The College of Engineering has narrowed down the search for dean to three finalists: Robert Bishop, dean of the College of Engineering at Marquette University; Mark Law, associate dean of engineering for academic affairs at the University of Florida, Gainesville; and Sarah Rajala, dean of the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State.

Bishop, the first of the candidates to visit campus, spoke Monday, Nov. 26, in Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall.

Bishop has served as the dean of engineering at Marquette University in Milwaukee since July 2010. Previously, he worked for 20 years at the University of Texas, Austin, in the department of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics, including serving as chairman from 2003-09.

Speaking on his experience in Texas, Bishop said: “We were big on collaboration, but all of the leadership was in my department. [We were] very focused on shared governments.”

Bishop’s main goal, he said, is to help understand and solve global issues by focusing on collaboration, quality of faculty and student success.

“For hundreds of years, we have pursued excellence in our world, but that world is now challenged,” Bishop said. “Look at the quality of food, water, health care and the environment. … Engineering will play a big role in all of these, but engineering can’t do it alone. We need collaboration with other departments. We can’t just react to these issues. We have to understand and attack them.”

By focusing on addressing these global challenges in the classroom, Bishop said it will help with research as well. The idea is the students will assist in the research progress by working on ways to solve global issues in the classroom.

Examples of Bishop’s execution of the initiative have been demonstrated at Marquette University. Since being there, Bishop, along with faculty and engineering students, helped establish a walk-in clinic to assist people with mechanical medical problems.

“We helped create a walking aid for a young boy and also helped a girl who wasn’t able to feed herself by creating a mechanical device,” Bishop said.

In addition to local assistance, Bishop has lead teams to Guatemala and Africa to help communities with water systems.

“I think of engineering as precision,” Bishop said. “But solving global problems will take our passion.”

If chosen, Bishop has high hopes for Iowa State’s “modest Midwest” approach. His six sub-goals are: to collaborate with other departments; have students, faculty and staff work together to solve global issues; make Iowa State a leader in education and research with a focus on student success; increase overall efficiency; enhance Iowa State’s national prestige; and make the university a place alumni are proud to associate with.

“[Iowa State] is led down a path of excellence and the next dean needs to continue this,” Bishop said. “I think you are in a great position to go after real problems.”

Lisa Rueschhoff, senior in materials engineering, said she agrees with Bishop’s idea to not change what is already working.

“I like how he wants to keep things the same, but get our word out there about all of the great things we are doing,” Rueschhoff said.

Kyle Torkelson, senior in mechanical engineering, said: “He seems like a good candidate. If he says we have a great thing going, why change it?”

When asked what he would want his legacy at Iowa State to be, Bishop would love to say he helped Iowa State get into the top rankings of engineering schools.

Bishop said: “This is a community.We all work together. It’s not about ranking necessarily, but about the problems we can solve.”