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Executive Director of the School of Computer and Data Sciences

Job no: 532212

Work type: Officer of Administration

Location: Eugene, OR

Categories: Executive/Management/Director, Natural Science, Research/Scientific/Grants, Computer and Information Science

Department: Arts & Sciences, College of

Department: College of Arts and Sciences

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Compensation Band: OS-OA13-Fiscal Year 2023-2024

FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins

To ensure consideration, please apply by August 25, 2023.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For best consideration, please apply by August 25, 2023. 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

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest academic unit of UO, providing a core liberal arts curriculum to roughly two-thirds of all students at the University—including those who will go on to earn a degree in one of the professional schools such as journalism or business. The more than 10,000 undergraduate students in CAS degree programs are in 50 departments and programs within the divisions of humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. There are 750 faculty members and more than 1,200 graduate students enrolled in over 40 Master’s programs or 26 Ph.D. programs. As part of its efforts to advance equity and inclusion, CAS has created new offerings such as Black Studies and Latinx Studies minors, School of Global Studies and Languages, Center for Environmental Futures, and more.

Building upon the existing strength of the computer and data science programs, the School of Computer and Data Science (SCDS) will be open to all students at UO, with one initial goal to serve 2,000 students across undergraduate and graduate degrees in data science and computer science. The mission of SCDS is to empower a diverse population of students and faculty working to advance knowledge in computer and data sciences, train the next generation of scholars, and engage with the wider world to tackle interdisciplinary challenges.

Currently, SCDS plans to offer multiple undergraduate majors – including Computer Science, Math and Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Data Science; with concentrations such as – Accounting Analytics, Biology, Cultural Analytics, Earth Sciences, Economics, Geography, Linguistics, Marketing Analytics, Music Technology, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology; MS degrees in Computer Science and Data Science; and PhD degrees in Computer Science. Rooted in the liberal arts and sciences education at CAS, SCDS will play an increasing role in promoting data literacy among all students at UO.

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.

Position Summary

The University of Oregon (UO), Oregon's flagship public research institution, seeks a creative, visionary, and highly collaborative leader and builder to serve as the first 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 will open in fall 2023. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), SCDS will be 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. The university recently 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 new leadership of incoming 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 computer and data science, identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations, recruit exceptional faculty, and further enhance the university’s commitment to student access and success.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the School and managing resource allocations across its units – including the Departments of Computer Science and Data Science. The Executive Director will oversee a school with 25 faculty with a 3-5 year plan to increase that number to 40, with growth beyond that to be correlated with enrollment increases. Direct reports will include heads of the Computer Science and Data Science Departments.

In 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

• Create an inclusive culture and expand student access, retention, and success

• Support the continued rapid growth of the data science major and facilitate similar growth for the other undergraduate majors

• Recruit, develop, and retain a diverse community of talented and highly collaborative faculty

• Build an inclusive environment for innovative research and education

• Forge ties with external partners to increase funds, resources, student opportunities, and industry collaborations

Minimum Requirements

● A doctorate degree related to one or more of the disciplines within 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.

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.

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background inquiry.

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, visithttp://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/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 atuocareers@uoregon.eduor 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression 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 Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination (http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/nondiscrimination) .

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.

Advertised: 11 Jul 2023 Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close: