Physics and Engineering Physics Department Chair

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan State University. The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics invites applications for the Chair of the Department, to provide visionary academic, administrative, and strategic leadership.

The role carries tenure with rank of Professor and reports to the SCMNS Dean, guiding education, research, and community engagement. The Chair will advance undergraduate and graduate education, expand externally funded programs, foster collaborations across disciplines, and promote student

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics/Engineering Physics from an accredited institution.
• Excellence in teaching, scholarship and service.
• Experience in higher education leadership or program management.
• Ability to secure externally funded research.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Department’s academic, research, and outreach initiatives.
• Promote excellence in teaching, mentoring, scholarship, and service among faculty and staff.
• Lead departmental planning, assessment, and continuous improvement activities.
• Drive curriculum and research innovations by promoting initiatives in areas such as astronomy, material sciences, photonics, quantum sciences, energy systems, nuclear physics, and engineering physics.
• Support the growth of externally funded research and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Manage departmental budgets, facilities, equipment, and other resources effectively.
• Advance student recruitment, retention, graduation, and post-graduate success initiatives; foster partnerships with industry, government agencies, national laboratories, and community organizations.
• Encourage inclusive excellence and cultivate a collaborative and collegial departmental culture.
• Represent the Department within the University and to external stakeholders.
• Teach courses and maintain an active scholarly/research agenda consistent with tenured expectations.

Skills

Leadership experience

Diversity & Inclusion in STEM

Curriculum development

External partnerships

Strategic planning

Education

Doctorate in Physics or Engineering Physics

Job description

Posting Details

Posting Summary

Job Title
Physics and Engineering Physics Department Chair

Division
Divison of Academic Affairs

Department
School of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences

Work Status
Full Time

Position Category
Faculty

Faculty Rank
Full Professor

FLSA
Exempt

Pay Range
Exempt

Salary Range
$160,000 - $185,000 / year

Fund Source
State Support

Job Summary
Morgan State University ( MSU ), Maryland’s preeminent public urbanresearch university located in Baltimore, Maryland, is aCarnegie-classified Doctoral Research Institution with HighResearch Activity (R2). It is known for its excellence in teaching,research, and services. In the last five years, this bustling HBCUhas increased its enrollment by more than 50%, from 7,600 to 11,600students, and has tripled its research grant output from about $30million per year to over $100 million per year in 2024-2025. MSUoffers innovative, inclusive, and distinctive educationalexperiences to a broad cross-section of the population in acomprehensive range of disciplines at the baccalaureate, master’s,doctoral, and professional degree levels, totaling more than160-degree programs, including 31 doctoral programs. The MSU School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (SCMNS ) invites applications and nominations for the position ofChair of the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics. SCMNSoffers four PhD, seven master’s, and nine bachelor’s degreeprograms. The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics offersBS in Engineering Physics, BS in Physics, and jointly offersthemultidisciplinary MS in Integrated Science, and PhD in IntegratedMaterials Science programs. The Chair will provide visionaryacademic, administrative, and strategic leadership for a dynamicdepartment dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, studentsuccess, and community engagement. The successful candidate will lead initiatives to strengthenundergraduate and graduate education, expand externally fundedresearch programs, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, andadvance the University’s mission as a premier public urban researchinstitution. This is a 12-month administrative faculty appointmentwith an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027. The positioncarries appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure,commensurate with the candidate’s academic qualifications andprofessional experience. Reporting directly to the SCMNS Dean, theChair serves as the chief academic and administrative officer ofthe Department of Physics and Engineering Physics and isresponsible for providing leadership in academic planning, facultydevelopment, research advancement, student recruitment andretention, budget oversight, and strategic growth.

Job Duties

• Provide strategic leadership for the Department’s academic,research, and outreach initiatives.
• Promote excellence in teaching, mentoring, scholarship, andservice among faculty and staff.
• Lead departmental planning, assessment, and continuousimprovement activities.
• Drive curriculum and research innovations by promotinginitiatives in areas such as astronomy, material sciences,photonics, quantum sciences, energy systems, nuclear physics, andengineering physics, etc.
• Support the growth of externally funded research andinterdisciplinary collaborations.
• Manage departmental budgets, facilities, equipment, and otherresources effectively.
• Advance student recruitment, retention, graduation, andpost-graduate success initiatives.Foster partnerships with industry, government agencies,national laboratories, and community organizations.
• Encourage inclusive excellence and cultivate a collaborativeand collegial departmental culture.
• Represent the Department within the University and to externalstakeholders.
• Teach courses and maintain an active scholarly/research agendaconsistent with the expectations of a tenured facultyappointment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Characteristics

• Experience with curriculum innovation and programassessment.
• Record of mentoring faculty and students from diversebackgrounds.
• Experience building partnerships with federal agencies,industry, or research organizations.
• Demonstrated success advancing diversity, equity, and inclusionin STEM .
• Experience leading multidisciplinary or interdisciplinaryacademic programs.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Earned a doctorate in Physics, Engineering Physics, or aclosely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, andservice.
• Evidence of successful leadership, administrative, or programmanagement experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to secure or support externally fundedresearch initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communicationskills.
• Commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number
FA00435

Number of Vacancies
1

Job Open Date
08/11/2026

Best Consideration Date
11/11/2026

Job Close Date

Supplemental Questions

1. * How did you hear about this career opportunity?
   • Career Fair
   • Morgan's Career Website
   • Another Job Website
   • Internal Job Posting
   • Word of Mouth
   • Other
2. * Are you a current, past, or retired Morgan State Universityemployee? Are you a current, past, or retired State employee? IfYES to current, past, or retired STATE employee, please state theagency. If not applicable, put N/A
   (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Statement of Teaching Philosophy
5. Statement of Interest
6. Supporting Document

Optional Documents

1. Reference Letter