College of Engineering and Computing Divisional Dean, Volgenau School of Engineering
The Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University invites applications and nominations for the position of Divisional Dean. The Divisional Dean will play a critical leadership role in guiding the evolution of the newly created College of Engineering and Computing and its two Schools, capitalizing on the momentum that is propelling Mason into the ranks of some of the most highly regarded public research universities in the nation.
In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest $750 million in the growth of degree programs in computing. At that time, Mason committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing-related disciplines and, in June 2021, launched a brand-new School of Computing that sits alongside the Volgenau School of Engineering, under the umbrella of the College of Engineering and Computing.
George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About George Mason University:
Mason was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became an independent institution in 1972. The largest public university in Virginia, George Mason enrolls nearly 40,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries on four campuses: a 677-acre campus in Fairfax, Virginia; a science and technology campus in Prince William County, Virginia; a professional campus in Arlington, Virginia; and an international campus in Songdo, South Korea. In addition to these campuses, Mason operates a site in Loudoun County, Virginia, and has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to offer a Global Conservation Studies Program at the Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Each Mason location has a distinctive academic and research focus that plays a critical role in the economy of the region. It is the youngest university of the 131 R1 institutions and the fastest growing public research university in the United States.
With over 1,800 faculty, Mason offers 200 undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs across 10 schools and colleges: Antonin Scalia Law School, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Health, College of Science, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Schar School of Policy and Government, and the School of Business.
In 2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked Mason among the top 20 most innovative universities in the United States and 13th nationally for ethnic diversity (#1 in Virginia). The University prides itself on being an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to making the world more prosperous, free, and just and on providing a campus atmosphere that allows its students to thrive. Mason is committed to exemplary leadership around anti-racism and promotes research that supports social justice.
As a public research university in one of the most important political, economic, and intellectual hubs in the world, Mason accepts its responsibility to serve others: to help its students succeed, to enrich the life of its community, and to contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time. As reflected in the university's strategic direction approved by the Board of Visitors in December 2022.
Mason is a minority-majority university with tremendous diversity among its students and with comparable graduation rates across all demographic groups (contrary to nation-wide disparities in minority graduation rates). More than one third (36%) of Mason students are first-generation college students. In Fall 2022, Mason welcomed its largest and most diverse group of students in university history; nearly 60 percent of the first-year students come from traditionally underrepresented groups.
In December 2018, Mason concluded a ten-year comprehensive campaign that raised more than $690 million to support its students through scholarships and fellowships, its faculty through endowed chairs and faculty development funds, its physical infrastructure through new buildings and renovations of existing facilities, and its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship through the funding of big ideas that can change the world. The theme of the campaign, Faster Farther, describes the ethos of Mason and each of its academic units. It is expected that a new campaign will launch within the next year.
About the College of Engineering and Computing:
Located in the heart of northern Virginia's technology corridor, the College of Engineering and Computing is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. In the next decade, the College expects to continue its transformation to one of the country's largest, most comprehensive colleges by expanding its programs, growing its enrollment, and increasing its research.
The combination of investment from the Commonwealth of Virginia and workforce initiatives from industry create significant opportunities for the College to educate a diverse workforce with sophisticated computing competencies. Legislation passed in 2019 to fund the state's Tech Talent Investment Program commits more than $750 million and establishes a goal for Virginia to produce at least 25,000 additional graduates in computer-related fields by 2039.
As of Fall 2022, 10,105 students are enrolled in 35 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including several first-in-the-nation offerings, as well as two undergraduate and eight graduate certificate programs. The College is comprised of the Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE) and the School of Computing (SoC). Through these two schools, the following nine departments work cooperatively to build unique and timely programs, including several interdisciplinary degrees: Bioengineering, Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, Computer Science, Cyber Security Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Information Sciences and Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Statistics Systems Engineering and Operations Research. All the programs accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission are housed in the Volgenau School of Engineering, and all the programs accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission are housed in the School of Computing.
