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The College of Engineering (CENG) is known as a national leader in engineering education with its Learn by Doing, hands-on approach and focus on undergraduate and master’s degree education. The College includes approximately 6,200 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students who are enrolled in 14 bachelor’s and 11 master’s degree programs, most of which are ABET accredited. With an emphasis on applied learning and problem-solving, the College’s in-demand graduates are heavily recruited by some of the best-known companies in the world including Apple, Boeing, Cisco, Google, Tesla Motors in addition to state and federal agencies.
The College offers a robust array of highly-ranked engineering and computer science programs, including Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science & Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, General Engineering, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, as well as additional graduate programs in Engineering Management, Fire Protection Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine. Undergraduate students can opt to pursue a blended program in several CENG disciplines, providing an accelerated route to a graduate degree. CENG recently unveiled the Noyce School of Applied Computing (Noyce School), a new interdisciplinary school combining three academic departments under one umbrella: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science & Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering, further developing the concept of applied computing and strengthening collaborations across the College and the University. Interdisciplinary engineering programs can also be found outside of CENG, including Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies, Architectural Engineering, and Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering, as well as Cal Maritime’s School of Engineering programs in Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Engineering Technology, and Marine Engineering Technology.
Student success is paramount to the College of Engineering, and the College aims to provide an excellent education that empowers all students to innovate, design, and create sustainable solutions to real-world challenges. As part of this mission, CENG is committed to universal student success and offers a robust advising model that provides comprehensive services to guide and empower students to achieve their goals.
Current Context
In November 2024, the California State University Board of Trustees voted to integrate Cal Poly and the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), and effective July 1, 2025, the two institutions now operate as a single university, Cal Poly.
Announced in June 2024, the Noyce endowment is a transformational gift to the University, enabling Cal Poly to build upon its nationally recognized Learn by Doing approach to undergraduate education. It brings together three highly ranked engineering programs—Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering—to create the Noyce School of Applied Computing.
In October 2021, the University began the process of converting from a quarter calendar to a semester calendar system, and the University will implement semester terms at the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. After Cal Poly converts to a semester calendar, the entire California State University system will be operating on semesters.
Looking ahead, enrollment is expected to grow in the coming years to support CSU system goals, meet California’s demand for more Learn by Doing graduates, better reflect the state of California’s demographics, and align with system-wide financial incentives. The most recent campus master plan calls for growing the maximum student headcount on campus to approximately 25,000 by 2035. This growth will be supported by the introduction of Year-Round Operations (YRO), which will be implemented in the 2027-2028 academic year.
Role of the Dean
Reporting directly to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, the dean will act as the lead academic and administrative officer for the College. The dean devises and executes strategic planning and visioning for the College and fosters an organizational culture that enables the recruitment, retention, and professional development of talented faculty, staff, and students. This includes reaffirming Cal Poly’s teacher-scholar model by supporting faculty in their integration of teaching, scholarship, professional engagement, and service commitments to the University, College, and industry. The dean is responsible for the vision and direction of high-quality academic programs and managing the fiscal, human, and physical resources and facilities of CENG. As the main spokesperson for the College, the dean will build deeper connections internally with leaders across the University and alumni, and externally with industry and government officials. This will ensure close alignment around academic and industry needs and foster mutually beneficial partnerships across the University and externally in support of CENG, Academic Affairs, and university-wide goals and objectives.
The dean oversees an administrative team composed of three directors, three associate deans, an assistant dean, nine department heads, and approximately 187 tenure-track faculty, 216 lecturers, and 46 staff. The dean manages a complex budget of $56 million and extensive engineering facilities.
Key Opportunities and Challenges
The new dean will be joining a highly reputable College that has a very solid and successful foundation, values collaboration and communication, and prides itself on a talented and ambitious faculty, staff, and students who are all committed to making an even greater impact. The dean will be expected to leverage the strong academic offerings within the College; the deep talents and enthusiasm of faculty, staff, administrators, and students; their impressive reputation with industry partners; and the outstanding potential for increased fundraising support from industry and alumni to accelerate the College on its impressive trajectory. In doing so, the dean will address the following opportunities and challenges:
- Provide strategic visioning and planning to continue to elevate the College’s excellence, prominence, and national reputation
- Build and deepen partnerships that support and enhance the success of the College and its students
- Thoughtfully manage CENG’s complex infrastructure while creatively augmenting resources through fundraising
- Support a high-performing College of dedicated and ambitious faculty and staff
- Serve as a strategic university partner at Cal Poly and in the CSU system to support university-wide goals and initiatives
The dean will be a highly collaborative leader who will support Academic Affairs and university-wide goals, as well as CENG and CSU objectives. In addition to the upcoming transition to a semester system and year-round operations, the dean of CENG will also be involved with assisting with the successful integration of Cal Maritime, university-wide and CSU fundraising goals, and university commitment to representing the state of California’s population in its student enrollment. The dean will empower and support the CENG community while leveraging its talents in promoting opportunities to work across colleges in support of Cal Poly’s aspirations. The dean will model transformative, collaborative leadership and execute a shared vision and purpose in line with Cal Poly and CSU initiatives.
Qualifications and Characteristics
The next dean will have a distinguished record of achievement in at least one of the engineering disciplines represented in the College of Engineering and credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor, including a terminal degree. The dean will also have an eagerness to engage with industry leaders to build meaningful partnerships and support; a demonstrated commitment to student success and applied research; and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively across Cal Poly.
Compensation and Location
The anticipated salary range for the position is $300-350k plus supplemental compensation. Cal Poly is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
To learn more about the role, please review the attached position profile. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website.
Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
Supplemental Information
Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.
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