Bob Bowen Head, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering

Bob Bowen Head, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering Job Summary

The Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering (LSCCE) in the College of Engineering at Purdue University is seeking the next Bob Bowen Head and Professor. Programs in the School are ranked among the very best in the United States. The undergraduate and graduate programs rank 3rd and 5th, respectively, with the Online Master’s Program ranked 2nd, according to U.S. News & World Report.

LSCCE is also one of the largest Civil and Construction Engineering schools in the nation, with 1,146 total students (749 undergraduates and 397 graduate students, including 174 PhD students) and 58 faculty. Within six months of graduation, the hiring rate for civil engineering students is over 98 percent, and the hiring rate for construction engineering students is 100 percent.

The Lyles School has nine specialty areas in architectural engineering, construction engineering, environmental engineering, geomatics engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic and hydrologic engineering, materials engineering, structural engineering, and transportation and infrastructure systems engineering. In addition to its state‑of‑the‑art facilities that include more than 20 research and undergraduate teaching laboratories, LSCCE is also home to the 66,000 square‑foot Robert L. and Terry L.

Bowen Laboratory for Large‑Scale Civil Engineering Research. Few other universities in the country have similar facilities, but none are as modern as Bowen Laboratory. FY 2025 research expenditures within the Lyles School exceeded $21 million, and the market value of the LSCCE endowment is $127.5 million. Along with the rest of the Purdue Engineering program, the Lyles School successfully completed its ABET review for both Civil and Construction Engineering in Fall 2025.

LSCCE is seeking a visionary, innovative, collaborative Head to lead the School in its next phase. In summer 2024, the School of Civil Engineering and the Division of Construction Engineering merged, and the next phase of LSCCE will be driven by an entrepreneurial approach to achieve national pre‑eminence in key areas and to grow undergraduate and professional MS/online programs. Purdue’s new integrated campus in Indianapolis offers tremendous opportunities for undergraduate program growth, greenfield professional MS programs and industry partnerships for LSCCE.

The Construction Engineering program is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the 26‑27 academic year with opportunities for increasing industry engagement and philanthropic fundraising. Opportunities for growing discretionary revenues for the School include scaling up professional and online MS programs, industry partnerships, sponsored research, and significant philanthropic fundraising as part of the College and University’s current “Victories and Heroes” campaign.

The successful candidate must hold a Ph.D. degree in Civil and Construction Engineering or a related discipline by the employment start date, and will bring a modern vision for LSCCE, strong strategic thinking skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a passion for pre‑eminence and excellence. Competitive candidates will bring a highly respected research background with a record of funding, along with a genuine commitment to both undergraduate and graduate education as well as experience mentoring early career faculty and graduate students.

The Head will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills; will be astute in administration and resource management; and will possess a talent for developing strong stakeholder relations, particularly with other units within the College of Engineering and across the University, as well as with alumni/alumnae and industry partners. LSCCE seeks a student‑centered and service‑oriented leader with unassailable personal and professional integrity who exudes pride in the profession and appreciates the University’s land‑grant mission.

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership that capitalizes on opportunities that are distinct to LSCCE and considers Purdue’s growth areas and areas of integration and…