WWU Hires Jeff Wright as New Dean of College of Sciences and Technology
Jeff Wright has been hired to serve as dean of the College of Sciences and Technology (CST) at Western Washington University, Provost Catherine Riordan announced today.
“I am absolutely delighted that Dr. Wright will be joining our leadership team in September. He has broad and successful experience in science, technology and the environment that are a good fit for Western.” Riordan said. “During his interview, Dr. Wright excited the campus with his questions and ideas about opportunities for carrying Western’s traditions for quality in the sciences forward. There is much to be proud of in the college. We also have challenges going forward as we address increasing demands from students and the state for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines) education.”
Wright, professor of Engineering and founding and current co-director of the Center for Computer and Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society at the University of California, Merced, was hired following a national search and will succeed Arlan Norman, who is retiring as CST dean.
“I am honored to have been selected to continue the remarkable momentum of Western’s College of Sciences and Technology,” Wright said. “The commitment of the faculty and staff to student-centered teaching and research is impressive, as is the passion and accomplishments of the students at Western. I am excited to be part of this wonderful institution.”
Wright received his doctorate in Geography and Environmental Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Civil Engineering, program in Water and Air Resources, at the University of Washington. As an undergraduate, he attended Western during his freshman year.
The environment and energy have been a primary focus throughout his academic career. Wright has built strong, high-quality undergraduate programs. He has adopted multi-disciplinary programs in his professional work and civic service; has led innovative diversity initiatives; has partnered with faculty to develop programs and curricula that enhance undergraduate student learning and engagement; has a strong vision of the role of science and technology in our society, and has extensive experience partnering with external science and technology organizations.
From 2001 to the present, Wright helped to build the 10thcampus of the University of California at Merced, with an emphasis on undergraduate involvement in research. At UC-Merced, Wright concurrently served as the founding dean of Engineering; interim director of the Energy Research Institute; and helped to start the general education program at UC-Merced as inaugural dean of College One, (Campus General Education Initiatives), broadening high-quality educational experiences for all students.
His leadership, as inaugural and current co-director, has helped foster the Center for Computer and Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), a research partnership based at the University of California-Berkeley and comprised of faculty at UC-Davis, UC-Merced and UC Santa Cruz. CITRIS integrates cutting-edge innovation from science and technology to the most pressing problems of society – healthcare delivery, energy innovation and sustainability, intelligent infrastructure, and environmental monitoring and assessment. Since its inception, CIRIS has received more than $1 billion in external research funding, corporate sponsorship and gifts.
Prior to that, he served in a number of leadership roles at Purdue University, where he worked from 1982 to 2001. Those included as assistant then associate dean of Engineering; professor of Civil Engineering; and as director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center.
He has written or co-authored three books, contributed chapters to other books, has been published extensively in scholarly journals, has received many awards for academic and professional achievements and is active in a number of professional organizations as well as community service activities. He has been involved extensively in the development of innovative teaching/learning technologies and methodologies, for which he was elected to the prestigious Purdue University Teaching Academy.
Riordan thanked retiring Dean Arlan Norman for his service to Western as founding dean of CST eight years ago. She expressed her deep gratitude to Kathy Kitto, associate CST dean, for her continuing superb efforts on behalf of the college.
“I know I speak for the entire campus community when I say that Western is very grateful to outgoing Dean Arlan Norman. Thanks to his efforts, and those of Associate Dean Kathy Kitto, and the excellence of the faculty in the college, Dr. Wright assumes leadership of a strong college with a very bright future,” Riordan said.
CST includes academic departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, Geology, Mathematics and Physics/Astronomy; the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education program; the Vehicle Research Institute, and the Advanced Materials Science (AMSEC) and Technology Development (TDC) centers. For more information please see: https://cst.wwu.edu/