Harris Search Associates Tapped by Rochester Institute of Technology
March 16, 2026 – Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) recently selected Harris Search Associates to lead its chair, department of electrical and computer engineering technology search. Jeffrey Harris and Peter Rosenthal are leading the assignment.
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.
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 CET 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 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 implement student success programs.
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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.
Proven Search Firm
Harris Search Associates, an IIC Partners member firm, is a global higher education executive search and board advisory consulting firm with 44 offices in 33 countries worldwide. The firm’s higher education executive search practice is focused on identifying and attracting leaders to support the growth of clients in the areas of research, science, engineering, academic medicine, and healthcare enterprises. Clients include leading universities, research parks, institutes, academic medical centers, and healthcare organizations driving global innovation and discovery. Founded in 1997, Harris Search Associates was modeled after the first premier management consulting firms, in addition to its Ohio headquarters, the firm has regional offices in San Francisco and Dallas.
Mr. Harris is the founder of the firm and leads the higher education, academic medicine, and healthcare administration practices. Prior to establishing the firm in 1997, Mr. Harris worked five years for a leading retained executive search firm where he concentrated on senior assignments on behalf of leading engineering, research, and health sciences clients. He is the global leader of the IIC Partners higher education/academic medicine practice, and from 2010 to 2013, was appointed to the board of IIC Partners as vice chair for the Americas.
Mr. Rosenthal serves as senior consultant on senior leadership assignments providing insight, national relationships, and vetting of candidates on behalf of client institution committees and our firm. He conducts research and works with clients and candidates across the firm’s higher education, academic medicine, research, and healthcare administration practices. His more than 25 years in education include 16 years in higher education roles, most recently as director of student services at the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
