University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Job Summary:

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) — a land grant, Big Ten, and R1 institution — is seeking a visionary leader to serve as its next Department Chair. ECE is one of seven academic units in the College of Engineering (COE) and plays a critical role in the college’s mission to deliver world-class education, develop Complete Engineers, and foster cutting-edge research. The ECE department is poised for growth and will be seeing significant investment over the next five years. We are seeking a leader who can capitalize on this opportunity and advance the department and college strategic plan.

The Chair serves as the academic leader and chief administrative officer for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, guiding the department’s mission in research, teaching, service, and engagement. The Chair is responsible for advancing the department’s mission and ensuring the competitiveness of its graduates and the success of its faculty.

Key responsibilities for the department on both Lincoln and Omaha campuses include:

• Leading faculty recruitment, mentoring, and development.
• Driving the continuous improvement of departmental programs and initiatives.
• Aligning departmental objectives with the College of Engineering’s strategic vision.
• Overseeing budget development and resource management.
• Managing the assessment and accreditation of ECE programs in accordance with ABET requirements.
• Ensuring the effectiveness and relevance of instructional and research activities.
• Promoting engagement with alumni, donors, and industry partners.
• Fostering the competitiveness of graduates and supporting faculty success through strategic initiatives and community building.

About Us:

Department Overview

Across its two campuses of the College of Engineering, City Campus in Lincoln and the Scott Campus in Omaha, the ECE department boasts over 30 faculty members, more than 500 undergraduate students, and nearly 100 graduate students. Faculty are engaged in a wide range of research areas, including embedded systems, microelectronics and integrated circuits, stretchable and flexible electronics, computer vision, AI/ML, cybersecurity, robotics, wireless communication and networks, image/signal processing, nanotechnology, bioinformatics and biomedical engineering, power and energy systems, and electromagnetics and optics. ECE has been an educational leader within the COE and in the state of Nebraska, with two ABET accredited undergraduate degree programs in electrical engineering and computer engineering, four graduate degree programs, as well as two interdisciplinary graduate degree programs. 

The next Chair of ECE will lead a dynamically emergent and multidisciplinary department, providing the only ABET accredited electrical and computer engineering degree programs in the state of Nebraska.  The Department features an exceptionally strong record of extramural funding from federal and industry sources. Opportunities exist to further engage ECE in the areas of research strength including nanofabrication, quantum computing, additive manufacturing, and precision agriculture. Opportunities exist to expand and leverage research collaborations with UNL’s existing core facilities and agencies, such as the Holland Computing Center, the Nebraska Transportation Center, the Nebraska Energy Sciences Center, Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Innovation Campus, and the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska. The latter is one of only 15 university affiliated nationwide research centers (UARC) created by the US Department of Defense and is the only UARC sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) — a unified combatant command.  ECE enjoys newly renovated state-of-the-art research facilities, office spaces and other infrastructure within the COE.  The Department’s dual location in Lincoln and Omaha provides opportunities for industry engagement and partnership with J.A. Woollam company, Hudl, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District, Union Pacific, and USSTRATCOM. Omaha is home to Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies.

About Us continued:

College Growth

The ECE department plays a key role in advancing the COE’s ambitious research goals, supported by cutting-edge facilities, including a $75M research building and a $115M engineering education building opened in 2024. COE is dedicated to delivering a world-class engineering education, including its unique Complete Engineer® Program. Additionally, the UNL COE was one of the first three institutions in the nation to receive the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Silver Award. We are seeking an innovative leader with a vision for growth and a strong commitment to advancing research, education, and engagement in the ECE department.

About UNL, Lincoln, and Omaha

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is Nebraska’s land-grant research university, is a member of the Big Ten, and ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity [Carnegie CIHE]. As the state’s flagship institution, UNL plays a key role in the research and innovation landscape within the region and leverages the department’s co-location in Lincoln and Omaha. The city of Omaha, the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska, is a rising tech hub in the Midwest.  Lincoln, the state capital, is also part of a growing high-tech region known as the ‘Midwest Silicon Prairie’.  Taking advantage of both communities, UNL offers a vibrant, welcoming, family-friendly community with a strong economy, excellent public school systems, modest cost of living, and a high quality of life. Learn more about life in Lincoln and Omaha at placetobelnk.com,  aboutlincoln.unl.edu, and visitomaha.com.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• A distinguished record in research, teaching, and service consistent with the expectations of the rank of full professor with tenure in the COE.
• Demonstrated successful managerial, financial, supervisory, and operational experience in academia, industry or other relevant engineering endeavors.

Preferred Qualifications:

We seek a leader who excels in a dynamic environment and effectively engages with diverse stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a robust, long-standing research portfolio and a forward-thinking, collaborative, and results-driven management approach, including:

• Experience in developing innovative undergraduate and graduate curricula (including online and hybrid) and a strong understanding of accreditation processes.
• Strong outreach skills with a variety of stakeholders that may include industry, government and community partners, and students, parents, and alumni.
• Proven leadership, interpersonal, and consensus-building skills with the potential for managing programs, teams, and initiatives across multiple campuses.
• A demonstrated commitment to student learning, success, and career development.
• Experience in establishing and leading initiatives in emerging frontiers, including but not limited to quantum computing, AI, and robotics, in electrical and computer engineering programs.
• A service-oriented approach with exceptional people management, mentoring, and communication skills, capable of inspiring faculty and staff toward common goals.

Application Process:

Review of applications will begin on November 21, 2025, with rolling reviews until the position has been filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to continue to apply after this deadline. Click "Apply Now" and create or login to your applicant profile. Attach the following documents:

1. A letter of interest highlighting your leadership experience and philosophy as well as your vision for leading the UNL ECE department.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. A statement describing your research and scholarly activities, future directions, and broader impacts.
4. A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices.
5. A statement of how your combined professional and academic experiences have equipped you to make a valuable contribution to the COE Complete Engineer ® Program (engineering.unl.edu/complete-engineer).
6. A list of at least five (5) professional references including contact information.

The statements for items 3, 4, and 5 together should total no more than seven (7) pages. Please combine them into a single document for upload. All documents other than the curriculum vitae and letter of interest can be added in "Additional Attachments."

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.