Job Details

Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing

Position Number: 6725558
Location: Laramie, WY
Position Type: Deans - Science

Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing

The University of Wyoming seeks an Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/UW_Dean_SoC_Profile.pdf
Location: Laramie, Wyoming

The Position:
The University of Wyoming (UW) invites nominations and applications to be the Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing (SoC). UW seeks an effective, innovative, and visionary leader with the experience and enthusiasm to advance the School's academic mission, elevate its national profile, and cultivate strategic partnerships that benefit the University and the state of Wyoming.

The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Computing. Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all aspects of the School. The Dean is responsible for fostering a culture of academic excellence, promoting student success, supporting world-class research, and advancing interdisciplinary collaboration across UW.

The Dean of the School of Computing will serve in a uniquely influential leadership role within Wyoming's public higher education system. With a robust and growing institutional endowment, the University of Wyoming Foundation manages more than $1 billion in assets (including a $911 million endowment as of July 2025). UW is committed to investing in the SoC and other strategic academic priorities that establish the foundation for long-term prosperity in the state. The inaugural Dean will play a pivotal role in advancing these priorities by supporting faculty excellence, expanding interdisciplinary research, strengthening workforce partnerships, and promoting inclusive academic and industry collaborations across the state and beyond. Building on its significant endowment, the next Dean will play a major role in enhancing fundraising efforts to further the ambitions of the University and the SoC.

Opportunities and Expectations:

The Dean of the School of Computing will be expected to:
Provide effective, strategic leadership to elevate the School as a national model for interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, and high-impact discovery enabled by computing and its applications. The Dean will direct the School in developing and aligning its academic programs, research priorities, and student outcomes with the state and nation's most pressing challenges.
Advance UW's land-grant mission by expanding statewide and national partnerships that translate research into economic development, rural resilience, and technological advancement in areas of importance to the state and region, including energy, agriculture, health and many other areas. This includes deepening collaborations with university colleges, Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships, UW IT (CIO), the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and other key campus and industry partners.
Promote student recruitment and retention that expands access, improves student outcomes, and ensures that SoC, and more broadly UW, graduates are well-prepared for the future of work through the applications of computing.
Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff who are committed to research excellence in the development and application of computation across disciplines, innovative pedagogy, and community impact. The Dean will foster a supportive academic culture grounded in collaboration, integrity, and excellence, and oversee promotion and tenure processes, faculty evaluation, and professional development.
Foster and uphold a culture of shared governance, working closely with the School's faculty to ensure inclusive decision-making.
Strengthen interdisciplinary academic and research initiatives. The Dean will play a key role in supporting joint degree programs and interdisciplinary research centers with units across UW.
Forge partnerships with state, national, and international institutions of higher education, research organizations and national laboratories to enhance education, research, and economic development programs for our faculty, staff, and students, and for the state of Wyoming.
Expand philanthropic and external funding support, working in close partnership with the UW Foundation, industry stakeholders, state and federal agencies and private foundations to secure investments that advance SoC's and UW's long-term strategic goals.
Ensure institutional alignment and active participation in university-wide governance, contributing to the University's vision as an R1 public flagship institution with global impact and deep roots in the Mountain West.

Qualifications:

Minimum
An earned doctorate in any relevant discipline.
A distinguished record of research, teaching, and service in any interdisciplinary areas of computing and its applications commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor, with national and/or international recognition for the candidate's record of scholarship.
Demonstrated success in academic leadership, including strategic planning, personnel management, complex budget management, and resource development.
Experience in competitive federal funding from appropriate research agencies, such as NSF, DOE, NIH or other relevant agencies, and from private foundations supporting research.
Commitment to and experience in enhancing student-centered learning and success, and building excellence through faculty recruitment and promotion, and strengthening academic programs.
Demonstrated evidence of a collaborative and transparent leadership style and commitment to shared governance.

Preferred
Understanding of and/or involvement in setting national trends in research, education, and best practices in computation and its applications (e.g., as shown by participation in national advisory committees of research agencies, national laboratories, or university research institutes, review committees of federal research and/or university research programs, participation in national academy reports and/or reports informing research agency priorities, national awards, being named fellow of relevant societies, etc.).
Commitment to building and experience in strengthening interdisciplinary computational academic programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Experience in attracting students to and growing enrollment in interdisciplinary computational degree and certificate programs.
Demonstrated success in cultivating industry partnerships and advancing economic engagement, as well as experience in supporting entrepreneurship activities for faculty, students, and staff.
Experience leading, cultivating, and supporting interdisciplinary research and academic collaborations across multiple departments and/or colleges.
Strong communication skills and the ability to represent the School to diverse constituencies.
Record of accomplishment in developing and maintaining relationships with donors to support the development of major initiatives and engaging with alumni to develop new funding networks.
Understanding of and appreciation for the mission of a public, land-grant, R1 university.

