Professor and Department Chair of Computer Science

Application Deadline:

Open until the position is filled. Application review will begin on January 31, 2025.

Position Details:

This full-time faculty position is on-campus and in-person.

Position Overview:
Texas Christian University (TCU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair of Computer Science beginning August 2025.

The College of Science and Engineering at TCU is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Chair of its Department of Computer Science, with an expected starting date of August 1, 2025. As TCU strategically advances toward R1 research status, we seek a dynamic, visionary leader with a strong academic and research background to guide and inspire our department. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to hire new faculty positions within their first year and play a pivotal role in expanding the department's research footprint, fostering excellence in education, and enhancing community engagement.

Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Department of Computer Science.
- Oversee the development and implementation of innovative academic programs and curricula.
- Lead the department's efforts to expand its research initiatives, aligning with TCU's goal of achieving R1 research status.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that supports faculty, staff, and students.
- Promote and support cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary initiatives.
- Engage with industry partners and enhance the department's visibility and reputation.
- Manage departmental resources, including budget, personnel, and facilities.
- Advocate for the department within the university and in external communities.

Qualifications:
- A Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field.
- A distinguished record of scholarship, research, and teaching.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, preferably in an academic setting.
- Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Ability to foster a collaborative and supportive environment for faculty and students.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Proven track record of securing research funding and expanding research initiatives.
- Established connections with industry and professional organizations.
- Experience with curriculum development and accreditation processes.
- Experience in faculty development and mentoring.

Why TCU?
- Join a vibrant academic community committed to high standards of scholarship and teaching.
- Contribute to the university's strategic goal of achieving R1 research status by expanding the department's research footprint.
- Benefit from a supportive and collaborative environment with access to excellent facilities and resources.
- Be part of a university that values diversity and inclusion, promoting a culture of respect and understanding.
- Enjoy the dynamic and growing city of Fort Worth, known for its rich cultural heritage and quality of life.

Department Details:

We are a student-centered department that is committed to the teacher-scholar model. Teaching is central to our department's mission; we hire faculty who are passionate about teaching and highly trained in their area of teaching specialty.

Research plays an important role in the professional lives of our tenure-track faculty. Our research programs support our teaching mission and allow us to expose students to the process of science when they conduct research in our labs. The department regularly provides financial support for faculty to present their research at scientific meetings.

Advising and mentoring students is a critical part of our mission. Faculty members have an open-door policy to students, and students feel comfortable meeting with faculty outside of designated office hours.

Our department's curriculum and all faculty-related policies have been developed via consensus of the faculty. We work together as a team, with the utmost respect and appreciation for all types and ways of contributing to our students and their success. Collegiality and teamwork are a hallmark of our department.

School/College Description:

The TCU College of Science & Engineering (CSE) encompasses 10 departments (Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Nutritional Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology) as well the Ranch Management Program, which offers both an undergraduate degree and a one-year certificate program. The College is also home to the Pre-Health Professions Institute, the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, the Institute of Behavioral Research, and the Institute for Ranch Management. The College is the second largest at TCU in terms of both undergraduate enrollment and number of majors. CSE contains a disproportionate percentage of high achieving students, as evidenced by the fact that almost one-half the students in the Honors College have majors in the College of Science & Engineering. Research opportunities abound for undergraduates, with over 40 percent of majors engaging in a substantive experience during which they work one-on-one with their faculty mentor. The College also has five doctoral programs and 16 master's programs as well as two graduate certificate programs. The College faculty are true teacher-scholars, for whom instruction and research are viewed as complementary activities.

University & Fort Worth Description:

ABOUT TCU

Founded in 1873, Texas Christian University sits on 302 acres nestled in a primarily residential part of Fort Worth, just minutes away from downtown. The University includes seven schools and colleges, in addition to the John V. Roach Honors College and the Burnett School of Medicine.

Currently, TCU enrolls more than 10,200 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students. Twenty-eight percent of students self-identify as a member of a minority group, five percent are international students, and forty-five percent are from out-of-state. Our students are supported by more than 2,200 faculty and staff. The University has more than 700 full-time faculty members and is a top 100 National University as classified by US News and World Report and has a Carnegie Classification of R2: Doctoral Universities - High Research Activity.

At TCU, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are an educational imperative directly tied to the University mission, vision, and strategic plan. Fulfilling TCU's mission to develop ethical leaders and critical thinkers in a global community depends on the University's ability to attract and retain students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds. A diverse and inclusive campus leads to innovation, broadened perspective, and understanding-values that are foundational aspects of higher education. For the fourth consecutive year, TCU has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which highlights ongoing commitment to build a comprehensive DEI strategy that aligns with core values and creates a campus culture where everyone is respected and included.

ABOUT FORT WORTH

Like TCU, Fort Worth has the approachable, friendly charm of a smaller town, but offers the amenities, cultural activities, diversity and unique personality of a much larger city. Fort Worth, Texas, is the 13th largest city in the United States with an ever-growing population nearing 1 million. Fort Worth and TCU have grown together in a nearly 150-year relationship. You'll find that many Horned Frogs remain here after graduation, thanks to the region's thriving job market. Fort Worth is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, and the number 1 tourist destination in Texas. In 2018, bizjournals.com ranked Fort Worth the 7th most affordable city to live and work in the United States and U.S. News and World Report named Fort Worth one of the Best Places to Live. Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington all rank among the top 25 most diverse cities in the country.

Fort Worth is known for its vast array of cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. The city boasts three world class art museums-the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The Bass Performance Hall is one of the premier performance venues in the country. Concerts, film festivals and other events are held regularly at Sundance Square, Panther Island and Near Southside venues.

Required Application Materials & Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of leadership philosophy, research statement, teaching statement, and contact information for three references. TCU's mission statement is, in part, to "educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in a global community." Share your experience regarding personal or professional learning, teaching, or research, or campus or community engagement, that fostered student learning outcomes relevant to this mission. Indicate how your experience elevates your candidacy and how you think you may be involved in supporting TCU's mission, vision, and values. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. We expect to conduct on-campus interviews in early Spring 2025.

AA/EEO Statement:

As an AA/EEO employer, TCU recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.