Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering and Noyce School of Applied Computing

CSU Careers•San Luis, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Cal Poly's College of Engineering (CENG) and Noyce School of Applied Computing are entering a defining moment, with a significant endowment established for a named deanship. CENG is central to Cal Poly's 'Learn by Doing' promise, offering numerous programs with an emphasis on applied learning, design, innovation, and industry-connected scholarship. The Noyce School, the first interdisciplinary school of its kind at Cal Poly, combines departments focused on applied computing, AI, and cross-campus problem solving. The next dean will lead during a period of momentum and transformation, playing a key role in enrollment growth, expansion of high-impact practices, applied research, and industry collaborations. The university, CENG, and the State of California are poised to lead in revitalizing industries such as applied computing, aerospace, artificial intelligence, robotics, clean energy, and maritime programs. The dean will provide leadership, secure resources, build partnerships, and attract talent to elevate CENG's reputation. The role involves university-wide responsibilities, working closely with the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and will lead CENG's transition to the semester calendar. The dean will also manage complex infrastructure, expand resources through fundraising and operational creativity, and steward the endowed deanship by honoring donor intent and deploying resources for measurable impact. A key focus will be developing and supporting a diverse community that mirrors the state's demographics and addresses its challenges, while also serving as a collaborative partner within the university and the CSU system.

Requirements

A distinguished record of achievement in at least one engineering or computing discipline represented in CENG
Credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor, including a terminal degree
Technical credibility
Applied research leadership
A commitment to student success
The ability to work collaboratively and effectively across Cal Poly, with industry, alumni, government, and philanthropic partners
Creative, visionary leadership with the ability to execute ambitious goals and anticipate trends across a broad portfolio, including engineering, computing, AI, maritime, shipbuilding, and higher education
A leadership style that inspires communication, collaboration, excellence, belonging, accountability, and mutually beneficial partnerships
A demonstrated record of strong academic, industrial, and/or professional experience enhancing industry, alumni, donor, community, government, policymaker, and board relationships
Experience developing and successfully implementing strategic plans through teamwork, resource development, and transparent decision-making
Systems-oriented understanding of the transformative potential of AI and the ability to guide its responsible, ethical, and mission-aligned use in teaching, research, outreach, and administration
Demonstrated ability to successfully manage resources in a complex environment and to secure external support through philanthropy, grants, contracts, industry sponsorships, and state and federal funding for programs, facilities, faculty, staff, and students
Experience cultivating and supporting excellence in faculty teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, and applied learning
Enthusiasm for Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy and the CSU mission of being at the forefront of producing "Tomorrow's Future Graduates"
Experience fostering forward-looking interdisciplinary collaboration, curriculum innovation, applied research, emerging technologies, and student success
Strong personnel management experience, including success in complex and/or unionized environments
Excellent communication skills across a wide range of audiences, including the ability to enhance CENG’s national visibility and brand
Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check)
Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. (unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa)

Nice To Haves

The Noyce School's $60 million endowment helps expand applied computing, AI, and cross-campus problem solving at Cal Poly.
The dean will work closely with the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and will have university-wide responsibilities.
Cal Poly will complete its transition to the semester calendar during the 2026-27 academic year, and CENG will lead the way in enrollment growth, expansion of high impact practices for students, applied research, and industry collaborations.
Cal Poly, CENG, and the State of California are poised to be in a leadership position in revitalizing and contributing to several industries, including applied computing with its connections to many Silicon Valley companies, aerospace (aircraft design, cube satellites, national defense sector), artificial intelligence (several connections with prominent corporations across several sectors from chips to agriculture), robotics and autonomous vehicles, clean energy, and maritime programs (licensed degree programs, national defense, facilities engineering, workforce development, naval architecture, and revitalization of the ship building industry).
The dean will provide leadership, stability, ambition, and imagination while securing the resources, partnerships, and talent needed to elevate CENG’s already strong reputation.
The dean will address the following key opportunities and challenges:
The College enrolls approximately 6,200 undergraduate and 300 graduate students in 14 bachelor’s and 11 master’s degree programs.
CENG offers highly ranked programs in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, computer engineering, computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, general engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering management, fire protection engineering, regenerative medicine, and engineering technology – a maritime-specific program through Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
Student success is at the center of CENG’s work. Students learn through internships, design competitions, class projects, senior capstone experiences, more than 80 state-of-the-art laboratories, 55 engineering clubs and organizations, and an aircraft hangar.
The College’s Engineering Student Services, Multicultural Engineering Program, Women’s Engineering Program, and strong industry relationships help students thrive and prepare for meaningful careers.
The dean oversees three directors, three associate deans, an assistant dean, nine department chairs, approximately 187 tenure-track faculty, 216 lecturers, 46 staff, a $56 million budget, and extensive engineering facilities.
To support the dean's strategic, external, and university-wide responsibilities across this large portfolio, Cal Poly will provide funding for a Senior Associate Dean to provide day-to-day support and management for the CENG and Noyce School as well as two Associate Deans on the SLO campus.
There is an Associate Vice Provost and Academic Lead for the Solano Campus who assists with oversight of the academic operations.
Announced in June 2024, the Noyce endowment is a transformational $60M investment in Cal Poly's applied computing future.
The Noyce School brings together several programs, including electrical engineering, computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, and statistics (affiliated) to expand teaching, research, and industry collaboration in computing, AI, and data-enabled innovation.
The School’s AI Factory and advanced computing infrastructure position Cal Poly to scale applied AI teaching, experimentation, and innovation in service of California and beyond.
The Noyce School aims to connect faculty, students, industry partners, and research collaborators around applied computing, AI, and real-world problem solving.
It will expand undergraduate research, Learn by Doing experiences, and applied research partnerships while helping the University address complex challenges in areas such as robotics, sustainable engineering, renewable energy, transportation, climate resilience, national defense, and economic development.
Another focus for innovative educational programming includes the tools required to incorporate AI into product design, performance, and safety aimed at developing better manufacturing capability.
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Responsibilities

Develop, foster, and implement a clear vision to enhance Cal Poly’s and CENG’s engagement with industry, donors, and key internal and external partners
Support a high-performing community of dedicated faculty and staff
Advance CENG and the Noyce School as university-wide partners in developing the workforce and leadership to solve applied and pressing problems facing California and beyond, including expanding student participation in high-impact practices and faculty – industry exchanges on a year-round basis
Serve as a strategic partner in advancing Cal Poly Maritime Academy
Foster and maintain strong programmatic and fundraising opportunities with industry partners
Position CENG as a central contributor to the region’s economic development
Manage CENG’s complex infrastructure while expanding resources through major-gift fundraising, enrollment strategy, and operational creativity
Steward the endowed, named deanship by partnering with development leadership, honoring donor intent, deepening alumni and industry engagement, and deploying endowment resources for measurable impact
Develop and support a community of students, faculty, and staff that mirrors the demographics of, and addresses the challenges facing, the state of California
Serve as a collaborative university and CSU partner with the provost in advancing shared goals, cross-campus applied problem solving, and initiatives that extend beyond CENG