Department Chair, Chemical Engineering
Howard University


Job Info


Howard University

Department Chair, Chemical Engineering

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Howard University in its search for Department Chair, Chemical Engineering.

For priority consideration, please apply by March 24, 2023.

Howard University, a culturally diverse, comprehensive, research intensive and historically Black private university, provides an educational experience of exceptional quality at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels to students of high academic standing and potential.

At the College of Engineering and Architecture at Howard University, within a historical context of emphasizing educational opportunities for Black students, our mission is to educate our students by developing their intellectual abilities and personal growth, instill in them a profound commitment to service and ethical decision-making, and advance knowledge through impactful research and creative work.

This is an exciting opportunity to join this prestigious University and its Department of Chemical Engineering as the Department Chair. With an outstanding ABET-accredited undergraduate program, and a well-established master's degree program, the Department of Chemical Engineering is well positioned to further its legacy through the expansion of its funded research and establishment of a doctoral program in chemical engineering.

In addition to the currently funded research activities in biochemical/biomedical engineering, environmental engineering and food engineering, the department seeks to expand its research capabilities in interdisciplinary areas of biomolecular engineering.

The successful candidate will lead the department's undergraduate and graduate programs and expand the program's research activity and external funding while maintaining its core mission of delivering an excellent undergraduate education and experience.

The new department chair is expected to have demonstrable experience in managing and growing academic programs, a well-established track record of successful proposal submission and project execution, and a substantively demonstrable history of working with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and university administrators, as well as employers, government funding agencies, and community partners.

Expected Qualifications:

  • Doctoral degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field.
  • Outstanding record of leadership, undergraduate and graduate teaching, student mentoring and advising, and a sustained and successful externally funded research program that is deserving of appointment as a tenured full professor.
  • Strong commitment to supporting and promoting a collegial and inclusive working and learning environment.
  • Experience preparing for ABET evaluation.

About the Institution
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private research university comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue 143 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.

Howard is a leader in STEM fields. The National Science Foundation has ranked Howard as the top producer of African-American undergraduates who later earn science and engineering doctoral degrees. The University also boasts nationally ranked programs in social work, business, and communications. To date, we have produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients.

The College of Medicine is internationally regarded for its illustrious legacy of training students to become competent and compassionate physicians who provide health care in medically underserved communities at home and abroad. The College is a national leader in studying health disparities among people of color and is one of America's top institutions for training women surgeons. The Howard University Health Sciences division includes the Howard University Hospital and the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.

For more than 150 years, the Howard University School of Law has served as an advocate for social justice and as an architect of social change. It has produced more than 4,000 social engineers including the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, noted legislators, civil rights attorneys, mayors and public officials across the United States. It is the No. 1 law school for African Americans ranked by preLaw magazine.

The University's motto Veritas et Utilitas, Truth and Service, represents a key part of our identity. The more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students dedicate hundreds of hours each year to service in nearby LeDroit Park, around the nation and throughout the world. Over the U.S. Peace Corps' 50-year history, more than 200 Howard graduates have served as volunteers around the globe, the highest number among historically Black colleges.

The University remains committed to further enhancing its strategic positioning as one of the top research universities in the nation. As we celebrate 154 years, we are uniquely positioned to have the next 150 years as glorious as the past. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

About the College of Engineering and Architecture
Howard University's College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) continues to play a vital role in producing our nation's top engineers and architects. The CEA ranks among the top producers of African American male and female engineers. In its 2021 report titled Engineering by the Numbers, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) lists Howard University in the top twenty in terms of the percentage of engineering bachelor's degrees that are awarded to women. In the same report, the ASEE also lists Howard University in the top twenty in terms of the percentage of engineering Bachelor's Degrees awarded to Underrepresented Minorities.

About the Department
Located in the heart of the nation's capital, the Department of Chemical Engineering at Howard University was established in 1969. Howard University offers the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSChE) and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (MSChE) degree programs. The BSChE degree program provides students with a strong foundation, preparing program graduates for entry into all areas of chemical engineering practice or for the pursuit of advanced degrees in chemical engineering and other disciplines.

The department's mission is to produce outstanding chemical engineering graduates prepared to become technological, managerial, and public service leaders with a keen sense of ethical and social responsibility, grounded in a holistic appreciation of technology. The faculty and staff are committed to providing a learning environment that instills creative and critical thinking, a solid technical foundation, competence and facility in information technology use, and a sensitivity to environmental and safety issues. More information about the Department of Chemical Engineering can be found at https://che.howard.edu.

Living in the Area
Home of the White House, host to 176 diplomatic missions, and more than 600,000 residents, Washington, D.C., is more than "A Capital City," it is the heartbeat of the United States. Washington D.C. is a vibrant city full of history and culture. The iconic landmarks including the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, or the Smithsonian Museums, are all within walking distance of each other. With its dynamic nightlife scene, world-class restaurants, and abundance of art and cultural institutions, Washington D.C. has something to offer every kind of resident. The District of Columbia is surrounded by Maryland to the northwest, north, northeast, east and southeast and Virginia to the south, southwest and west. The Potomac River divides the District of Columbia from Virginia.

Given its designation as the U.S. capital, it is natural that government, national and international politics, and diplomacy are the major industries here. Trade and service industries follow, with finance, law, health care and tourism leading the way. In a city that hosts 176 diplomatic missions, Washington, D.C.'s food culture is a mixture of everyone else's, but there are some noteworthy distinctions.

To Apply:
For priority consideration, please apply by March 24, 2023

To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjyd93ra

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a curriculum vitae and cover letter. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Candidates advanced in the process will be asked to provide the following additional materials:

  • A statement of your vision and key initiatives in research, education, and academic leadership for the department not to exceed 3-pages;
  • A statement describing your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to enhancing representation of Black professionals in engineering;

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.


Inquiries and questions: Please send to HUChairChEEngineering@acesrch.com

Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominees' name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com

EEO/AA Policy
Howard University prohibits discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Code of The District of Columbia, including the following: discrimination based on handicap status or discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, or political affiliation.


This job has expired.

More Education and Training jobs


Stride, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia
Posted about 4 hours ago

University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
$15.00 per hour
Posted about 2 hours ago

University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Posted about 2 hours ago

Get Hired Faster

Subscribe to job alerts and upload your resume!

*By registering with our site, you agree to our
Terms and Privacy Policy.