The second open forum to determine the next dean of Iowa State’s College of Engineering has been concluded with Mark Law presenting his case for the position.

Law provided a local feel to his presentation as an ISU alumnus, receiving his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the university in 1981.

Introduced by David Holger, co-chair of the dean search committee, Law “has worked here at Iowa State and, [in the past, has] continued that way as chair of the honors program external advisory committee.”

While consistently emphasizing his affection for Iowa State, Law drew prominently from his experience at the University of Florida, where he is the associate dean of Academic Affairs.

At Florida, he has taken pride in aiding and encouraging students who have been “exploring opportunities in business and entrepreneurship. They’re starting companies fresh out of their undergraduate phase; they’re going to medical school, to law school.”

He would like the theme of diversity to be extrapolated to Ames, a theme that will encompass the department as a whole.

“Diversity drives innovation. If you have a large network, and you talk to a lot of different kinds of people, you’re going to generate better ideas.”

Implementing this strategy is also critical as it is necessary to “integrate that diversity into the team, integrate that diversity into the department and, [as a result,] you’re a very inclusive environment as well as being a diverse environment.”

This environment will “encourage creativity, leadership and teamwork,” an environment where he urges his engineers to “be unafraid, to be bold and [to] take risks.”

Law proposed the concept of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). This would provide for a cooperative relationship with the College of Design to enhance what the college can really do.

He went on to mention that this environment is also ripe for fostering solutions to global issues. He cited the adage “Think local, act global” to assist in his point.

“Biorenewables are something that makes a lot of sense from a ‘place’ point of view. Wind energy is another one [in Iowa].”

In conclusion, he said, “The legacy I would want is about the people.”

“What excites me as an alumni of volunteering and being involved in the program is meeting with engaged students that are excited about their learning. They have great educational experience. … There’s innovative research making an impact. If we do those things, alumni support will follow.”

Not only does he wish that the college have the “best staff on campus,” but he wants an “environment of engagement, of having hands-on learning opportunities, of undergraduate research, of getting involved with clubs and activities on campus.”

To draw from the College of Engineering’s slogan, he desires a campus where all will “Be > Greater Than You Imagined,” something he hopes all could achieve during his tenure.