Department Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

UMBC is a nationally recognized public research university distinguished by inclusive excellence, innovative teaching, a strong commitment to student success, and research that addresses complex societal challenges. The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) seeks a collaborative and visionary leader to guide the department's next phase of growth and impact in research, education, and public-impact engagement.

The Department Chair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the department and reports directly to the Dean of COEIT. The Chair is responsible for advancing the department's educational, research, and outreach missions while serving as a member of the College's leadership team.

The successful candidate will join the department and college during an exciting period of strategic planning and growth. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership, the Chair will help shape the future of engineering education, research, innovation, and public impact at UMBC.

Major Responsibilities

The Chair will:

Provide strategic leadership and long-range planning for the department. Support faculty recruitment, retention, development, and success. Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education. Ensure continual accreditation of the offered programs Foster research growth, scholarly excellence, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Advance student success, belonging, and professional preparation. Manage departmental resources, facilities, personnel, and operations. Develop relationships with alumni, industry, government, and community partners. Contribute actively to college-wide strategy and leadership initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline. Qualifications for appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor at UMBC. Record of excellence in research, teaching, and service. Demonstrated leadership experience in academic, research, administrative, professional, or other organizational settings. Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting faculty development and student success. Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, accreditation, or program assessment. Experience leading research initiatives or interdisciplinary collaborations. Experience building partnerships with industry, government, alumni, or community organizations.

About ME Department

The UMBC ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program links hands-on experiences and design with theoretical, experimental, and numerical analyses. The program has over 700 enrolled undergraduate students in Fall 2026, which represents a 24% increase from the previous year. Students have opportunities for research, practical training, and internships. The department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In addition to three teaching faculty, the department has 19 tenured and tenure-track faculty, leading externally funded research projects in biomechanical engineering; dynamic systems and design, including control, robotics, and autonomous systems; solid mechanics and materials science; and thermal and fluid sciences.  Faculty collaborate with colleagues across UMBC, nearby institutions, and industry.

Building on this foundation, the new chair will maintain a strong academic program and expand opportunities for hands-on learning, preparing undergraduate students for professional practice or graduate study, support faculty development, and expand the research profile and funding.

About UMBC and COEIT

The UMBC community is dedicated to excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. UMBC advances knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds. UMBC is a minority-serving institution and Carnegie Classification R1 (very high research activity) public university with an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students. US News & World Report consistently ranks UMBC as a national leader in diversity, innovation, and teaching.

COEIT ( is a collaborative environment composed of about 170 tenure-track and teaching faculty, 70 academic staff, and over 6,200 students. COEIT is advancing a strategic vision centered on Convergence Research, Inclusive Excellence, and Partnerships for Public Impact. The Dean supports innovative initiatives to tackle grand challenges in research. These efforts are reinforced by the Center for Cybersecurity, Center for Accelerated Real Time Analytics, Center for Advanced Sensor Technology, Center for Real-time Distributed Sensing and Autonomy, Center for Space Sciences and Technology, Center for Urban Environmental Research & Education, Center for Navigation, Timing & Frequency Research, Center for Research in Emergent Manufacturing, and NSF HDR Institute for Harnessing Data and Model Revolution in the Polar Regions, all of which are directed by faculty in COEIT. In addition, the College facilitates community-engaged research through the Shriver Center, which has a 30+ year record of working in Baltimore City and surrounding areas. The College supports faculty through the Eminent Scholar Mentoring Program, the Faculty Development Center, and the ADVANCE Program.

Information on the four COEIT departments is available on their websites. COEIT offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Human-Centered Computing, Information Systems, and Mechanical Engineering. COEIT faculty and research staff generated more than $23 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2025. Many UMBC students are supported by the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program, and the Center for Women in Technology, which have earned national recognition for excellence through training of students from underrepresented groups for careers in academia and industry.

The UMBC campus is located on 500 acres in the suburban Baltimore-Washington corridor, which is a hub for public and private innovation and research. The campus’s proximity to Washington, DC offers opportunities to engage in both technology and policy development with governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations. The View email address on nature.com Research and Technology Park, a 71-acre community housing over 110 companies engaged in research, entrepreneurship, and economic development, is located on the UMBC campus. BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and regional train stations are a 10-minute drive from campus.

Application instructions

Electronic submission of applications is required at   All applications must be submitted as pdf files. The following materials are required:

• Cover letter (up to two pages) Curriculum vitae (no page limit) Statement of leadership experience, vision, and plans (up to four pages) Statement of research, teaching, and mentoring experience, philosophy, and plans (up to four pages) Names and contact information for three references

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and continue until the positions are filled. For inquiries, please email View email address on nature.com with “ME Chair 2027 hire” in the subject line.

UMBC does not make hiring decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University’s nondiscrimination policy. We encourage applications from all candidates who meet the job qualifications and who will contribute to the University's core value of inclusive excellence through their research, teaching, and service.