|
Dear COSE Faculty and Staff:
I am thrilled to announce that after an extensive national search, and following careful consideration of feedback from faculty and staff, an offer was extended to and accepted by Dr. James M. Widmann to become the next dean of the College of Science and Engineering at Idaho State University.
Dr. Widmann received his undergraduate degree from Michigan Technological University, and a masters and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in mechanical engineering. He also has eight years of industry experience in the automotive, aerospace and machine tool industries that inform his teaching and research. He currently serves as a professor of mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.
Dr. Widmann’s interests are in mechanical design processes, fluid power control, and engineering education, where he has received over $2 million in grant funding from the National Science Foundation for this work. Dr. Widmann has numerous publications related to student learning and enhancing student success. His current project examines the interplay between student cognitive and non-cognitive factors that impact students thriving in STEM. At Cal Poly, he has taught 15 different courses in mechanics and design, including the development of an interdisciplinary, industry-sponsored senior design project course open to all students in the college.
Beyond his teaching and research, Dr. Widmann has served Cal Poly in leadership roles as director of the General Engineering Program and the chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department, the largest on campus with over 70 faculty and staff, and 1300 students. He led the department through a period of rapid growth in enrollment and personnel while significantly improving graduation rates and increasing research opportunities for faculty and students. He is active professionally in ASEE where he served as the chair of the Design in Engineering Education Division.
For his work, Dr. Widmann has been awarded Best Paper and Best Presentation awards at ASEE, the Cal Poly “Learn by Doing” Awards for both Teaching and Research, the SWE “Most Supportive” professor award and was named a Fulbright Scholar at Kathmandu University in Nepal.
Widmann said, “I am extremely excited by the opportunity to join the Idaho State College of Science and Engineering. The strength and commitment of its faculty and staff to its education and research missions are clear. I am humbled to be part of the positive impact they have on their students, the state of Idaho and our nation through their hard work and dedication."
Dr. Widmann will begin working at ISU on August 1, 2025. I am deeply grateful for the search committee's commitment throughout the extensive search process, and for all of you who took time to hear from the candidates and provide your feedback.
Thank you,
Adam Bradford, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
| 
