AMES, Iowa – Three finalists have been named in the search for Iowa State University’s next dean of the College of Engineering.
The finalists are:
- Robert Bishop, dean of the college of engineering at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Mark Law, associate dean of engineering for academic affairs at the University of Florida, Gainesville
- Sarah Rajala, dean of the college of engineering at Mississippi State University, Mississippi State (Starkville)
“We are excited about the quality of all the candidates, and particularly proud of our three very high-caliber finalists,” said Luis Rico-Gutierrez, co-chair of the search committee and dean of the College of Design. “On behalf of the search committee, I would like to encourage engineering students, faculty, and staff, as well as the entire campus community, to attend the open forums and provide feedback.”
Bishop will be on campus Nov. 26-27; Law, Nov. 28-29; and Rajala, Dec. 3-4. Each will meet with members of the university community and the College of Engineering, and participate in an open forum. The forum schedule is:
- Bishop, Nov. 26, 4 p.m., Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall
- Law, Nov. 28, 4 p.m., Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall
- Rajala, Dec. 3, 4 p.m., Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall
Those who wish to comment on the finalists should submit an online evaluation by noon on Dec. 7. The online evaluation form will be available here.
Mufit Akinc, professor and former chair of materials science and engineering and an associate scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory, is serving as interim dean of the College of Engineering. Former dean Jonathan Wickert assumed the role of senior vice president and provost at Iowa State on July 30.
About the finalists
Robert Bishop serves as dean of engineering at Marquette University, a position he has held since 2010. Previously, he served for 20 years in the department of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at the University of Texas at Austin, including six years as chair.
Bishop, a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, earned bachelor’s (1979) and master’s (1980) degrees in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station; and a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering (1990) from Rice University, Houston, Texas.
Mark Law joined the University of Florida College of Engineering in 1988. He currently serves as associate dean for academic affairs, a position he has held since 2009. He also served for six years as chair of electrical and computer engineering.
Law, a fellow of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering (1981) from Iowa State University, and master’s (1982) and doctoral (1988) degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
Sarah Rajala joined Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering in 2006. She currently serves as dean, a position she has held since 2008, and has also served as chair of electrical and computer engineering. Previously, Rajala served for 27 years at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, including 10 years as an associate dean.
Rajala, a past president of the American Society for Engineering Education, earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (1974) from Michigan Technological University, Houghton; and master’s (1977) and doctoral (1979) degrees in electrical engineering from Rice University.
Photos and vitae of the candidates are available online.
