Dean

Northeastern University invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Engineering. It’s a role of uncommon scope and opportunity, based in Boston and connected to one of the most distinctive university networks in the world.

The College of Engineering holds a unique position in advancing Northeastern’s identity and ambitions. It is among the university’s largest and most research-intensive colleges, generating $104 million in externally funded research annually and maintaining educational and research activity across 12 of Northeastern’s 14 campuses. Its partnerships extend to more than 2,400 corporate and research collaborators in 43 states and 23 countries.

On the educational side, the college draws from an unprecedented pool of applicants and ranks among the most selective undergraduate engineering programs in the country; it has simultaneously emerged as one of the fastest-growing graduate engineering programs nationally. Home to the #1 co-op program in the nation, the college has built its reputation on rigorous, personalized education and experiential learning that produces exceptional outcomes for its students.

The incoming Dean will arrive at a moment of real momentum. Northeastern has achieved significant advances in academic stature and research prominence, attracted highly eminent faculty and staff, and invested in the facilities and infrastructure to support ambitious work across its global campuses. That growth has been purposeful, guided by a series of bold academic plans and a genuine institutional appetite for what comes next: an even deeper commitment to experiential lifelong learning and use-inspired research, and a clear-eyed embrace of AI and what it means for the future of education and discovery.

The Dean will help shape that next chapter for engineering specifically: translating the college’s considerable strengths into greater impact, deepening its global engagement, and developing an approach to engineering education that reflects both the demands of the moment and the scale of Northeastern's reach.

The right candidate will bring distinguished scholarly credentials and administrative experience to lead a complex, thriving college. Equally important are the qualities that are harder to credential: the ability to earn trust across a large and decentralized university system, to articulate a vision that resonates with faculty, students, alumni, and partners alike, and to recognize in this role the opportunity to lead a college with unique potential and capacity for impact.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

John Muckle and Andy Lee are leading this search with Karen McPhedran and Kira Hamilton.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Northeastern is an E-Verify Employer.