Professor & Department Chair, David L Payne Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

University of Missouri System; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Missouri System invites nominations and applications for the Chair of the David L. Payne Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Mizzou.

This is an extraordinary leadership opportunity to shape the future of engineering and computing across EE, CE, CS, IT, and data science. The chair will drive strategic vision, recruit and develop top faculty, oversee program quality, and guide transformative projects like the Payne Energy Innovation Center and Naka

Qualifications

• Doctorate in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or closely related field.
• Academic accomplishments that merit appointment at the rank of Full Professor.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a shared EECS strategy, engaging faculty, staff, and College leadership, using data and measurable goals to drive progress.
• Recruit, retain, and develop outstanding tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty; strengthen mentoring and professional growth.
• Champion academic excellence through curricular innovation, effective teaching, and student success.
• Advance research and graduate education through high-impact scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and external funding.
• Steward departmental resources, including personnel, budgets, facilities, and instructional capacity, with integrity and strategic focus.
• Build and empower an effective leadership team, fostering communication, shared purpose, and accountability.
• Advocate for EECS across Mizzou and beyond, cultivating industry, government, alumni, and philanthropic partnerships.
• Guide academic and research planning for Naka Hall’s renovation and related facilities transitions, aligning investments with departmental priorities.
• Oversee ABET accreditation for applicable undergraduate degree programs.

Education

PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a closely related field

Job description

Hiring Department

The David L Payne Department of Electrical Engineering and ComputerScience, University of Missouri, Columbia

Job Description

The University ofMissouri (Mizzou) and Mizzou Engineering invite nominations and applications for Chair of the DavidL. Payne Department of Electrical Engineering and ComputerScience (EECS).

The future of engineering and computing is being rewritten—and thenext chair of Mizzou's David L. Payne Department of ElectricalEngineering and Computer Science (EECS) has an extraordinaryopportunity to help shape what comes next. Spanning electricalengineering, computer engineering, computer science, informationtechnology, and data science, EECS brings together expertise infields transforming industry and society—from AI and quantumtechnologies to cybersecurity, geospatial intelligence,bioinformatics, and energy. With substantial research strengths,interdisciplinary partnerships, and institutional investment, thedepartment is poised to play a defining role in advancing MizzouEngineering's strategicvision to Educate Future Leaders, Drive Engineering Impact, andFoster Engineering Connections.

At the convergence of rapid technological change and historicinvestment, EECS has an opportunity to reimagine its academicprograms, strengthen student success, and develop pathways alignedwith tomorrow's workforce. David L. Payne's transformational $50million gift is supporting a comprehensive renovation of EECS’shome (Naka Hall), significant laboratory and equipment investments,and a departmental endowment. The University's Payne Energy Innovation Center ,which will house EECS faculty and research activities, furtherexpands these possibilities. Together with Mizzou Forward and major research initiatives—including the Center for Geospatial Intelligence , Mizzou AERI , QuantumInnovation Center , and MUMSEI —these investments providea powerful platform to accelerate discovery, strengthen researchand faculty capacity, and elevate EECS's national prominence.

EECS serves approximately 1,000 undergraduate and 220 graduatestudents across five undergraduate and seven graduate programs. EECS faculty include 32 tenure and tenure-track and 10 non-tenuretrack members, with many nationally recognized as fellows of AAAS, IEEE, AIMBE, AMIA, and other professional societies. The departmentaveraged approximately $14 million in annual research expendituresover the past five years—the highest in the College. .

The next chair will turn this momentum into lasting impact. Workingwith faculty, staff, and College leadership, this individual willadvance a shared vision, revitalize academic programs, strengthenresearch, recruit and develop exceptional faculty, and translateinstitutional investments into enduring excellence. Mizzou seeks anaccomplished scholar and proven academic leader with theimagination to see what EECS can become, the conviction to navigatedifficult choices, and the ability to inspire others to realizethat vision.

