Position Details

　　Position Information

　　Working TitleComputer Science Academic Unit Head

　　Position Number8300

　　Posting NumberF2268

　　Position TypeInstructional Faculty - Full Time

　　Position StatusFull Time

　　College/DivisionCollege of Integrated Science and Engineering

　　Department100061 - Computer Science

　　Pay RateCommensurate with Experience

　　Specify Range or Amount

　　Is this a JMU only position?No

　　Is this a grant-funded position?No

　　Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

　　Position Summary Information

　　About James Madison University

　　MissionWe are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.VisionTo be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.Who We AreLocated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

　　JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

　　JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship.

　　JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

　　General Information

　　James Madison University (

　　JMU) seeks experienced applicants for the position of Head of the Department of Computer Science (CS) within the College of Integrated Science and Engineering (

　　CISE). The vibrant CS Department is a community of educators, diverse in its professional experiences, dedicated to enabling its faculty, staff, and students to achieve broad successes in teaching and learning, scholarship and service.

　　The

　　JMU Department of Computer Science offers undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology, and a fully-online master's degree with a concentration in Information Security.

　　JMU is one of the original seven National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, designated by the National Security Agency (

　　NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (

　　DHS).

　　The CS department currently has 27 full-time faculty members, over 1000 students, and seven support staff members. Its strengths include dedicated and welcoming faculty and staff; engaged and invested students and alumni; carefully constructed program curricula; increasing enrollments; strong administrative and lab support; and state-of-the-art facilities.

　　JMU's CS department strives to provide a broad, accessible, and rigorous education to our diverse student body. With small class sizes and an emphasis on innovative pedagogy, we train our graduates to program fluently, think deeply about computational problems, communicate clearly, responsibly practice their craft, and achieve professional success. We foster a sense of shared community with our students and give them opportunities to grow their leadership skills as well as conduct research with faculty.

　　The CS department maintains a collegial work environment and a strong sense of shared mission. In addition to teaching, we recognize and participate in a broad spectrum of scholarship and service activities. We value the success of our colleagues, and pitch in to help each other when needed. We arrive at decisions collaboratively, while encouraging and attending to a diverse range of opinions.

　　The College of Integrated Science and Engineering prizes collaboration among academic units and provides unique opportunities for interdisciplinary, team-based teaching and scholarship, with a strong focus on undergraduate research opportunities. More information about the college and department may be found at and .

　　Duties and Responsibilities

　　The new Head of the CS Department will join a supportive leadership team and report to the Dean of

　　CISE. Department heads oversee and nurture all aspects of program administration and strategic leadership.

　　The new Department Head will be responsible for:

　　1) Fostering inclusive workplace and learning cultures;

　　2) Inspiring faculty, staff, and students;

　　3) Managing academic administrative tasks and processes;

　　4) Implementing a strategic vision within the evolving landscape of higher education;

　　5) Representing the department and its programs, both internally and externally (e.g., industry partners, prospective students, academic peers, etc.).

　　The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2024. The position is a 12-month faculty appointment with negotiated tenure and teaching responsibilities. A competitive salary will be commensurate with experience.

　　Qualifications

　　A Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related field is required. Preference will be given to candidates with an academic rank of Associate Professor or higher with academic leadership experience. We also welcome applicants from technical commercial environments with demonstrated accomplishments in organizational leadership.

　　The successful candidate will be an accomplished teacher-scholar, effective communicator, well-versed in the opportunities and trends of higher education, passionate about undergraduate computer science education, and committed to empowering faculty and arriving at decisions collaboratively.

　　Conditions of Employment

　　Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

　　Posting Detail Information

　　Posting Date09/13/2023

　　Beginning Review Date10/25/2023

　　Closing Date

　　Open Until FilledYes

　　Proposed Starting Date07/01/2024

　　EEO Statement

　　James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a d