June 29, 2006

New Dean Selected in Engineering

MSU Provost Kim Wilcox is recommending the board approve the appointment of Satish Udpa as dean of the College of Engineering. He is currently acting dean of the college. Satish Udpa has served as acting dean of the College of Engineering for the past year.

He has been an MSU faculty member since 2001, when he was named chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prior to that, he was the Whitney Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University. He also was on the faculty of Colorado State University.

"Satish has a great track record as former chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and as acting dean of the college," Wilcox said. "He was already a college-wide thinker, so when this opportunity arose, he was a great fit. As acting dean he has never functioned as a placeholder and has demonstrated his energy and ability to advance his vision for the college - to make it both bigger and better."

A prolific scholar, Udpa has authored or co-authored more than 250 scholarly publications. In addition, he is the recipient of nearly 50 external research grants, holds several patents and continues to supervise a number of graduate students.

Udpa's academic degrees are from J.N.T. University of India and Colorado State, including a doctorate in electrical engineering.