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Sacred Heart University

As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University's eight colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; Nursing; and St. Vincent's College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change-in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 384 Colleges-2019 Edition, "Best in the Northeast" and Best 267 Business Schools-2018 Edition. Sacred Heart has a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theater. www.sacredheart.edu

Associate Dean and Full Time Faculty, School of Computer Science and Engineering
Sacred Heart University 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT, USA
Oct 23, 2019
Full time
Job Description: Sacred Heart University (SHU) seeks a new Associate Dean for its School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE), located within the Welch College of Business and Technology (WCBT).  The successful candidate will be a strong leader with a demonstrated track record in developing and leading applied research programs focused on technological innovation, and will have extensive experience working as an entrepreneur or with entrepreneurs working to develop start-ups based on technological innovations. The holder of a PhD in computer science or an engineering discipline, the new Associate Dean will help advance the SCSE's mission in research, teaching, and service. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can leverage his/her extensive network of innovators working in corporations, in start-ups and academia, to build strategic partnerships to leverage the incredible facilities that SHU has on its new Innovation Campus, to enrich the student learning experience, and to raise the quality and visibility of the SCSE's programs and research. The Associate Dean will lead efforts to secure major grant funding and build up sustainable and self-financing programs focused on digital innovation, particularly as it translates into business opportunities.  Reporting to the Dean of the Welch College of Business and Technology (WCBT) , the Associate Dean will be responsible for the development of the WCBT's School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE), as a leading institution focused on digital innovation impacting and transforming the business world. S/he will assure the accreditation of SCSE academic programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Working with WCBT faculty and staff, s/he will develop and implement a strategic development plan for the SCSE. Coordinating with University Advancement and the Grant Writing Office, s/he will secure grants from governmental agencies and foundations. In addition, s/he will develop a strategic plan for corporate outreach and coordinate its implementation, assisted by the WCBT Industrial Liaison.  S/he will be the WCBT's main coordinator for the TechStars accelerator program, housed in the Verizon co-working space and funded by corporate sponsors. Specific responsibilities include: Leads strategic planning and development of the SCSE, focused on digital innovation as it creates new business opportunities, and as it transforms existing businesses. Leads corporate outreach and grant-writing in support of the strategic development of the WCBT. Assures the day-to-day administration and coordination of academic and research programs of the SCSE, in coordination with the two other Associate Deans of WCBT. Leads recruitment, retention and development of SCSE faculty, and ensures high quality of their teaching and research. Leads the accreditation of the SCSE's programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), as well as additional certifications of specific labs or programs. Manages SCSE budget in coordination with the Dean and the SCSE Program Directors. Addresses student issues in coordination with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs, and works to continuously improve the student experience, and student retention. Supports SCSE program directors on academic and curricular issues (program and course development, learning objective assessment). Assists with student recruitment, marketing and promotional efforts for all programs within the School, in coordination with other University offices and divisions. Participates in alumni outreach and fundraising efforts for the SCSE, in coordination with the WCBT's Advancement Officer. Supports the university's commitment to diversity, equity and fairness, and its commitment to mission. The successful candidate will also fulfill teaching, research, advising and service responsibilities of a full time faculty member.   The WCBT is located on the west campus of the university, approximately one mile from main campus. Opened in Fall 2019, in the former world headquarters of General Electric, the west campus is focused on digital innovation and how it is transforming business in the 21st century. With the planned launch of a TechStars start-up accelerator in 2020, the innovation campus is destined to become a regional hub for entrepreneurship and experiential learning. The campus includes state-of-the art labs, equipment, and studios to support research on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, financial computation, machine learning, augmented reality/virtual reality, gaming and e-sports design. It also includes an 11,000 sq-ft Maker's Space with a fleet of equipment for digital conception and manufacturing, and an 8,000 sq-ft co-working space, which was jointly developed with Verizon. The WCBT is in the process of selecting additional strategic corporate partners, to help shape future programs using these resources.     SHU's School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) currently offers undergraduate degrees in Computer Science, Information Technology, Game Design and Development, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. The school also offers Master of Science programs in Computer Science, Information Technology and Cybersecurity. Currently SCSE has eleven full-time faculty members serving 170 undergraduate students and 110 graduate students. In Fall 2019, the WCBT had some 2,000 students enrolled in its programs, most of them pursuing degrees in accounting, business analytics, finance and business economics, management (logistics, sports, hospitality, entrepreneurship, human resources), or marketing.  Of these 2,000 students, some 15% were enrolled in degree programs of the SCSE. In addition, approximately 100 mid-career professionals participated in the SCSE's continuing education programs leading to certificates in cybersecurity, coding, or business analytics. Coordinating with the College of Education, the SCSE is a catalyst for STEM teaching in the tri-state area, hosting a number of pre-college science and engineering oriented programs for high-school and middle-school students throughout the year, and offering for-credit courses geared to advanced high-school students in the summer.