Goldberg Appointed Interim Dean
Jeff Goldberg has been appointed interim dean of the College of Engineering. The current dean, Tom Peterson, is moving to the National Science Foundation in January 2009 to be assistant director of engineering.
Goldberg has been at UA since 1985 and is currently the College of Engineering’s associate dean for academic affairs. He is also associate professor of systems and industrial engineering and director of the bachelor of arts in engineering program. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in operations research and industrial engineering from Cornell University, and a doctorate in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan.
Goldberg was nominated by College of Engineering faculty and on accepting the offer from UA’s provost and president, described himself as “flattered to be considered, let alone asked.” He said his strengths are “honesty, openness, team building and hard work,” and added: “I will serve this college to the absolute best of my ability.”
Meredith Hay, UA executive vice president and provost, said: “The College of Engineering is a key pillar within the UA’s colleges, and I am very pleased that Dr. Goldberg has agreed to serve in this critical interim leadership capacity." Provost Hay went on to say that Goldberg’s “academic credentials, combined with his enthusiastic commitment to lead the college through the transformation plan, make him the ideal choice.”
Engineering is critical to the economic success of the country. To create wealth, you have to create new products while conserving what we already have. This is the domain of engineers.”
Goldberg’s interim status reflects the uncertainty generated by UA’s current “transformation” and budget cuts, and by the ailing economy in general. The search for a permanent dean should begin in about a year, said Goldberg, who added that he has “no designs on the permanent position.
Despite the uncertainty, Goldberg said: “I am certain that we will come out of this reorganization in a stronger position to compete successfully for the engineering research projects of the next five to 15 years, and to develop and deliver improved engineering education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
To this end, Goldberg said his first order of business would be working with department heads, faculty and staff to develop a reorganization plan for the next year that will make the College as competitive as possible. “Standing pat is not an alternative,” said Goldberg. “
The provost and president are confident in our collective ability to succeed. I have been here nearly 25 years and I have seen amazing work from the faculty and staff of the College. I have no doubt that we will succeed."
Goldberg sees engineering as crucial to the economic well-being of society. In a message to Engineering faculty and staff, Goldberg said: “Engineering is critical to the economic success of the country. To create wealth, you have to create new products while conserving what we already have. This is the domain of engineers.”