Funk Associates Recruits Dean for the University of South Alabama College of Engineering

October 30, 2024 – Funk Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Darryl James as dean of the University of South Alabama College of Engineering. He takes over the deanship from John Usher, who will remain on faculty. “Dr. James brings a wealth of experience to South, both as a faculty member, and as a highly effective leader,” said Andi Kent, University of South Alabama executive vice president and provost. “He has an ambitious plan for our College of Engineering that includes increasing student engagement, supporting our excellent faculty, and expanding collaboration with our community and industry partners throughout the Gulf Coast region and beyond. I am excited to see him put that plan into action.”
Dr. James joins the school after serving on the faculty at Texas Tech University for more than 30 years. He is a professor of mechanical engineering and, since 2015, has been the vice provost for institutional effectiveness at Texas Tech. In addition to managing the university’s accreditation process, he established the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, managed the STEM Center for Outreach, Research and Education, and chaired the Academic Council, among other accomplishments. As director of graduate studies in the department of mechanical engineering, he started the college’s first accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program and doubled the size of the graduate program.
Dr. James’ vision at the University of South Alabama is for the College of Engineering to become a national leader in transformative engineering research, education and innovation. “We will empower our people to push the boundaries of knowledge, create sustainable solutions to global challenges and foster collaborations within the USA community and with industry partners,” he said. “I am eager to begin working with the outstanding faculty, staff and students in the college, supporting their growth and helping them achieve their full potential.”
In his new position, Dr. James serves as the chief academic officer for the college and guides the college’s efforts in academic curriculum development, faculty and staff development, research and scholarly activity, external fundraising and the building of partnerships with the industry community and alumni.
Related: Funk Associates Assists Purdue for Life Foundation with CEO Search
The mission of the College of Engineering is to provide students with high-quality, accessible undergraduate and graduate engineering education; to prepare graduates for professional careers and lifelong learning; to create and disseminate knowledge; and to serve society through economic and technological development of the Gulf Coast, the State of Alabama and the Nation. It offers five ABET-accredited baccalaureate degrees, as well as, five master’s degrees, the doctor of philosophy in systems engineering, and the doctor of philosophy in chemical and biomolecular engineering. Major industries in the local area and region offer opportunities for industrial/academic collaborations, while numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations exist with the USA College of Medicine, USA Health, the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and the USA College of Arts and Sciences.
Funk Associates Initiates Podcast Series “Voices of Leadership”
Funk Associates announced the premier of its podcast series, “Voices of Leadership”. The podcasts are intended to showcase important leaders in higher education discussing contemporary topics. Dr. Gordon Gee, president of West Virginia University, will kick-off the series, with Dr. Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, and Dr. Mung Chiang, president of Purdue University following consecutively at one week intervals. Additional thought-leaders will be scheduled going forward. Listeners are invited to tune into the series on the firm’s new website (www.funkassociates.com) or on the Spotify and Apple podcast platforms. The series is hosted by Bill and Willie Funk. In addition to the podcast series, the firm is announcing its new offering in the recruitment of intercollegiate coaches and athletic directors, and introducing a new website format.
Funk Associates is an executive search firm specializing in higher education executive recruitment. The firm has recruited chancellors/presidents for two-thirds of all public AAU universities. The firm has also recruited presidents or chancellors to more than one-half of U.S. News & World Report’s recently published “Top 30 National Universities.” Over time, it has conducted more than 425 searches for college and university presidents and chancellors as well as an even greater number of provosts, deans, and various vice presidents.
Nationally Recognized
The firm has been recognized by the Women’s Network of the American Council on Education (ACE) for its work in recruiting women and minorities to senior levels of higher education. Notably, the search firm has broken the color and/or gender line in president searches at more than 40 institutions around the country, making in one of the most highly sought after search firms across the sector.
R. William “Bill” Funk, founder and president, is a widely respected search consultant serving higher education. He has been called the “guru of higher education recruiting” by The Chronicle of Higher Education and is listed as one of the 200 best executive recruiters in the world in The Global 200 Executive Recruiters: An Essential Guide to the Best Recruiters in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America (Jossey-Bass, Inc.). Prior to founding his own firm 16 years ago, Mr. Funk was the national practice leader of the education practice and office managing director of the Dallas office for Korn Ferry International for more than a decade.
Related: Funk Associates Leading Searches for College of Charleston and University of Houston
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media