Changes Under Way in School of Engineering and Office of Research

Professor Lester Gerhardt will become acting dean of engineering June 1, and Professor Wolf Von Maltzahn will become acting vice president for research on July 1, as a result of Dean of Engineering William "Bud" Baeslack III's decision to return to his roots in Ohio and Vice President for Research Arthur Sanderson's decision to return to full-time teaching and research.

The Institute has launched an international search for both positions. The search committee for the new dean of engineering will be chaired by Professor Joseph Flaherty, dean of science, and the search committee the new vice president for research will be chaired by Professor David Haviland, vice president for institute advancement.

In a message to the Rensselaer community, President Shirley Ann Jackson recognized the significant contributions Dean Baeslack and Professor Sanderson have made to the Institute. "Art Sanderson and Bud Baeslack have helped to position Rensselaer's research and engineering programs on a strong foundation which undergirds the aspirations of The Rensselaer Plan," Jackson said.

"As vice president for research, Professor Art Sanderson has led the way in bringing Rensselaer's research to ever-higher levels of recognition and support," Jackson said. "Under his guidance, overall Institute research awards climbed to more than $72 million during the 2003 calendar year. The growth in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is particularly notable. During the past three years, active NIH awards increased from a total of three awards valued at $400,000 to more than 30 active awards, accounting for $24 million today.

"For the five past years, Dean Baeslack has led the School of Engineering with a steady hand and a clear vision," Jackson said. "Under his leadership, the school has played a central role in advancing the Rensselaer Plan's initiatives and bolstering the strength of undergraduate and graduate education. The School of Engineering has hired 34 outstanding junior and senior tenure-track faculty; identified key research areas that build upon the university's core engineering strengths; supervised and supported new multidisciplinary programs and laboratories; and helped to increase School of Engineering research awards."

The School of Engineering continues to be ranked among the top engineering schools in the nation. The undergraduate program is in the top 5 percent. The graduate program ranks in the top 10 percent of U.S. engineering graduate programs.

Baeslack is returning to Ohio, where he will serve as the dean of the College of Engineering at Ohio State University in Columbus and be closer to his family. Sanderson plans to go on sabbatical before returning to research and teaching.