DEPARTMENT CHAIR
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
Rochester Institute of Technology invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Technology (MMET). RIT seeks a dynamic, visionary leader who fosters innovation and collaboration in a shared governance environment to lead its vibrant educational, research, and service activities while ensuring efficient operations of administrative functions. Preferred candidates will have academic preparation and professional experience enabling them to support and grow the department's undergraduate and graduate programs both within RIT and in industry, along with a documented record of teaching, research/scholarship, and service experience commensurate with the qualifications for tenure at the academic rank of full professor.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Dean of the College of Engineering Technology (CET) and interacting with leadership of other units on campus, the department chair serves as the principal representative of the MMET department with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The department chair is responsible for leading a growing department to support the academic missions of the university, including developing new programs, strengthening existing programs, expanding the research profile of the department, growing collaborative relationships, student recruitment and retention initiatives, and nurturing programs and departmental faculty activity. The department chair leads the department faculty and staff with excellent strategic, organizational and communication skills capable of garnering support for a common vision. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and collaborative leadership; expand faculty and student scholarship; and strengthen innovation and excellence in educational programming.
The department chair also oversees the department budget, coordinates teaching assignments, evaluates, and mentors department faculty and staff, and ensures student engagement and success. The ideal department chair candidate will have a strong record of research and academic accomplishments, teaching excellence, and a record of service commensurate with the rank of full professor. The department chair is expected to provide strategic vision and leadership to the academic department, including management of the academic program and research labs, continued development of faculty to expand rigorous research, educational, and interdisciplinary programs, and implementation of student success programs.
This position is an 11-month academic tenured appointment with administrative, teaching, research, and service responsibilities. The department chair will have dedicated time for administrative, educational, strategic, and research initiatives. The successful candidate will have the ability and interest to contribute to a vibrant community committed to student success; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; respect for RIT's core values; innovation and flexibility; teamwork and collaboration.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
The College of Engineering Technology is home to eight undergraduate programs plus CET Exploration, and five graduate programs. It is one of RIT's nine colleges and enrolls nearly 10% of the university's student body. CET prides itself on its constant evolution, innovation, and global outreach via online learning, corporate education, and international programs. CET is known throughout the RIT, national, and international communities as an excellent choice for an education that embraces the integration of “hands-on-minds-on learning” and application-based instruction grounded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). CET supports all students in an inclusive learning environment and welcomes a student body where first-generation and AALANA (African American, Latin American, and Native American) students represent greater than 30% of the undergraduate population.
More information on the College of Engineering Technology may be found here: College of Engineering Technology.
The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Technology offers an immersive, hands-on education in mechanical, mechatronics, robotics, and manufacturing engineering technology. Home to the nation's second-largest mechanical engineering technology program, MMET enrolls more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its curriculum prepares students for technical careers through applied study in mechanical, thermal-fluid, and mechatronic system design, robotics and automation, materials, manufacturing, and product development. The department also offers an M.S. in mechatronics and mechanical systems, integrating engineering, robotics, automation, and computing to create smart products and manufacturing systems.
MMET's interdisciplinary structure brings faculty and laboratories together within a single academic unit, enabling students to develop the breadth and depth needed to collaborate across design, production, automation, and systems integration. Academic advisors, student organizations, and strong industry partnerships further support the student experience. An Industrial Advisory Board of global industry leaders and executives regularly reviews the curriculum to ensure alignment with emerging technologies and workforce needs. Students may also pursue specialized study in areas such as robotics and surface-mount electronics manufacturing.
Experiential learning is central to the department through RIT's cooperative education program, which enables students to gain professional experience with organizations in aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing. Modern facilities, including the Machine Shop and SHED Makerspace, support applied learning and faculty research in areas such as bio-printed tissue, self healing materials, and robotics. This combination of rigorous academics, industry engagement, and practical training contributes to full-time job placement rates of 95% to 98% and positions MMET as a strong source of career-ready talent.
More information on the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Technology may be found here: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
ABOUT ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Founded in 1829, RIT is a collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, RIT provides exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The university provides unparalleled access and support services for more than 900 deaf and hard-of-hearing students who live, study, and work with hearing students on the RIT campus.
Beyond the main campus in Rochester, New York, RIT has international campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo. RIT has more than 21,000 students and more than 150,000 graduates from 50 states and more than 100 nations. RIT has more than 17,000 students enrolled on the main campus, including about 2,000 international students. With an additional 4,000 students enrolled at RIT's global campuses, RIT is driving progress in industries and communities around the world.
RIT is internationally recognized and ranked for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. In 2019, RIT moved into the high research activity institution, or R2 category under the updated Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning, ranking it among the top six percent of colleges and universities in the nation for research activity.
Excelling in research and teaching, faculty are passionate about their disciplines and their role in both the lab and the classroom. They are innovative and resourceful. They engage students in the process of discovery and the contribution of new knowledge to their fields. Enthusiasm and commitment to teaching are undeniable characteristics of RIT's faculty. From graphic artists and engineers to scientists and management specialists, they spark curiosity, challenge students to grow, and inspire them to achieve their dreams.
More information may be found here: www.RIT.edu.
