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UNM conducting national search for dean of engineering

April 12, 2022 - by Kim Delker

University of New Mexico Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway has announced the launch of a national search for a new dean of the School of Engineering.

The selected candidate will take over leadership of the School from Christos Christodoulou, who has been dean since July 2017. Holloway said that Christodoulou has graciously agreed to continue as dean until the new dean arrives, anticipated to be January 2023. Christodoulou will be devoting more time to teaching and research as a distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and pursuing entrepreneurial activities.

Before being selected as dean, Christodoulou was associate dean for research in the School of Engineering, was a founder and director of COSMIAC, and was chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He joined UNM in 1999, coming from the University of Central Florida.

“I thank Christos for his many years of energetic and passionate leadership of the School of Engineering,” Holloway said. “His contributions to UNM have been many, and he will continue to make an impact through his teaching, mentorship and research.”

The new dean will hold the title of Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing, which is the first and only endowed deanship position at UNM.

Ellen Fisher, UNM vice president for research and a professor of chemistry, is chair of the search advisory committee.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the School of Engineering, and for UNM,” Fisher said. “I am thrilled to be leading this search and interacting with the diverse mix of staff, faculty, students, alumni and so many others who are committed to matching this strong, vibrant school with an equally strong, energetic leader to guide it into bold, new endeavors.”

Members of the search committee are:

  • Yu Lin Shen, chair and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Melanie Moses, professor of computer science
  • Jose Manuel Cerrato, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering
  • Meeko Oishi, professor of electrical and computer engineering
  • Minghui Chen, assistant professor of nuclear engineering
  • Brian Burnett, alumnus of the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
  • April Davidson, School of Engineering academic operations officer
  • Bob Schenck, department chair and professor of orthopedics
  • Heather E. Canavan, professor of chemical and biological engineering
  • Anna Janicek, School of Engineering student

Search firm Isaacson, Miller has been tapped to coordinate the nationwide search. During the week of April 18, a series of listening sessions will be held on Zoom with various constituencies across campus, including faculty, students, staff and the dean’s Industry and Innovation advisory board to help understand qualities that are important in a new dean. This feedback will be used to create the job description, called an Opportunity and Challenges Profile, which will posted on the UNM Executive Search website in early May.

Nominations for the Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing can be sent to Isaacson, Miller at this link.

Holloway said three to four candidates will be selected as finalists and will be invited to campus for open forums in August, with the new dean being selected in September.

Questions about the search can be directed to Jennifer Love, director of operations in the Office of Academic Affairs at jenlov22@unm.edu.

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