Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 6, 2001 Purdue names dean of engineering schoolsWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Linda P. Katehi, associate dean for academic affairs in the University of Michigan College of Engineering, has been named dean of Purdue University's Schools of Engineering.
The appointment, effective Jan. 1, was announced today (Thursday, 9/6) by Purdue Provost Sally Frost Mason. Katehi's appointment is subject to confirmation by the Purdue Board of Trustees. "We are excited that Linda Katehi has joined Purdue as dean of the Schools of Engineering," Frost Mason said. "She brings not only impeccable academic and administrative credentials but also an enthusiasm and vigor that will pay rich dividends to the Purdue family." Katehi (kuh-TAY-hee) received her doctorate and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Katehi will hold a named chair as the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering. Purdue alumnus and trustee John A. Edwardson has pledged $1.5 million to endow the position. "Dean Katehi brings the leadership qualities we were seeking to move Purdue to the next level of excellence," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "Given Purdue's rich tradition of engineering teaching and research, I am extraordinarily pleased with this addition to our leadership team." Katehi said, "The position of dean of engineering at Purdue provides an exciting opportunity to lead a strong engineering program into a future of academic excellence, visionary research and memorable teaching and learning experiences for the students. "During the search process, I came to understand that Purdue aims at assuming a leadership position in the present environment of economic, technological and social change. I view this as a challenge and an opportunity." As associate dean at the University of Michigan, Katehi was responsible for faculty hiring, promotion, merit and tenure processes, budget planning, space allocation, the Center for Professional Development and the Women in Engineering program. Katehi was associate dean at Michigan for three years. Her major area of academic research is in microwave circuitry. She has written or co-written seven chapters in books, is author or co-author of 165 articles published or submitted to refereed journals and 260 articles published in conference proceedings. She holds five patents. The current dean, Richard Schwartz was named dean in 1995 and began his teaching career at Purdue 36 years ago. At age 65, he has reached the mandatory retirement age for senior Purdue administrators. He will continue his duties as dean until Dec. 31 and then return to the classroom. The finalists for the engineering dean position were recommended by a search committee of faculty, staff and students. Richard A. Cosier, dean of Purdue's Krannert School of Management and the Leeds Professor of Management, chaired the committee. The national search yielded 40 applicants. Four finalists visited campus. "The committee was extremely impressed with Linda Katehi," Cosier said. "Her vision and leadership, in addition to her great academic background, made her the best candidate available nationally." With an undergraduate enrollment of nearly 6,000, graduate enrollment of about 1,800 and a faculty of about 270, Purdue's engineering program is one of the largest in the United States. It encompasses 13 schools. Sources: Linda P. Katehi, (734) 647-7020, katehi@umich.edu Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 Sally Frost Mason (765) 494-9709, sfmason@purdue.edu Richard A. Cosier, (765) 494-4366, rcosier@mgmt.purdue.edu Writer: J. Michael Lillich, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of Linda P. Katehi is available at https://news.uns.purdue.edu or at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/. It is called Katehi.jpeg.
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