Dr. Ali P. Gordon has been named as the next dean of the Wichita State University College of Engineering, effective June 7.

Gordon currently serves as a professor and the associate dean of graduate affairs at the University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, a role he took as interim in 2018 before being appointed in 2019. During his tenure, Gordon has overseen over 30 graduate programs and 2,500 graduate students, and he architected the college’s strategic internationalization plan.

“Wichita State University is already a recognized powerhouse for engineering, computing, applied learning and research,” Gordon said. “As we strive for R1 status, the College of Engineering will be a key contributor to the transformation. With our talented students, distinguished faculty, dedicated staff and fully engaged industry partners already in place, achieving a bold new vision for this college is well within our reach. It is a privilege to lead the College of Engineering, and together we will author its next great chapter.”

As a researcher, Gordon’s focus is on durability modeling of structural materials, where he has secured more than $7 million in funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA. Additionally, Gordon is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow, a four-time United States Air Force Summer Faculty Fellow and has coauthored over 150 peer-reviewed articles.

Gordon received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Morehouse College.

Following an extensive national search for the next dean of the College of Engineering last semester, Gordon was selected among three finalists after interviews with university stakeholders and a public forum with the campus community.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Gordon to our campus,” said Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost. “As one of the nation’s leading engineering schools, we need a leader with a strong vision to continue pushing the envelope and furthering WSU’s vision and mission. Dr. Gordon will be invaluable in bringing in new opportunities and fostering innovation here at Wichita State and the College of Engineering.”

Gordon replaces Dr. Anthony Muscat, who served as dean of the College of Engineering for four years. Dr. Steven Skinner, professor of electrical and computer engineering, has been serving as interim dean to ensure a smooth transition.

Wichita State extends its gratitude to Skinner for his leadership and for assuming the role of interim dean for a third time, as he also served as interim in 2018 and 2021.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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