About the School of Computing:
In 2022, under the leadership of President Edward Seidel, the Trustees of the University approved creation of a new, university-wide School of Computing (SoC), with a broad vision to bring computing to students in every domain and across every college, and to hire an interdisciplinary cohort of faculty jointly with any/all academic units from English to Engineering. Reporting directly to the Provost and initially incubated in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Provost appointed Dr. Gabrielle Allen to build the School through its inception phase.

In just over three years, the SoC has built, from the ground up, a vibrant, collaborative, and interdisciplinary culture that includes 22 core faculty jointly appointed with 7 different academic units and 44 affiliate faculty from 23 units across the University, 7 geospatial/software developers, and 8 administrative support staff. With the creation of multiple new degree programs, already over 100 students, and more than $15 million in external funding (joint with other units), the SoC is rapidly growing, and was recently approved by the Board to become a fully free-standing school, beginning July 1, 2025. It is now time to conduct an international search to identify its inaugural Dean to lead the School and University into a future where computation and its applications will become increasingly important for every student, every discipline, companies, and society as a whole.

About the University of Wyoming:
Nestled amid the beauty of two mountain ranges in southeastern Wyoming, you will find the nationally recognized teaching and research institution, the University of Wyoming (UW). Established as a land-grant institution in 1886 when Wyoming was still a territory, UW has since grown to nearly 200 areas of study, drawing approximately 10,800 students from all 50 states and 83 countries. UW is known for its accomplished faculty and world-class facilities, its low student/faculty ratio, and quality undergraduate and graduate online and classroom-based programs within its 11 colleges and schools. To learn more, please visit http://www.uwyo.edu.

Throughout its existence, UW has been the only four-year public university in the state of Wyoming, and it maintains close relationships with the state's eight community colleges. UW's global impact begins with innovative undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and extends through state and federal partnerships and recent initiatives such as the School of Computing, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Governor Gordon's Wyoming Innovation Partnership. UW has played an important role in the lives of students and Wyoming residents for 138 years. Outside Magazine identified Laramie as "the perfect affordable mountain town," noting the cost of living; access to outdoor activities; food, art, and culture; and the influence of UW, including its academic and other offerings. Furthermore, Wyoming ranked #5 in the U.S. News and World Report's "Best States for Higher Education". In the area of tuition and fees, Wyoming ranks No. 2 in part because of its low cost for University of Wyoming students. UW's tuition and fees for resident undergraduates are the lowest in the nation among doctoral degree-granting institutions. The University community is working collaboratively to help the University reinforce and strengthen its reputation as it adapts to changing economic factors in the state and beyond. The University's strategic roadmap, "Forward for Wyoming 2023+: A Strategic Plan for the University of Wyoming," demonstrates that it is an exciting time to be a part of UW as the institution embarks on ambitious and impactful initiatives.

Location: Laramie, Wyoming, a town with approximately 31,000 people, has a unique blend of sophistication and Western hospitality. UW not only provides an environment for success but also offers varied academic and lifestyle opportunities. Named the "#1 Small College Town in America" by College Value Online, Laramie boasts a moderate cost of living with no state income tax, incredible outdoor recreational opportunities, an eclectic downtown, and a great public school system.

To Apply:
The University of Wyoming, in consultation with Summit Search Solutions, Inc., will begin a confidential review of application materials immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by February 1, 2026, will be given first consideration. Please submit a CV/resume and a letter that explains your interest and related experience/qualifications upon application. All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.

To apply online, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su485

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Chris Shade
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: (440) 655-2285
cshade@summitsearchsolutions.com

The University of Wyoming is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer (UW Reg 4-1). The University does not discriminate in employment or personnel practices on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, creed, ancestry, political belief, pregnancy, or any other protected category or participation in any protected activity. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please call 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu. Review the Know Your Rights poster.

Pursuant to Wyoming State law, W.S. 19-14-102, as amended, an honorably discharged veteran who has been a resident of the state of Wyoming for one (1) year or more at any time prior to the date when the veteran applies for employment, or any surviving spouse who was married to such veteran at the time of the veteran's death, who is receiving federal survivor benefits based on the veteran's military service and is applying for employment, shall receive an interview preference during the applicant screening process with the University of Wyoming. At the time of application, the applicant must possess the business capacity, competency, education or other qualifications required for the position. If disabilities do not materially interfere with performance of job duties, disabled veterans will be given preference over able-bodied veterans. Appropriate documentation of veteran status must be provided at time of application as outlined in the application process. No preference will be given to a veteran currently employed by a public department.

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Application URL https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su485