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Datye appointed chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering

April 18, 2014

School of Engineering Dean Joseph Cecchi announced that Distinguished Professor Abhaya K. Datye will be the inaugural chair of the new Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE). His appointment begins July 1, 2014.

“During his 30 years at UNM, Professor Datye has attained a level of marked international distinction for his research in catalysis and nanomaterials, and has also been an outstanding teacher," said Cecchi. "He has advanced our research enterprise by his leadership role as the director of the Center for Micro Engineered Materials (CMEM), and has enriched our interdisciplinary offerings as the founding director of the graduate program in Nanoscience and Microsystems (NSMS).

"There is no doubt in my mind that Professor Datye is the right person at the right time to lead CBE, and I am grateful that he has agreed to do so.

”The University of New Mexico Faculty Senate voted on March 25 to approve the proposal to transition the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering into two new departments: the Department of Nuclear Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The transition is effective July 1.

Tim Ward, chair of the current Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, has announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2014. Cecchi is meeting with nuclear engineering faculty to discuss how to go forward with the search for the Department of Nuclear Engineering chair. The candidate selected in that search will become chair on July 1. Anil Prinja, professor and program director of nuclear engineering, and associate chair of the combined department, is continuing in his current role.