Something to Build On

Dr. Kim Boyer has led a robust year for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. (Photo by Paul Miller)

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 8, 2016) — Since first offering courses in computer engineering last fall, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) has enrolled its first group of engineering majors, hired 14 new faculty members, and expanded its laboratory facilities.

Now it has a permanent dean.

Kim Boyer was elevated from interim status to dean of the college on September 2, as announced by Provost James Stellar. At the same time, the provost also announced the promotion of Rebecca Mugridge, from interim status to dean of the Libraries.

After one year, Boyer doesn’t see any waning of CEAS’s rapid progress. “This fall, we are preparing new undergraduate programs in electrical engineering and environmental engineering, as well as master’s and doctoral programs in electrical and computer engineering,” he said.

“The next four years will see us roll out new programs, BS through PhD, in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial and systems engineering. The research portfolio will grow quickly, as will our community engagement activities.

“In five years we project 1,600 students across eight disciplines in six departments, more than 60 faculty members, and $10 million annually (and growing) in extramural research expenditures.”

Boyer served as interim dean of the College since joining UAlbany a year ago as professor and chair of the Department of Computer Engineering. He was previously the head of the Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering Department at RPI and, before that, a 22-year member of the faculty at The Ohio State University.

A past-president of the International Association for Pattern Recognition, in 2006-07 Boyer was a Jefferson Science Fellow at the U.S. State Department, serving as senior science advisor to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. He has industrial experience at Bell Laboratories and Comsat Laboratories, and has served as visiting professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and visiting scholar at both the Federal University of Parana, Brazil, and University of Chile.

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