Mason is known for its leadership in emerging areas including big data, cybersecurity, health care technology, robotics and autonomous systems, signals and communications, and sustainable infrastructure. Of the 271 full-time faculty who comprise the College, 151 are tenured or on tenure-track, and 120 are instructional or research faculty; in addition, there are nearly 190 part-time and adjunct faculty. Mason Engineering and Computing faculty hold 137 patents and copyrights. College-wide there are 22 recipients of the prestigious CAREER/Young Investigator Awards, 19 IEEE Fellows, and 2 ACM Fellows, 4 IMS Fellows, 3 ASA Fellows, and 2 elected members of ISI. This year, the College is on pace to have more than $100M in awards and expenditures this year and HERD ranks the College #1 in Virginia for computer and information systems research expenditures.
About the Volgenau School of Engineering:
Established in 1985, the Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE) grew its extensive engineering degree offerings in direct response to a request to assist the U.S. Government with official national security and defense priorities. Today, it remains the Commonwealth of Virginia's only school of engineering with its main campus in the National Capital Region. With a central location in one of the East Coast's most active tech corridors, VSE is a top 100 school of engineering, according to the 2022 U.S. News and World Report, with unparalleled access to the nation's top innovators. Elite science and technology organizations recognize VSE faculty as leaders in their fields and establish collaborative partnerships. These partnerships introduce industry knowledge to the classroom, challenging students to push the boundaries of research, skill, and application based on real-time knowledge of marketplace demand.
In Fall 2022, the Volgenau School of Engineering enrolled nearly 4,000 students in its 26 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs and certificates, including several first-in-the-nation offerings. The School also offers interdisciplinary programs in cyber security engineering and data analytics engineering that integrate expertise across multiple engineering and computing departments. VSE is comprised of the following six departments:
Bioengineering: Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that integrates engineering, biology, and medicine to promote scientific discovery, new technology, and medical therapies to improve health. The Bioengineering Department also explores smaller scale research into such fields as nanotechnology. VSE is creating partnerships with biomedical organizations in the Washington, D.C. area to forge research collaborations and to expand training and internship opportunities for Mason students. The Bioengineering Department includes primary faculty members, as well as affiliate faculty from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and Computer Science Department. The Department supports bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in bioengineering, as well as minor and several concentrations.
Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering: The Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) is an internationally recognized program that educates visionary students to lead in the development of sustainable cities. The faculty and students seek innovative solutions to construct energy-efficient and environmentally informed buildings, transit systems, utilities, and infrastructure through the use of sustainable materials and renewable resources. The nation relies on a vast network of infrastructure systems that are becoming more interdependent as urban areas grow and increase. The CEIE Department uses sound, sophisticated civil engineering principles, and technology-based best practices to develop and implement successful solutions to complex, multi-disciplinary engineering challenges. The Department offers bachelor of science, master of science, and doctor of philosophy degrees in civil and infrastructure engineering, as well as a minor in environmental engineering.
Cyber Security Engineering: The Department of Cyber Security Engineering is the first of its kind in the country. The department was established in 2020 by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and earned its ABET accreditation in January 2021. However, the newly formed multidisciplinary department already had a history of giving students a strong foundation in a dynamic field. As the cyber world has become more integrated with physical life, cybersecurity is essential to protecting critical infrastructures like gas, water, and electricity, personal information, and privacy. Cyber Security Engineering faculty continually adapt courses and programs to account for the changing times and conduct ground-breaking research in their fields. The department strives to prepare students for graduation and develop the next generation of cyber defenders who will have to face threats and challenges never seen before. The Department offers coursework in bachelors and masters programs that emphasize problem-solving skills and hands-on learning.
Electrical and Computer Engineering: The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) blends electrical and electronic studies and research to develop, design, and operate computers, machines, hardware, and software. VSE's experiential learning process includes a Capstone Project, an advanced design enterprise. Groups conceive, design, and implement a hardware project or hardware-related software project, considering all engineering aspects. ECE faculty and students are also involved in innovative research in a variety of areas, such as bioengineering, cryptography and network security, medical imaging, nanotechnology, ocean acoustic tomography, and wireless communications. ECE faculty at Mason have funding from several major agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Institutes of Health. The ECE Department offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering. Additionally, the Department supports master's programs in telecommunications and digital forensics and graduate certificates in telecommunications and satellite engineering.
