Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the Associate Dean search. Effective January 1, 2023, Dr. Chris Weyant, teaching professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), will assume the role of Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs (ADUA).
In this critical role, Dr. Weyant will supervise the Undergraduate Advising Center, ACE tutoring center and related staff, ensuring we offer an exceptional student experience, as well as oversee the effective and efficient use of budget, space and staff to support college goals. He will also develop plans and collaborate closely with departments within the college and throughout Drexel to address student retention and quality to improve the overall student experience in alignment with ABET, among other duties. Importantly, Dr. Weyant will lead innovative initiatives that stem from our ongoing strategic planning effort related to undergraduate education.
On accepting the ADUA role, Dr. Weyant said, “I am excited to continue the dedicated work of my predecessors to elevate the undergraduate student experience. We are fortunate to have unique undergraduates who recognize the value of experiential learning as they develop their professional and technical skills. With that in mind, I look forward to continued implementation of the college’s strategic plan, including more deeply integrating Drexel’s co-op experience into classroom activities and developing engineers focused on global societal challenges including the impacts of climate change and sustainable use of resources.”
Dr. Weyant also shared that he is particularly excited to work with staff and faculty in support of the Drexel Engineering vision to foster the cultivation of engineering talent across diverse local and global communities and “make sure that our students are not only experiencing a modern, agile and impactful curriculum, but also a supportive environmental that fosters belonging.”
A teaching professor in MSE since 2019, Dr. Weyant joined the department in 2011 as an associate teaching professor. Prior to Drexel, he was an assistant professor of MSE at Stony Brook University, specializing in thermally sprayed coatings in systems related to energy, corrosion and biomaterials. He also conducted thermal spray research during postdoctoral experiences at Northwestern University and Sandia National Laboratories. In addition to his experience in academia, Dr. Weyant has worked as a researcher and materials engineer at Honeywell Aerospace and Capstone Turbine Corporation. He earned his PhD from Northwestern University, MS from the University of Virginia, and BS from Pennsylvania State University. He is the recipient of three Drexel University Provost Awards: the 2019 Barbara G. Hornum Award for Teaching Excellence; the 2020 Evidence-Based Teaching Award in Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education; and the 2021 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Please join me in thanking Dr. Katie Meier for her management of the search, and in welcoming Dr. Weyant to his new role in the new year.
Sincerely,
Sharon L. Walker
Dean and Distinguished Professor
