Chair and Professor, Department of Information Sciences and Technology

The George Mason University Department of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), within the Volgenau School of Engineering, invites applications for the position of Department Chair.

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

The IST Department has 27 full-time faculty members with research strengths in cybersecurity, networks, data mining and machine learning, natural language processing, human-centered computing, and computing and engineering education.The department also utilizes the expertise of about 90 adjunct professors in teaching undergraduate and graduate classes. IST has the largest and fastest growing undergraduate major in the university, the BS in Information Technology (ABET-accredited), serving more than 1700 students. Also available fully online, the BS program consistently ranks among the top 20 online programs in the US. Additionally, according to the Computer Training Schools website Mason is ranked as the number 1 Computer Science and IT University in Virginia.

The department has about 200 graduate students in the MS in Applied Information Technology (AIT) program, ranking consistently in the top 25 Online Master's in Information Technology programs in the country according to the U.S. News and World Report. In addition to BS and MS programs, the department also participates in an interdisciplinary MS program in Data Analytics Engineering and a PhD program in Information Technology (concentration in IST) offered by the Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE). The IST Department has been growing at a healthy rate through faculty hiring, with particular emphasis on tenured/tenure-track positions. Research expenditures of the department exceeded $4.9 Million in 2019. Funding sources include NSF, DOD, DARPA, NIH, and DHHS. Faculty awardees include NSF CAREER and NSF CRII recipients.

In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarter in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing, and George Mason University has committed to accelerate its plans to grow programs in computing and high-tech fields. Among the exciting initiatives being undertaken by the university are the launch of the Institute for Digital InnovAtion, a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy, and the expansion of its Arlington Campus with a planned 400,000 square foot Digital InnovAtion Building. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate Mason's already leading national position in computing and related areas. IST is a strong contributor in these initiatives.

For more information on the department, please visit our website: http://ist.gmu.edu/.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Dean of the School, the Department Chair is the chief academic and administrative leader for the department and serves as a key member of the School's leadership team. The Chair will provide vision and leadership to advance the department, positioning the department as a leader in innovation and education in information sciences and information technology. S/he will guide and lead a strong scholarship and research agenda, promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, including the development of collaborative academic programs, and grow the proportion of women and minorities in the educational programs.

Required Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a PhD in Computer Science, Information Science / Technology or a related field and qualify to be a tenured Full Professor in the IST Department. Competitive candidates will have an outstanding record in research with a strong record of funding, along with a genuine understanding of the teaching mission and the importance of providing undergraduate and graduate students with the highest quality educational experience. A demonstrated commitment to the effective mentoring of junior faculty is essential. The Department Chair must have the leadership skills and vision to advance the department to the next level and possess sound personal and academic integrity, strong oral and written communication skills, and a focus on openness and transparency.

Mason Engineering: The Future of Engineering is Here The Volgenau School of Engineering at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education, with approximately 250 full-time faculty. The school boasts more than 8,170 students in 37 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Volgenau School researchers earned more than $90 million in awards over the last 12 months. Located in the heart of Northern Virginia's technology corridor, Mason Engineering stands out for its excellence in emerging areas including big data, cybersecurity, healthcare technology, robotics and autonomous systems, signals and communications, and sustainable infrastructure. George Mason University George Mason University is the largest public research university in Virginia, classified at the R1 highest research activity level, with an enrollment of over 38,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. Mason is located in the city of Fairfax in Northern Virginia at the doorstep of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, with unmatched geographical access to a number of federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. Fairfax is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country, and has an outstanding local public school system.

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number F403AZ at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a curriculum vitae, vision statement (to attach as 'Other Doc'), a statement on what diversity and inclusion means to you (to attach as 'Other Doc'), and the names of three professional references. All candidate information will be held in strict confidence. Preference will be given to applications received by March 16, 2020 and review will continue until the position is filled.

"Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition."