Bob Schwartz of the University of Missouri System has been named interim dean of the College of Engineering. He begins his new position Sept. 1.
Schwartz will replace James Thompson, who announced June 9 he was stepping down after 20 years as engineering dean.
Schwartz, currently the UM System’s chief of staff and custodian of records, said he will not be a candidate for the permanent deanship. A search committee to fill dean’s position is forming and a national search will begin during the fall semester.
Schwartz joined Missouri University of Science and Technology in May 2002 as a professor of ceramic engineering and later became the associate chair of the department. He began his career as an advanced research and development engineer at the B.F. Goodrich R&D Center in Ohio and also worked as a senior member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
“The College of Engineering at MU has a rich history of research and education that has directly impacted the citizens of Missouri,” Schwartz said.
“I’m thrilled to be asked to take this role and will be working with the college’s leaders to ensure that we don’t lose any progress that has been made during Dean Thompson’s 20-year leadership.”