Spring Break
The Daily OrangeNew dean hired from Texas school
By Lauren Bertolini
Posted: 5/7/08, 8:16 PM EST Section: News
For the first time in more than 100 years, an external candidate was given the position of dean of Syracuse University's L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Laura Steinberg will start in the position Aug. 1, after a 10-month dean search, said Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina. Steinberg is currently a professor and chair of the Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Steinberg's first visit to campus was for a private interview during the winter.
"I have to say that I had a hunch that this might all work out and after my initial private interview I went over to the bookstore and bought a Syracuse T-shirt," she said.
She will replace the current interim dean Shiu-Kai Chin. Chin took over for Spina when he left to take his new position as Vice Chancellor and Provost in June 2006.
Four candidates were brought to SU's campus throughout the spring semester for public interviews. Spina said Steinberg's variety of experiences in the software industry, as an academic and with the Department of Homeland Security, made her a viable candidate.
"If you take a look at her background, she recognizes that engineering is playing an increasingly critical role in advancing society," Spina said. "It's not just about the technical side of engineering, there is the other side of policies and how you manage technology."
Spina said he hopes her view on the field of engineering will translate to the students.
"We need to make certain that (students) are very good technically, but we also need to make certain that they have a broader knowledge so that they can be leaders when they graduate," he said.
Steinberg said her work focuses on the intersection of technology with civil and engineering policy, experience that has led to plans for collaboration with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
When she starts in August, Steinberg will be the fourth woman to serve as dean of a top research institute for engineering or computer science, Spina said.
"I am honored to be in this very small group of women, of engineering deans in the country," Steinberg said. "There are only 40 deans in the country out of 350 schools, I think the numbers growing every year, and I'm pleased to be in that early group."
Steinberg said she's excited to expand the faculty and collaborations with other schools and colleges.
"I think an advantage that a dean from the outside brings is that I don't know what the rules are," she said. "I might inadvertently come up against them, and so maybe I can do some innovative things that someone more familiar with the system may feel uncomfortable doing."
lrbertol@syr.edu
Laura Steinberg will start in the position Aug. 1, after a 10-month dean search, said Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina. Steinberg is currently a professor and chair of the Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Steinberg's first visit to campus was for a private interview during the winter.
"I have to say that I had a hunch that this might all work out and after my initial private interview I went over to the bookstore and bought a Syracuse T-shirt," she said.
She will replace the current interim dean Shiu-Kai Chin. Chin took over for Spina when he left to take his new position as Vice Chancellor and Provost in June 2006.
Four candidates were brought to SU's campus throughout the spring semester for public interviews. Spina said Steinberg's variety of experiences in the software industry, as an academic and with the Department of Homeland Security, made her a viable candidate.
"If you take a look at her background, she recognizes that engineering is playing an increasingly critical role in advancing society," Spina said. "It's not just about the technical side of engineering, there is the other side of policies and how you manage technology."
Spina said he hopes her view on the field of engineering will translate to the students.
"We need to make certain that (students) are very good technically, but we also need to make certain that they have a broader knowledge so that they can be leaders when they graduate," he said.
Steinberg said her work focuses on the intersection of technology with civil and engineering policy, experience that has led to plans for collaboration with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
When she starts in August, Steinberg will be the fourth woman to serve as dean of a top research institute for engineering or computer science, Spina said.
"I am honored to be in this very small group of women, of engineering deans in the country," Steinberg said. "There are only 40 deans in the country out of 350 schools, I think the numbers growing every year, and I'm pleased to be in that early group."
Steinberg said she's excited to expand the faculty and collaborations with other schools and colleges.
"I think an advantage that a dean from the outside brings is that I don't know what the rules are," she said. "I might inadvertently come up against them, and so maybe I can do some innovative things that someone more familiar with the system may feel uncomfortable doing."
lrbertol@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
K.S. Turner
posted 5/21/08 @ 6:57 AM EST
I commend the administration for looking at both women and men for the Dean position but after reviewing Dr. Steinberg's resume it looks a little weak. (Continued…)
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