Executive Director of the School of Computer and Data Sciences - University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
About the Job
Department: CAS School of Computer & Data Science
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Compensation Band: OS-OA13-Fiscal Year 2024-2025
FTE: 1.0
Application Review Begins
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process is completed. For best consideration, please apply by September 15, 2024.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-oregon/executive-director-school-computer-and-data-sciences. Electronic submission of materials is required.
Department Summary
Founded in 1876, the University of Oregon is a member of the 71-member Association of American Universities (AAU), the state’s flagship institution, and an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with over 15% Latinx student enrollment. It enrolls more than 19,000 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students representing all 50 states and 94 countries. It is an integral economic driver for the state, with an estimated $2.6 billion annual economic return to Oregon. Since 2014, UO has operated under an independent governing structure that supports its ability to chart new directions, improve entrepreneurial activity, and invent creative programming. The main campus of UO is located in Eugene, on Kalapuya Ilihi in the southern Willamette Valley, a picturesque region known for its mild four-season climate, excellent wines, abundant recreational opportunities, and progressive, collaborative culture.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the intellectual hub of UO, shaping its identity as a comprehensive research university rooted in liberal arts and sciences education. The School of Computing and Data Sciences plays a critical role both within the college and through collaboration with other academic units in advancing this mission. Building upon the existing strength of the computer and data science programs, SCDS already serves 1,750 students across campus, including 220 data science and 650 computer science majors, and a new cybersecurity major, along with 21 masters and 41 PhD students.
Position Summary
The University of Oregon (UO), Oregon's flagship public research institution, seeks a strategic, visionary, and highly collaborative leader and builder to serve as the Executive Director of the new School of Computer and Data Sciences (SCDS). Combining the university’s growing strength in computer science with its ongoing investment in data science, the new School of Computer and Data Sciences opened in fall 2023. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), SCDS is an innovative hub in the Pacific Northwest for advancing education and research in computer and data sciences, engaging with the wider world to tackle interdisciplinary challenges, and building a training pipeline for a diverse group of practitioners and leaders.
The Executive Director will join the UO community at a pivotal time. Since 2017, data science has been identified as one of UO’s Presidential Initiatives with a goal of national prominence. In recent years, the university completed an impressive fundraising campaign of over $3 billion that included a billion-dollar gift to launch the Knight Campus, a new transformational science campus, and a $425 million gift to establish the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health. Other key institutional priorities focus on the environment, innovation, diversity, and sports and wellness. Under the leadership of President John Karl Scholz, and with the support of CAS Dean Chris Poulsen, the Executive Director of SCDS will play an instrumental role in bringing together diverse faculty, students, and staff across campus to promote and advance a cohesive vision for computer and data sciences, identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships, and further enhance the university’s commitment to positive social impact through accessible public education and engagement for social good.
In further establishing and building SCDS, the successful Executive Director will address the following opportunities and challenges:
● Develop, communicate, and strengthen the strategic directions and interdisciplinary identity of the School as a distinctive leader in computer and data sciences
● Build an inclusive environment for innovative research and education
● Forge ties with external partners to increase funds, resources, student opportunities, and industry collaborations
● Expand student success, access, and retention
● Support the continued rapid growth of the data science major and facilitate similar growth for the other undergraduate majors
Minimum Requirements
● A doctorate degree related to one or more of the disciplines withing the SCDS, and a strong record of scholarship, teaching, and professional service appropriate for the appointment at the rank of a tenured full professor.
● Experience leading and managing a team of faculty and/or researchers across disciplines.
Professional Competencies
● Demonstrated success in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
● Capacity to cultivate external relations to support fundraising, development, industry and community engagement.
● Excellent communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills including the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience in leading or developing curricular and instructional innovation.
● Experience in securing grants from funding agencies.
FLSA Exempt: Yes
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits.
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.