Launching Search for Next CES Dean

Dear Colleagues:

You may be aware that Bruce Berdanier, Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences, will be stepping down from his Dean’s position at the end of this academic year. As such, we are getting ready to launch the search for the next CES Dean.

The search committee, which is an advisory committee chaired by College of Business Dean Rachel Clapp-Smith, includes at least one member from each CES department and faculty of different ranks, among other members. In addition, I asked the Faculty Senate to select its own representative. The committee members are listed below; we greatly appreciate their service in helping us search for the next CES Dean.

In terms of timeline, we are currently in the process of finalizing the selection of a search firm. We anticipate the committee will virtually conduct its first round of interviews with approximately 8-12 candidates right before or after Thanksgiving.

Given the timing, it is likely the finalists’ campus interviews will occur in mid-to late January; there will be opportunities at that time for members across the university community to meet the candidates and provide feedback and input. Ideally, the new Dean will be named in late January or early February, with an anticipated start date of June 1st. We will keep you posted as the process gets further underway.

I also want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Dr. Berdanier for all his work in making such a positive impact in CES and at Purdue Northwest. I look forward to continuing to work with him in his CES Dean role throughout this academic year.

Sincerely,

Marie T. Mora, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

2024-25 Search Committee for the College of Engineering and Sciences Dean

• Rachel Clapp-Smith, Chair of the CES Search Committee, Dean, College of Business
• Gokarna Aryal, Faculty Senate Representative, Professor, Statistics, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Natalie Connors, Executive Director, Corporate Relations & Development Operations, Office of Institutional Advancement
• Susan Delatorre, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Dean, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Lindsay Gielda, Associate Professor, Biology, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Dawit Gizachew, Associate Professor, Chemistry, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Grethe Hystad, Associate Professor, Mathematics & Statistics, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Dave Kozel, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Kimia Mortezaei, Assistant Professor of Practice, Mechanical & Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Shuhui Yang, Department Chair and Professor, Computer Science, College of Engineering and Sciences
• Support: Sue Bremer, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs