Office of the Dean

It has been my privilege to serve the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) since summer 2024. After 25 years as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, I began my work in SEAS as interim chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in AY 2023–24. That experience provided valuable preparation for the dean role, giving me important insight into SEAS’s mission, culture, and operations. I have been continually impressed by the dedication of SEAS faculty and staff and the talents of our students.

On my first day as interim dean, I met with faculty and staff to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. Several priorities emerged: strengthening communication and transparency, enhancing first-year programming, increasing staffing, supporting student clubs, expanding industry partnerships, investing in faculty and staff development, and advancing new programs. Working collaboratively, we made significant progress on all these goals. I also drew on my chemistry connections to foster new collaborations between SEAS and the College of Arts & Sciences.

I am impressed at the many activities and accomplishments achieved across the SEAS community. I am especially proud that two new staff positions were created to support the Cadwell Maker Center and the Manufacturing Technology Center, and that four new tenure-track faculty were hired. With generous benefaction and a Gonzaga Community Bank loan, we completed construction of the new Center for Materials Research (CMR) and the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory Suite in August 2025. About half of the equipment required for these spaces has been purchased, supported by loan funding and a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) grant.

We also launched the new Gonzaga Research Opportunities in Math, Engineering, and Computer Science (GRO-MECS) program with private funding and began a campaign to ensure its sustainability in future summers. In July 2025, we piloted the new research-infused SEAS Summer Immersion Program (SSIP) for high school students, featuring four GRO-MECS lab rotations that introduced participants to research in multiple disciplines. Both programs were a great success!

Over the past year, I enjoyed working with faculty and staff to host 14 Preview and SEAS Visit Days, helping recruit 229 new students for Fall 2025. In June, SEAS was also one of eight U.S. institutions featured in the national ASEE-TV video series, highlighting our programs and facilities.

Please reach out to us if you have questions or work with our Office of Admissions if you would like to arrange a visit. I look forward to the opportunity of meeting you this year.