs.

Driven by its distinctive spirit of entrepreneurship and culture of collaboration, the College of Engineering taps into the creativity of faculty to generate ground-breaking ideas at the interface of disciplines. The College has been home to Nobel Prize, Turing Award, MacArthur Fellow, National Medal of Technology and Innovation winners, as well as over 55 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It has pioneered cutting-edge research in advanced manufacturing, air quality, artificial intelligence, biomedical technology, climate change, energy, cybersecurity and privacy, and transportation, among many other fields. The College has made significant impacts on society, shaping government policy, medical treatments, and technology commercialization. The College attracts an incredibly selective set of students from around the world who are drawn to CMU’s commitment to an unparalleled educational experience with an emphasis on outstanding technical skills as well as innovative thinking, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and global awareness. The College has championed an inclusive culture.

The successful dean candidate will accelerate the College’s considerable momentum, inspiring and galvanizing the community around bold plans for the future in which the College and CMU continue to push the boundaries of education, teaching, and research. The incoming dean will advance the college’s long-standing tradition of excellence, nurture its culture, support its commitment to interdisciplinary programs, research, scientific integrity, and innovation; support the development of large-scale research programs and research infrastructure; and develop strategies around graduate and certificate programs to meet the current moment. As the public face of the College, the dean will lead efforts to engage external audiences, partners in industry and government, and funders, and will leverage relationships with the College’s alumni to fuel its aspirations.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

John Muckle is leading this search with Karen McPhedran.