Oregon Institute of Technology
Department Chair, Electrical Engineering & Renewable Energy
Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech), the state's only public polytechnic university, invites nominations and applications for the position of Department Chair, Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy (EERE) within the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management (ETM). This appointment offers an accomplished academic leader the opportunity to guide a distinctive engineering department, revitalize nationally pioneering academic programs, and shape the future of renewable energy and electrical engineering education at an institution known for hands-on learning and industry engagement.
Oregon Tech has long distinguished itself through its commitment to applied education, technological innovation, and the preparation of graduates who are ready to contribute immediately to their professions. Few programs embody that mission more directly than Renewable Energy Engineering. Oregon Tech established the nation's first bachelor's degree in Renewable Energy Engineering and the first such program to earn ABET accreditation. Unlike institutions where renewable energy is primarily a specialization within traditional engineering disciplines, Oregon Tech offers dedicated undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on Renewable Energy Engineering, integrating electrical and mechanical engineering fundamentals with advanced study of renewable energy technologies and systems. This distinctive academic approach helped establish the program's reputation and historically attracted students from across the nation and around the world.
That pioneering history provides a compelling foundation for the department's future. At a time when energy generation, storage, electrification, grid modernization, and emerging technologies are reshaping industry and workforce needs, EERE has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a distinctive source of engineering talent, applied innovation, and industry collaboration. The next Chair will help translate that opportunity into renewed academic vitality, stronger enrollment, and sustained external engagement.
The department serves students across Oregon Tech's Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses, offering bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Electronics Engineering Technology, along with distinct graduate pathways. The Master of Science in Renewable Energy Engineering provides advanced study across a broad range of renewable energy technologies and systems, while Oregon Tech's Master of Science in Engineering, housed within EERE, offers multidisciplinary and specialized options, including Electrical Engineering and Power Systems Engineering. The Power Systems Engineering specialization, jointly offered with the Renewable Energy Engineering master's program, illustrates the complementary relationship between these disciplines. Graduate education includes campus-based and online opportunities, along with accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathways. Together, these programs prepare students for diverse careers in electrical power, renewable energy, electronics, manufacturing, semiconductor technologies, and related fields.
A defining strength of EERE is its extensive network of specialized teaching laboratories and technical resources across both campuses. Students work with professional engineering instrumentation and equipment in electrical power and microgrid systems, photovoltaics, electrochemistry and energy storage, fuel cells, communications, embedded systems, and electronic design and fabrication. These facilities enable students to move beyond theoretical understanding to design, simulate, build, test, and refine working engineering systems. Through laboratory instruction, independent projects, and senior capstone experiences, students develop the technical judgment, problem-solving capabilities, and practical confidence central to Oregon Tech's educational model. Past student projects have addressed real-world challenges ranging from solar-powered refrigeration and renewable energy solutions for remote communities to technologies that improve photovoltaic system maintenance and energy conservation.
The department also benefits from a history of meaningful industry support and applied scholarship. Recent industry contributions and federally supported initiatives involving advanced energy manufacturing, quantum devices, laboratory modernization, and electric vehicle technologies demonstrate the depth of external interest in the department's expertise and applied educational mission. Faculty scholarship spans renewable energy systems, advanced materials, semiconductor-related technologies, and emerging engineering applications. These activities provide a foundation for expanding collaborative research, engaging students in meaningful projects, and deepening relationships with industry and external partners.
The opportunity ahead is both significant and immediate. While Oregon Tech's Renewable Energy Engineering programs have historically attracted students nationally and internationally, enrollment has declined substantially in recent years, particularly in the Bachelor of Science in Renewable Energy Engineering (BSREE) program. By contrast, the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) program has maintained a comparatively stronger enrollment position. This distinction presents a clear opportunity to build upon the stability of Electrical Engineering while restoring the visibility, relevance, and enrollment of Oregon Tech's distinctive renewable energy programs. The next Chair will be instrumental in leading that revitalization, advancing domestic and international student recruitment and retention, and working collaboratively with faculty to modernize and streamline curricula that reflect evolving industry expectations, student needs, and available resources. This work will be central to strengthening academic quality, ensuring program sustainability, and positioning the department for renewed growth.
Equally important is the opportunity to strengthen the department as an academic community. With eight faculty members distributed equally between Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro, EERE requires a leader who can build trust, encourage collaboration, establish shared priorities, and ensure that faculty and students at both campuses experience consistent and effective leadership. The successful Chair will bring the ability to listen, engage, and unite colleagues around a common vision while fostering a culture of accountability, academic excellence, and continuous improvement. Supporting faculty development and creating an environment in which faculty can thrive will be essential to the department's long-term success.
External engagement will be central to the department's continued development. Oregon's engineering, energy, and technology industries offer opportunities for relationships that support student recruitment, internships, industry-sponsored projects, equipment investment, applied research, and graduate employment. The next Chair will serve as a visible advocate for EERE, communicating the distinctive capabilities of its academic programs, faculty, and students, building on existing partnerships, while identifying new avenues for collaboration across the state and beyond. Particular attention to the complementary strengths and opportunities associated with the Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses will be essential.
Importantly, this appointment calls for an academic leader whose accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, and professional engagement provide the credibility to guide a technically diverse department, but whose principal motivation is building programs, developing faculty, advancing student success, and strengthening the department's future. Oregon Tech values applied scholarship and industry-connected innovation. The Chair will foster an environment in which faculty can advance their scholarly interests, engage students in meaningful research, pursue external support, and contribute to the broader academic and professional communities they serve. The opportunity is to build a sustainable culture of scholarship, collaboration, and academic excellence that advances the department as a whole.
Ultimately, the Department Chair of Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy is more than an administrative appointment. It is an opportunity to steward a pioneering academic legacy while providing the leadership necessary to renew its momentum and expand its impact. For a leader who combines deep renewable energy expertise with entrepreneurial thinking, collaborative academic leadership, and a passion for preparing the next generation of engineers, this position offers the chance to build something consequential at a university whose mission is grounded in improving the human condition.
To view the full position prospectus, link here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:04174f0b-c837-4fb8-b124-02ec1ab3235a
Equity & Inclusion
Oregon Tech strongly recognizes and believes that a diverse and inclusive academic environment fosters mutual understanding, interpersonal and individual respect, cultural awareness, harmony, and creativity, while providing necessary role models for all students. Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive university requires that no person experience discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression or any other protected personal characteristic. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who actively demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
LeadExec is partnering with Oregon Institute of Technology in this national search. For inquiries, nominations, applications, and confidential conversations, please contact:
Lisa J. Marks, Founder & CEO
Leyla Kayi, Senior Search Consultant
413.335.6936
chair-eere@leadexec.com
This position is open until filled but only applications received by Thursday, December 10, 2026, can be assured full consideration. Applications should include a detailed letter of interest and a current curriculum vitae/resume.
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