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Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering

Position overview

Position title: Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering
Salary range: The full annual salary range for the Dean of the Bourns College of Engineering is $450,000 to $500,000. Salary offers will be commensurate with a final candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Application Window

Open date: July 7, 2026

Next review date: Friday, Sep 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside or UCR) seeks a strategic leader and accomplished scholar to serve as the next Dean of the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE). BCOE is at an important moment in its evolution, with strong momentum in enrollment growth, research activity, and regional engagement. As UCR continues its rapid ascent as a national leader among universities in both research excellence and social mobility, BCOE is well positioned to expand its impact in engineering education, interdisciplinary discovery, and innovation.

Operating as one of ten campuses in the University of California system, the world’s leading public research system, UCR is a premier R1 research university and member of the Association of American Universities. UCR is proud to be a national leader for social mobility and student success, and is regularly ranked number one in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Located on nearly 1,200 acres in Southern California’s Inland Empire, UCR has more than 1,200 faculty—including two Nobel laureates and 15 National Academy members—serving over 27,000 students and 160,000 alumni. Its unique and diverse student body includes 49.4% first‑generation undergraduates and 48.2% Pell Grant recipients, which is more than nearly every other university in the country.

The Bourns College of Engineering enrolls more than 4,000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students across ten departments and programs. Its faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their research and commitment to student success. BCOE’s research enterprise spans critical areas such as clean energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, air quality, and human health, and is strengthened by interdisciplinary centers and partnerships. Consistent with UCR’s mission, the College plays a central role in broadening participation in engineering and preparing a highly diverse student body to lead in an increasingly complex world.

To ensure the continued success of the College, the Dean will lead BCOE in addressing the following opportunities and challenges (outlined in greater detail in the full leadership profile):

Position BCOE for its next phase of impact and distinction

Lead the College’s administrative and financial strategy

Support faculty and staff to elevate a world-class research, teaching, and service enterprise

Collaborate across campus to advance interdisciplinary research

Advance student success and inclusive excellence in engineering education

Develop philanthropic and strategic partnerships to increase the College’s visibility

Lead with collaboration, transparency, and commitment to shared governance

UC Riverside has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website:

All applications must be submitted through AP RECRUIT and should include, as separate documents, a CV and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this position profile. For best consideration, apply by September 4, 2026. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

The successful candidate must have an excellent history of academic accomplishment and administrative experience. They will possess a clear vision for the future of engineering research and education, a proven record of achieving community and philanthropic support, an understanding and appreciation of shared governance, a demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and student success, and the ability to work effectively with various industry and other external stakeholders associated with the College. While no candidate will possess all the ideal qualifications, the successful candidate will bring many of the following experiences, knowledge, and abilities important to the role:

An earned doctorate with a distinguished record of research, teaching, and scholarly activities appropriate for appointment as a full professor;

A record of and commitment to advancing world-class research;

Experience in fundraising and external engagement;

A desire to support a culture of excellence and integrity;

A commitment to creating an inclusive environment for the student body, faculty, and staff;

A proven, demonstrated commitment to shared governance, and an openness to collaborative relationships with campus units;

Excellent financial strategy and financial management skills, and demonstrated experience working with complex budgeting models;

An ability to think and build frameworks in an interdisciplinary way and experience facilitating collaboration across disciplines;

The ability to communicate effectively with staff, faculty, students, and others, and to build cohesiveness and community among constituents;

A commitment to transparent communication that builds trust across the College;
Support of entrepreneurship and close relationships with industry; and

Demonstrated ability to understand and react to current complexities, including the political, financial, technological, and global challenges that public universities face today.

Preferred qualifications

Please see basic qualifications for this role.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements

The Isaacson Miller search firm will conduct detailed reference checks on final candidates.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02288

Help contact: tanyaa@ucr.edu

About UC Riverside

The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission (https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement) is a preferred qualification.

We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC’s criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.

For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf.

Job location

Riverside, CA