Job Description

Working/Functional Title

Dean, College of Engineering

The Dean of MSU's COE serves as the chief academic officer and executive of the college, reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean provides leadership and is responsible for all matters relating to the administration of the college including academic programs, personnel, budgets, alumni engagement, fundraising, and industry relations. The Dean collaborates closely with the eighteen deans across MSU on numerous joint programs and initiatives, advancing the University's priorities.

The next dean will shape and execute a bold, forward-looking vision aligned with institutions strategic plan, MSU 2030: Excellence and Global Impact, advancing priorities in interdisciplinary collaboration, research prominence, student success, and expanding the University's global reputation. Key opportunities include leading transformative initiatives such as strengthening MSU's research profile toward it's $1 billion goal, modernizing curricula to prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving workforce, and fostering innovation in teaching and learning.

A central component of this vision will be leveraging the Engineering and Digital Innovation Center (EDI Center) as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research, industry partnerships, and experiential learning.

The Dean will also play a critical role in fundraising and external engagement, contributing to MSU's $4 billion campaign and building partnerships with alumni, industry, and donors. Additionally, the Dean will provide strategic leadership as MSU implements a new budget model in FY27-FY28, ensuring resources are aligned with mission-critical priorities and enrollment strategies.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a college with a proud legacy, a collaborative culture, and a commitment to addressing society's most pressing challenges through engineering solutions. Teh ideal candidate will hold a doctoral degree and possess a record of excellence in teaching and research suitable for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor. They will bring proven academic leadership experience and a collaborative approach to setting and achieving strategic goals. The next Dean must demonstrate strong financial acumen, a commitment to shared governance, and the ability to engage faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and industry partners. Essential qualities include fostering an inclusive environment where all are valued, advancing student success, and supporting world-class research and teaching. The Dean will serve as a compelling public face of the college, building external relationships and articulating a clear vision, while working collaboratively across MSU to further institutional priorities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Engineering

Minimum Requirements

The next Dean of MSU's College of Engineering will have many of the following professional qualifications and personal qualities:

• An earned doctoral degree and a record of excellence in teaching and research appropriate for a tenured faculty appointment at the level of professor in one of the college's departments.
• Academic leadership experience, for example, as associate dean, department chair, or institute director.
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with others to identify strategic goals, in implementing a plan to achieve desired outcomes and in engaging and empowering others to lead initiatives that advance a unit's mission and vision.
• A commitment to shared governance and to listening to the variety of constituents represented int he college, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and industry.
• An appreciation for and understanding of academic excellence across all disciplines in the college and its connections to the university broadly, to create an environment that encourages world-class academic research, high-quality teaching, and innovative initiatives.
• A deep commitment to and experience advancing student success and an understanding of the curricular and co-curricular experiences that will prepare students to succeed after graduation.
• A record of effectively utilizing existing resources and identifying new resources that will advance a unit's strategic objectives.
• The capacity to serve as the public face of the college, a record of engaging with external partners to gain insights and create mutually and create mutually beneficial relationships, and the skills required to articulate the college's vision to alumni and corporate partners.
• The ability to raise funds to support the college from alumni, donors, foundations, and industry partners.
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment where everyone is welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire others through authenticity and supportive relationships.
• The ability to play a key role in university leadership, advocating for the college, forging strategic connections across colleges, and an ability to work collaboratively with other deans and campus units to further the goals and objectives of the College of Engineering and Michigan State University.

Required Application Materials

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest that addresses the themes outlined in this profile and how your experience has aligned with COE's core values.

WittKieffer is assisting Michigan State University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 9, 2026. Nominations, Inquiries, and applications can be directed to: Jessica Herrington, Suzanne Teer, and Natalie Song at msuengineeringdean@wittkieffer.com

Special Instructions

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Review of Applications Begins On

03/09/2026

Website

https://engineering.msu.edu/careers/college-of-engineering-dean-search

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.