The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Engineering and Society. This department is home to 19 full-time faculty who lead nationally-recognized research in the fields of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) and Engineering Ethics. The department has three main foci:
- Engineering ethics and values
- Knowledge integration across STEM, the humanities, and the social sciences
- Sociotechnical design and innovation practices
We seek a collaborative, visionary leader who will play a critical role in strategic planning to elevate and expand the departments interdisciplinary research and teaching activities.
The department provides essential education that equips all UVA Engineering graduates with strong communication skills and the ethical judgment needed to address complex sociotechnical challenges. These abilities include ethical reasoning, values-based leadership, and professional skills. STS and ethics are key parts of the shared curriculum embedded in the School.
All UVA undergraduate engineering students are required to take courses led by the E&S Department across their UVA career, including Engineering Ethics; STS and Engineering Practice; and The Engineer, Ethics, and Professional Responsibility. There are also 4 undergraduate minors offered by the department: STS, Technology Ethics, History of Science and Technology, and Science and Technology Policy. The department also houses the Online Ethics Center (OEC), Engineering Character Strength Initiative, and the Policy Internship Program.
As a core component of UVA Engineering, the E&S Department advances the schools mission to improve the world through knowledge creation and leadership development and its vision to lead globally in bold research and world-class education. The department also embodies the schools core values of societal impact, leadership education, and collegiality.
The Chair will be expected to:
- Provide strategic, inclusive, and effective leadership for a multidisciplinary department
- Maintain a strong, interdisciplinary research program
- Support and advance curriculum development and pedagogy in STS and ethics for engineering students
- Serve as an effective advocate for the department within UVA Engineering and beyond
- Foster a collegial, collaborative, and inclusive culture
- Mentor and support the professional development of faculty and staff
- Manage departmental operations (e.g., budgeting, staff and faculty mentoring, hiring, strategic planning) with fairness, clarity, and accountability
