Dean of Engineering

The Albert Nerken School of Engineering at The Cooper Union is perennially ranked among the nation’s top undergraduate engineering schools. The college seeks a Dean of Engineering with an exciting vision for engineering education in this century, a history of academic leadership, and the administrative acumen to make significant contributions to the institution.

As head of the Albert Nerken School of Engineering, the dean reports directly to the President of The Cooper Union and is a member of the institution’s Academic Leadership Team, playing a critical role in overall institutional planning and academic policy decisions. Required qualifications for the position include an earned doctorate and a distinguished record of research and scholarship in engineering, along with a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching, pedagogical innovation and skilled grantsmanship to support research. The dean will also work with the president and the development staff to increase philanthropic grants that support the Nerken School and institution-wide goals. Over the last decade The Cooper Union has worked diligently in the direction of restoring its historical commitment to free education. The institution seeks a Dean of Engineering that recognizes this priority and is aligned with the goal of returning to full-tuition scholarships for all enrolled undergraduate students by 2028.

One of the nation’s premier undergraduate engineering schools, the Albert Nerken School of Engineering is comprised of eight departments and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering with majors in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering and bachelor and master of science degrees in computer science. Approximately 500 undergraduate and 70 graduate students are enrolled in the Albert Nerken School of Engineering on a historic urban campus in Manhattan’s East Village that brings together the Schools of Architecture, Art, and Engineering, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In recent years, new courses and programs within the School of Engineering and among the schools, such as Vertically Integrated Projects and Interdisciplinary Capstone Projects, have fostered increased interdisciplinary collaboration across the institution.

The engineering faculty maintains a vigorous and dynamic research agenda. Current research concentrations include bioengineering; materials and fluids; autonomy, control, cyber physical systems; machine learning, data science, and artificial intelligence; sustainability; theoretical and computational sciences and mathematics; signal processing and communications; and pedagogy. Engineering faculty members engage in research collaborations with numerous local academic medical centers, research universities, non-profit and government partners, and technology intensive corporations. The faculty are dedicated to student success and are committed to innovative pedagogy, teaching effectiveness, and mentoring.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEAN
• Partner with the president and the board to build an entrepreneurial fundraising mechanism for the School that enhances its connection with, and energizes, alumni and industry;
• Partner with the president and the deans of architecture, art and the faculty of humanities and social sciences to craft and implement a strategic plan that will guide the institution into the future;
• Engage and interact regularly with students, faculty, and staff, with the option of teaching one course per semester;
• Lead, mentor, and advise the faculty, and interact with campuswide and faculty committees;
• Carry out yearly reappointment reviews, provide evaluation of candidates for promotion and tenure, and provide opportunities for faculty and staff professional development;
• Explore and promote a wide variety of student learning environments that support and sustain the School’s mission;
• Work with members of the Academic Leadership Team to identify and support potential interdisciplinary collaborations, both among the engineering, science, and mathematics disciplines and with The Cooper Union’s exceptional Schools of Architecture, Art, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences;
• Develop and facilitate professional partnerships with external institutions that have deep relevance to the academic and social mission of the School in the New York metropolitan area, nationally, and internationally to advance and sustain the School’s mission; and
• Engage in open dialogues that promote inclusion, consensus, and the respect of a breadth of ideas.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS
• An inspirational leader with exceptional communication skills and an aptitude for listening and consensus building;
• A desire to support undergraduate education through the exploration of novel paradigms;
• An exceptional record of undergraduate teaching and mentoring;
• A strong record of responsible budget development and fiscal management;
• A track-record of building and maintaining alumni interaction;
• Proven capabilities in developing opportunities and new initiatives in engineering research and interdisciplinary collaborations both internally and externally;
• Significant experience in building community relationships; and
• Impeccable personal and professional integrity.

EDUCATION
The Dean should possess an earned Ph.D., or equivalent terminal degree(s) in a field related to the School, and possess a record of recognized achievement in teaching, research, and service that would warrant appointment as a Full Professor.

COMPENSATION
The Cooper Union offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience.

Salary range for this position starts at $390,000.

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The priority application deadline is January 12th, 2026. Nominations and expressions of interest will continue to be received until a list of candidates is put forward for final consideration.

Applications should include 1) a detailed curriculum vitae and 2) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described above, as well as the applicant’s motivation to apply.
To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to: