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AY2025-2026 Position 52159 Caruth Institute for Engineering Education - Endowed Associate or Full Professor and Executive Director
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Position Number: 5623892
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Engineering - Civil and Environmental

AY2025-2026 Position 52159 Caruth Institute for Engineering Education - Endowed Associate or Full Professor and Executive Director
Lyle School of Engineering

Location: Dallas, TX
Open Date: Aug 15, 2024

Description:
The Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, led by the newly appointed visionary Mary and Richard Templeton Dean, Dr. Nader Jalili, invites qualified candidates for tenured faculty positions at the Associate and Full Professor levels to lead the Lyle School's esteemed Caruth Institute for Engineering Education. Minimum qualifications for this position include an earned Ph.D. in a field of Engineering or a closely related discipline, with experience commensurate with the rank of associate or full professor. The departments for the appointment will be determined by the backgrounds and interests of the final candidates in one of Lyle's five departments. Joint appointments either within Lyle or across SMU will also be considered.

The Lyle School of Engineering has embarked on an ambitious journey, successfully hiring 14 outstanding faculty members, including two department chairs, three center/institute executive directors, and several endowed professors during the 2023-24 academic year. Our culture of faculty growth thrives on innovation, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. We are committed to externally funded, industry-supported research, which advances our academic goals and provides students with invaluable industry insights. Our mission is to lead in the digital transformation of engineering education, equipping students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to emerge as confident, capable leaders. Through excellence and innovation, we aim to significantly impact the engineering landscape and beyond.

As a distinguished Endowed Associate/Full Professor, the ideal candidate for this position will have a strong background in engineering education, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to preparing the next generation of engineers. The Executive Director will spearhead initiatives in cutting-edge teaching methodologies and driving innovative educational strategies. The Institute will also help to secure funding for research and educational initiatives through grants and industry sponsorships; mentor and support faculty in adopting innovative teaching methods, including AI-driven simulations, personalized learning platforms, and automated assessment tools; and enhance student learning experiences through experiential learning opportunities, advanced research projects, and industry engagement. The successful candidate will advance interdisciplinary collaboration between our five departments, enhance industry partnerships, and engage with educators and students to ensure the development of future-ready engineers.

Current efforts within the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education focus on broadening participation in engineering and computer science through inclusive excellence. Existing programs within the Institute operate year-round to recruit K-12 students to STEM fields and enhance undergraduate students' persistence within Lyle. As part of this mission, the Institute supports traditionally unrepresented students in the Lyle School through the implementation of a robust peer mentoring program. The newly hired Executive Director will contribute to advancing the mission and vision of the Caruth Institute.

In addition to continuing and expanding these existing initiatives, in its reimagined era under the leadership of the new Executive Director, the Caruth Institute will also focus on the integration of contemporary topics such as sustainable engineering, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, IoT, and advanced manufacturing into the undergraduate and graduate curriculum; promote the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts into the engineering curriculum to prepare students for the evolving job market; and leading engineering education research initiatives in collaboration with other expert faculty.

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

For nearly a century, Lyle has been nurturing exceptional engineers who are catalysts for global change. Our commitment to shaping bold leaders who innovate, pioneer, and tackle society's toughest challenges is unwavering. Embedded in our mindset is a culture of ingenuity that resonates through our research and curriculum. With an impressive 9:1 graduate student-to-faculty ratio, coupled with robust scholarship offerings, we are dedicated to fostering meaningful mentorship and breaking engineering stereotypes. Lyle has proudly earned the American Society for Engineering Education's Bronze Award for championing diversity and inclusivity. Our focus extends beyond campus, addressing critical global issues through groundbreaking research. Our five departments-Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Operations Research and Engineering Management, and Mechanical Engineering-drive impactful innovations beyond academia's boundaries.

The Lyle School's acclaimed centers and institutes include the Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security, the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, the Hart Institute for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the newly established Center for Digital and Human-Augmented Manufacturing.

A New Era Beckons: In a resounding testament to our aspirations, SMU's pursuit of R1 status is bolstered by a recent landmark $20 million gift (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/templeton-lyle-gift-feb-2023) and a $15 million investment on an Initiative for Digital Innovation in Engineering and Computer Science (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/odonnell-gift-august-2023). These transformative endowments are pivotal in invigorating our research ecosystem, fostering interdisciplinary alliances to position Lyle as an authoritative force in artificial intelligence, human augmentation, digital transformation and innovation. Empowered by the Provost and Dean, the new faculty will be able to redefine engineering education for our swiftly evolving digital landscape, benefiting Dallas and the broader DFW area.

Our world-class research facilities are complemented by robust resources in high-performance scientific computing (see https://www.smu.edu/Provost/Data-Science-Institute/HPC).

Inclusive Excellence: We believe that equity and inclusion are essential components of our success as teachers and scholars. We seek colleagues who eagerly embrace SMU's central values of intellectual diversity, academic freedom, and the cultivation of cultural intelligence to teach, lead, and collaborate effectively with our students, colleagues, and stakeholders regardless of their backgrounds.

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the Cox School of Business, the Lyle School of Engineering, the Meadows School of the Arts, the Simmons School of Education and Human Development, the Dedman School of Law, the Perkins School of Theology and the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

All applications should be submitted through Interfolio.

Qualifications:
An accomplished academic suitable for an endowed associate or full professorship with an earned Ph.D. in the appropriate or a closely related discipline, and a profound understanding of engineering education, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The expertise will inspire and guide the next generation of trailblazers, bridging the gap between theory and real-world impact.

Application Instructions:
To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/150916

Candidates are required to submit with their application a cover letter that includes research and teaching statements, a statement of leadership background and philosophy, Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Successful candidates will also present a vision for continued growth and development of the institute. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by December 2, 2024. The committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled and will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. The start date for this position is negotiable, but the desired start date is January 1, 2025.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) will not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, education activity, or admissions on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. SMU's commitment to equal opportunity includes nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX1 Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, including the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX. The Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu. Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education.