Mizzou is the flagship university of the four-campus Universityof Missouri System and one of the most comprehensive universitiesin the United States. Mizzou is a member of the prestigious AAU(Association of American Universities) and is designated as aCarnegie R1 and Land-Grant University. It prioritizesinterdisciplinary collaboration, creativity, and investments inhands-on learning to prepare students to become professionals whotransform lives locally and globally. It is home to numerous majorresearch centers and the world’s first journalism school. TheUniversity is also one of only six public universities in thecountry with schools or colleges of engineering, medicine,veterinary medicine, agriculture, arts and science, law, andapowerful research reactor all on one campus; MURR is the largestuniversity-based nuclear research reactor in the United States.Mizzou is centrally located in Columbia, Missouri, a placeconsistently ranked as one of America’s best places tolive.

Departmental Priorities

• Renew EECS education for a changing world. Lead anevidence-based evolution of the department’s programs in responseto AI, shifting career opportunities, and changing studentexpectations.
• Strengthen research and faculty capacity. Leveragefaculty talents and MU’s vibrant interdisciplinary ecosystem togrow funded research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and graduateeducation. Advance strategic faculty recruitment and development,partnering with center directors to translate research prioritiesinto high-impact initiatives.
• Build a shared departmental vision. Engage faculty andstaff in setting and advancing a shared direction aligned withCollege and university priorities. Cultivate a culture of trust,collaboration, mentoring, and accountability that values facultyinput and drives progress.
• Leverage investments to advance EECS. Shape academic andresearch priorities through Naka Hall’s renovation, laboratoryinvestments, and stewardship of endowed resources. Align facilitiesplanning with departmental goals and advance EECS’s role in the Payne Energy InnovationCenter.
• Forge partnerships for greater impact. Champion deeperties with industry, government, alumni, and philanthropic partnersto accelerate research, inform curricula, strengthen student careerpathways, and attract resources.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a shared EECS strategy, engaging faculty,staff, and College leadership while using data and measurable goalsto drive progress.
• Recruit, retain, and develop outstanding tenure-track andnon-tenure-track faculty; strengthen mentoring and professionalgrowth for faculty and staff.
• Champion academic excellence through curricular innovation,effective teaching, and student success.
• Advance research and graduate education through high-impactscholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and externalfunding.
• Steward departmental resources, including personnel, budgets,facilities, and instructional capacity, with integrity andstrategic focus.
• Build and empower an effective leadership team, fosteringcommunication, shared purpose, and accountability.
• Advocate for EECS across Mizzou and beyond, cultivatingindustry, government, alumni, and philanthropic partnershipsalongside College leaders.
• Guide academic and research planning for Naka Hall’s renovationand related facilities transitions, aligning investments withdepartmental priorities.
• Oversee ABET accreditation for applicable undergraduate degreeprograms.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a closely related field.
• Academic accomplishments that merit an appointment at the rankof Full Professor.

Candidates will be evaluated on

• Demonstrated ability to set direction, mobilize people, andachieve improvements in programs, research, or organizationalperformance.
• Scholarly accomplishments, a strong record of externally fundedresearch, and the academic credibility to lead and champion aresearch-intensive department.
• Ability to lead across electrical engineering, computing, andrelated disciplines while recognizing their distinct educationaland research missions and opportunities for collaboration.
• A forward-looking perspective on emerging technologies, coupledwith the ability to translate shifts in technology, student demand,and workforce needs into academic and research opportunities.
• Integrity, courage, and outstanding communication skills, withthe ability to listen, build trust, navigate disagreement, andfollow through.
• A record of developing faculty and staff, building effectiveteams, and managing people and resources to advance sharedpriorities.
• A strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate studentsuccess and to the teaching, research, and public-service missionof an AAU, R1, land-grant university.

Application Materials

Applications should include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Statement
• Teaching Statement
• Reference Checks will be completed for finalists

Application Deadline

The position will be open until filled

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship may be available for thisposition.

Community Information

Columbia offers small-town friendliness with big city features anda high quality of life for people of all ages and interests.Founded on education and known as an ideal college town, itslocation also makes it an attractive spot for businesses andtravelers. Located on Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63, Columbiais right in the middle of the state and the nation. Just a couplehours’ drive from St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is BooneCounty’s largest population center offering big-city culture,activities, and resources with a low cost of living. Columbia ishome to a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues and hostsmore than a dozen festivals each year. If you want to grow yourcareer, continue your education, raise a family, and retire,Columbia is a good place to be!

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. Foradditional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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