McCormick School Announces Dean's Office Appointments

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science has recently restructured the Office of the Dean, making new appointments and altering duties.

Ajit Tamhane, professor and chair of the industrial engineering and management sciences department, will join the office as senior associate dean for planning and graduate studies. Dean Tamhane will be responsible for faculty hiring, building planning and renovation projects and graduate studies.

Rich Lueptow, professor of mechanical engineering, was appointed senior associate dean last year. Lueptow will now serve as senior associate dean for operations and research. He will oversee research, administrative and financial operations.

Rounding out the office is Steve Carr, who will continue as associate dean for undergraduate affairs, and Joe Schofer, who will continue serving in multiple roles as a senior advisor, associate dean for faculty affairs, director of the Infrastructure Technology Institute and interim director of the Transportation Center.

"Ajit has decades of experience here at McCormick and will bring his statistical expertise to make our decision-making processes more objective and data-based. I know he and Rich Lueptow will continue to assist me in on the many tasks that demand an integrated approach to problem solving," Dean Julio Ottino said.

"Combined with Steve Carr, who leads our superb undergraduate program, and Joe Schofer, who wears many hats at McCormick, I will certainly benefit from the wisdom of multiple perspectives. These new appointments will allow me to focus on major strategic initiatives that will continue to move the McCormick School to a new level of excellence."