Job Description

Job Location: Lynchburg - Lynchburg, VA 24501,

Position Type: Faculty, Education Level: Graduate Degree,

Salary Range: $90,000.00 - $117,000.00 Salary/year,

Job Shift: Full time, Department Chair and Associate or Full Professor of Computer Science

The University of Lynchburg invites applications for an innovative, future-focused leader to serve as Department Chair and Tenure-Track Associate or Full Professor of Computer Science beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. As the tech sector undergoes a paradigm shift toward integrated intelligence, the era of the isolated syntax specialist is giving way to the age of system designers, AI architects, and ethical technology leaders. The University of Lynchburg seeks a visionary educator-scholar who will lead our Computer Science program away from language-centric coding and toward a human-centered, interdisciplinary model rooted in the liberal arts.

We seek an academic intrapreneur who recognizes that a midsize private university's competitive advantage lies in agility, cross-pollination, and high-touch mentorship. The successful candidate will articulate a clear ROI to students and families by positioning our Computer Science degree as AI-proof--emphasizing high-level logic, ethical judgment, domain expertise, and system architecture that technology cannot replace. The Chair will be expected to lead comprehensive curriculum reform, foster strategic enrollment growth, cultivate external community and business partnerships, and ensure the career readiness of our graduates.

The ideal candidate has a forward-thinking vision for the future of Computer Science education and will thrive in a teaching-focused liberal arts environment. They remain current in their field and have industry experience to back up their academic credentials. Leadership experience in academia or industry is essential, ideally experience leading change management initiatives and/or significant program creation or reform. We seek a collaborative builder with an innovative product manager mindset.

Specific Job Duties

• Serve as the strategic architect of the Computer Science program, transforming traditional curriculum into a versatile, future-focused pathway that integrates human-led AI literacy across disciplines.
• Lead a comprehensive curricular update that shifts focus from syntax-focused programming to computational thinking, system architecture, machine learning operations, and cloud architecture. Integrate AI ethics and human-centered design into foundational coursework. Develop interdisciplinary degree pathways and minors in collaboration with disciplines across campus.
• Re-envision assessment practices to include team-based product sprints and client-facing projects that solve real-world problems for local businesses and non-profits. Help students bridge the entry-level hiring gap by creating opportunities for them to articulate their experience and skills.
• Cultivate local and regional corporate, civic, and non-profit connections to secure project pipelines, internship opportunities, and job prospects.
• Oversee departmental operations, budgets, course scheduling, program assessment, and faculty development.
• Drive marketing, recruiting, and retention efforts in the department, at campus events, and online.
• Maintain a reduced teaching load (commensurate with administrative duties as Chair) delivering core and advanced Computer Science courses.

Benefits

• Generous sick time and family leave, comprehensive insurance (medical, dental, vision, etc.) and retirement plans, flexible spending account, tuition remission, life and long-term disability insurance, and more. Learn more about employment benefits at the University of Lynchburg.

Teaching Load

The typical full-time faculty teaching load is 12 contact hours per semester, reduced for this role to accommodate departmental leadership and administrative responsibilities.

Salary

90,000-$117,000. Salary and rank are commensurate with education and experience

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods standing or sitting at a desk

Qualifications: Required Qualifications/Education:

• A PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Systems Engineering, or a closely related computational field required by the start date.
• Demonstrated record of teaching excellence and curriculum development.
• 2+ years of leadership experience in industry or higher education.
• A clear vision for Computer Science education within a liberal arts framework, with demonstrated commitment to human-centered AI, system architecture, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• A passion for high-touch undergraduate mentorship, project-based learning, and building industry/community partnership

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional industry, consulting, or software architecture experience alongside academic credentials.
• Demonstrated success leading academic change management, curriculum redesign, or launching new interdisciplinary academic programs.
• A proven track record of securing external corporate, civic, or grant partnerships that yield student internships, client projects, or seed funding.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate the strategic value and career ROI of a liberal arts-grounded technical degree to prospective students, parents, and external stakeholders.

Work Remotely

• No

Candidates may show interest in this position by submitting to the Human Resources Jobs Page. Applications should include:

• A completed application in Paycom
• A cover letter detailing your vision for leading a future-focused Computer Science program within a liberal arts university.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
• A statement of teaching philosophy and curriculum innovation
• Unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts will be requested later)
• Names and contact information for three professional references

Questions about this position can be directed to Melissa Brooks, Administrative Coordinator, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences (brooks_ms@lynchburg.edu).

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The selected candidate must successfully complete a background check satisfactory to the University.

The University of Lynchburg is dedicated to inclusive excellence. We celebrate the diversity of our common life, affirming our different histories, realities, and identities. All belong here.

As a testament to our strong commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion, we will attract, celebrate, and retain a community of diverse students, staff, and faculty; foster belonging; and create a campus environment that embraces civil discourse and accountability for our words and actions.

The University of Lynchburg embraces diversity in its broadest sense. We will cultivate an inclusive, equitable, and safe campus climate grounded in mutual respect and understanding, where all members of our diverse learning community - alumni, employees, learners, visitors, and volunteers- can thrive.

The University of Lynchburg is an equal-opportunity employer.