CEE Chair and Soloman Professorship

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Chair, Southern Methodist University

Position No. 53812

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (CEE) at Southern Methodist University (SMU) seeks candidates for chair of the department with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2022.  Minimum qualifications are an earned Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline, with experience commensurate with the rank of Professor.  A PE license or ability to get one is preferred.  The successful candidate will simultaneously hold the Solomon Professor for Global Development endowed professorship.  The Solomon Professor position will be affiliated as a Senior Fellow with the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute (HI) for Engineering and Humanity at the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering (http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Institutes/HuntInstitute). Candidates are sought with expertise in the broad area of sustainable development and a passion for leading a dynamic department through further growth.

The CEE department is one of five departments in the Lyle School of Engineering and shares the Lyle school focus on innovative research with measurable positive impact outside the university. The department currently has nine full-time faculty and four affiliated faculty with research strengths in Environmental, Transportation, Structural, and Geotechnical Engineering.  Degree offerings include B.S. and M.S. degrees in both Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, an M.A. in Sustainability and Development, and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Additional information about the department’s programs and research laboratories can be found at https://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Academics/Departments/CEE. The department has a diverse student population, with approximately 50% female students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more about the rich cultural environment at SMU, please visit http://smu.edu.

The department has identified four, interdisciplinary themes for strategic growth: smart and resilient cities, functional recovery of civil infrastructure and communities from natural hazards, global and sustainable development, and natural resource management.  The department expects several faculty openings in the coming years to support development in these areas.  Additional strategic strengths within the department and SMU include outstanding instruments and equipment in existing laboratory space, synergistic alignment between the CEE department and the HI, potential collaborations with departments across the university, and access to world-class computational resources via the ManeFrame II High Performance Computing Center.  Successful candidates will present a passion and vision for continued growth and development of the department.

With over 10,000 students, SMU is a leading private university located in Dallas and home to the Lyle School of Engineering. The Lyle School maintains a steadfast focus on using engineering to address important issues both at home and around the world, supporting the priorities of the CEE department.

SMU is designated as a preferred employer in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, one of the most prolific high-tech industrial centers in the country. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is a multi-faceted business and engineering community, offering exceptional museums, diverse cultural attractions and a vibrant economy. Dallas’ quality of life is exceptional with a relatively low cost of living, and a variety of dynamic neighborhoods close to the university. 

Applications should be submitted through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/99008.  Candidates are required to submit a Curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interest, and a statement of leadership background and philosophy with their application.  Review of applications will begin January 15, 2022. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by this date, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.