The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) seeks a visionary, engaged, and effective Chair of the Department of Computer Science (CS) to work with and lead the department.
The department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science, a new B.S. in Artificial Intelligence, and M.S. degrees in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. The B.S. in CS offers concentrations in Software Engineering, Secure Cyber-Systems, and Data Analytics, and a Secure Cyber-Systems concentration is also available at the graduate level. Through CS undergraduate and graduate programs, UTEP is designated as an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations, and Cybersecurity Research. UTEP's recently established Applied AI Innovation Institute (AAII) fosters collaborative, interdisciplinary AI research and deployment in complex, culturally rich settings, an asset for faculty seeking to make a real-world impact.
The CS department is deeply committed to student professional development and advancement through faculty mentoring and research engagement at all levels. Leading companies and government agencies are heavily recruiting our graduates.
CS faculty lead impactful research in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Computer Systems, and Theoretical Foundations of CS. Our faculty are nationally recognized for their scholarship and leadership in professional organizations, and the department consistently ranks among the highest at UTEP in research expenditures. With a collegial and supportive academic community of 26 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, four teaching faculty, and two research faculty members, we foster innovation, collaboration, and student success.
The successful candidate will have a proven record of leadership in professional, research, or service environments; a strong research record; administrative experience; a record of securing funding from government and/or industry; and an understanding and appreciation of curricular development, including assessment, educational objectives, and the impacts of the maturation of the field. Responsibilities include leading the undergraduate and graduate Computer Science programs, improving program enrollments by supporting outreach, recruitment, and retention; supporting research activities in the department and in multidisciplinary research efforts across campus; and representing the Department both within the college and university, and externally.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE: UTEP's CS department is part of the College of Engineering, along with six other academic departments. The College of Engineering offers students interdisciplinary and industry training opportunities, study abroad programs, and other professional development opportunities. The college is consistently ranked among the top schools in the U.S. in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanics.
ABOUT UTEP AND EL PASO: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, opportunity, and community-engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region whose mission includes increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery, create public value, and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 25,000 students, 85% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs and is the only open-access, top-tier research university in the United States.
Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. A family-oriented community that is one of the safest large cities in the U.S., El Paso has a reasonable cost of living, with an average home value of $224,000 in 2025, and Texas has no income tax. The region's rich culture includes a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, a new children's science museum, the state's longest-running symphony orchestra, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. Sports fans will enjoy Division I college athletics, Triple-A baseball affiliate the El Paso Chihuahuas, and professional soccer team El Paso Locomotive FC, and outdoor enthusiasts will be drawn to year-round hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing in nearby state parks.
Job Requirements
Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field and have taken on leadership roles. Excellent communication skills are required. It is required that the applicant will qualify for a position at the level of Full Professor with tenure. Applicants should have an established record of successful collaboration and networking in a professional context, management acumen, and a demonstrated willingness to support a student-oriented department culture.
RANK & SALARY: Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Procedure
Review of applications will begin on January 20, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For consideration, please include the following:
1) a letter of interest (2 pages max);
2) curriculum vitae;
3) names of at least four references;
4) a statement of research and teaching (2 pages max); and
5) a statement of leadership philosophy, administrative experience, and accomplishments (2 pages max).
Anticipated appointment date is Fall 2026. To apply, visit www.utep.edu/employment.
Applications must also be submitted via e-mail in a single PDF file to CSChairSearch@utep.edu. Include "Faculty Position Application: YOUR NAME" in the "Subject" block in your e-mail submittal.
In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.
