Academic Experience

Joseph J. Rencis

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Embry-Riddle)

• Associate Dean School of Engineering, College of Aviation, Worldwide Campus, July 2024 to present.

• Tenured Professor of Engineering, July 2024 to present. 

The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas)

• Interim Department Head of Mechanical Engineering, July 2023 to July 2024.  I had a one-year contract as interim Department Head with time-critical expectations through The Registry, an interim search firm. Due to the contract, I am not eligible to be the permanent Department Head. 

• Professor of Practice, July 2023 to July 2024.

The University of Texas Permian Basin (UT Permian Basin)

• Interim Dean of Engineering, January 2023 to Jue 2023.  I had a six-month contract as interim Dean with time-critical expectations through The Registry, an interim search firm. Due to the contract, I am not eligible to be the permanent Dean. Furthermore, I served on the permanent Dean search committee. 

University at Albany, State University of New York (UAlbany)

• Interim Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences, July 2022 to August 2022.  I had a one-year contract as interim Dean with time-critical expectations through The Registry, an interim search firm. Due to the contract, I am not eligible to be the permanent Dean. The permanent Dean search went better than expected, and I served for two months.

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona)

• Dean of Engineering, August 2017 to June 2020.

• Tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering, August 2017 to August 2021.

Tennessee Technological University (Tennessee Tech)

• Dean of Engineering, September 2011 to August 2017.

• Inaugural Holder Clay N. Hixson Chair for Engineering Leadership, August 2011 to August 2017.

• Tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Full Membership on Graduate Faculty, August 2011 to August 2017.

University of Arkanas (Arkansas)

• Department Head of Mechanical Engineering, September 2004 to June 2010 (One Five Year Term plus One Year).

• Inaugural Twenty-first Century Leadership Chair in Mechanical Engineering, September 2007 to June 2010.

• Tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Graduate Faculty Member, September 2004 to August 2011.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

• Professor of Engineering Mechanics and Design, Mechanical Engineering Department, July 2000 to August 2004.

• Director of Engineering Mechanics, September 1995 to August 2004.

• Russell D. Searle Distinguished Instructor, July 1994 to June 1995.

• Tenured Associate Professor, July, 1991.

• Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics, July 1990 to June 2000.

• Assistant Professor of Engineering Mechanics, August 1985 to June 1990.

Other Universities

• Case Western Reserve University, Department of Civil Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio.

  • Research Assistant, June 1982 to May 1984 and August 1984 to July 1985.

  • Teaching Assistant in Statics, January 1982 to May 1982.

• Cuyahoga Community College, Engineering Technology Department, Cleveland, Ohio.

  • Instructor in Architectural Engineering Technology, March 1984 to June 1984.

• Northwestern University, Department of Civil Engineering, Evanston, Illinois.

  • Research Assistant, June 1981 to December 1981.

• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Department of Architectural and Building Construction Engineering Technology, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • Instructor in Sanitary Systems, February 1980 to May 1980.

  • Grader in Concrete Design II, November 1979 to February 1980.