Mechanical Engineering: With faculty expertise in mechanics, materials, manufacturing, thermal and fluid sciences, robotics, mechatronics, control, design and optimization, along with partnerships in various departments within the College of Engineering and Computing and College of Science, the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) prepares students to develop innovative solutions and meet the growing demands of worldwide energy needs spurred by population growth and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. Mechanical Engineering graduates oversee the operations and management of large systems in nuclear energy, biofuels, wind, and tidal energies to build an energy portfolio that exploits these seemingly limitless resources. The ME Department supports undergraduate and graduate students in their development and application of skills that they can apply to a broad range of fields. Faculty have applied expertise in sustainable infrastructures to build solar-powered machinery, and their Cyber Security focus makes the ME Department an incubator for the newest networks and systems. The Department offers a bachelor of science and minor in mechanical engineering, as well as an accelerated master's degree, a doctoral degree, and a graduate certificate in naval ship design.
Systems Engineering and Operations Research: The Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research offers students the
George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.
George Mason University has 37,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries and a residential population of more than 6,000 students. Mason is a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars. 80% of our students are employed within six months of graduation. Nearly two-thirds of the 140,000 Mason alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Mason is a young university that, in just a short time, has made impressive strides in size, stature and influence. Today, as Virginia’s largest public research university, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. To that end, we have 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of study.
Mission.
We prepa...re Mason students for the demands of work, social responsibility, and life in an ever-changing global society. University Life's mission statement is core to our work. We support every student at Mason, from orientation through graduation.
George Mason: Patriotism Personified.
George Mason, for whom our university is named, was one of the greatest of the founding fathers of the United States. Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a model for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
We Are in Virginia. But We Serve the World.
Mason is committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. Located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world, we accept our responsibility to serve others: to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community, and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time.
Washington, D.C.: Land of Opportunity.
Mason’s main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
At Mason, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a beautiful wooded residential campus and outstanding college experience, as well as numerous internship and recreational opportunities that only a world-class urban setting like D.C. can offer.
You can intern with National Geographic or the Justice Department, visit the numerous museums with your Art History classmates, take a selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial, catch a Nationals baseball game, kayak along the Potomac, or check out the many neighborhoods where you’ll discover lots of great shopping, places to eat, art galleries, music venues, and much more. You can attend events and hear nationally recognized speakers. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
There’s more to explore. Students participate in a field trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Office of International Programs and Services.
In just a short drive, you can be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or walking the boardwalk in either Ocean City, Maryland, or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Our closest airports are Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport, and Mason is easily accessible by public transportation. Free shuttle buses help you get to the nearest Metro station in Vienna, Virginia, just a short distance from our Fairfax Campus. The Arlington Campus is within walking distance of the Virginia Square-GMU stop on the Orange Line.
Enriching Work Environment.
We will invest in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented and diverse faculty and academic and professional staff. We will create a vibrant campus life in which all members can grow and thrive.
Diversity.
Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
We bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do. Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective makes us more effective educators and scholars.
While at Mason, you’ll be making your own decisions and forming your own view of the world. Engaging with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty, and staff, will enrich this experience. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you.
We have a variety of communities here, and you're sure to find a group of people who are like you. The great thing is you'll also be embraced by communities of people who are not like you. At Mason, you'll be in a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds will:
•Widen your outlook of the world,
•Show you how to work and collaborate with people of differing views,
•Expose you to new perspectives from people with disparate life experiences, and
•Give you the social skills to interact with all kinds of people.
Diversity also enhances learning and creative thinking by prompting the study of new material and the awareness of fresh viewpoints. The power of many perspectives will boost your capacity to explore original ideas and solutions. Seeing issues in a new way heightens your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another benefit: As our nation becomes more diverse, students who learn in a diverse environment will be more competitive in an increasingly global economy. You’ll enhance your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to develop nuanced solutions to real-world problems.
Campus-Wide Accessibility.
Accessibility @ mason provide information regarding the physical access of all campuses and online accessibility of programs and services. Information for disability related services and resources available to all employee, students, and visitors the entire university include physical access to buildings, parking policies, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Accessible.
We are an open and welcoming community. We partner with public and private organizations in our region and around the world. We proactively engage with our community. We define our success by how many talented students with potential we serve, not how many we leave out.
Social and Cultural Venues.
Our venues bring world-class performances to the community through vibrant concerts and events. Community members are invited to take part in many artistic and cultural offerings at Mason. Spaces are also available to rent for your next event.