Diversity is key for the first of four finalists for the College of Engineering’s dean position.

Theodore Bergman, program director for the National Science Foundation’s Thermal Transport Processes Program, presented his goals before engineering faculty and staff Tuesday at the Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall.

Bergman worked for 11 years at the University of Texas at Austin as a full-time professor. He took a job at University of Connecticut as the dean of outreach in 1996 and was also the head of the material and mechanical engineering department. He has since taken leave from the University of Connecticut to work for the National Science Foundation.

In his presentation, Bergman emphasized the importance of diversity in Iowa State’s engineering program. He said promoting diversity in engineering programs is something he is interested in and has pursued in the past at other universities where he has administrated.

“Pipeline building is the key to increasing diversity,” Bergman said.

Bergman stressed the importance of piquing the interest of female and minority students at a young age through summer immersion programs.

In the first three months of his potential career as dean of engineering, Bergman said he would significantly increase faculty and student endowment. He hopes to increase the number of National Academy of Engineering members at Iowa State from five to 15.

Bergman would also like to identify reasons Iowa State is ranked 41 out of other engineering schools in the nation. He said schools with a higher faculty-to-student ratio ranked higher.

“A solid base in NAE members is key in order to increase your rankings,” Bergman said.

“There’s a history of collegiality at Iowa State. Iowa State exports a lot of engineering talent,” Bergman said of his attraction to Iowa State’s engineering program.

Bergman said he hopes to generate new scholarships and fellowships for engineering students. He said working with many different constituencies, students included, is important to him.

Qualities important to choosing the candidates were extensive administrative experience and the potential to be an “excellent fundraiser.”

“In these economic times we really are looking at this dean…to continue to promote out external relations and be an excellent fundraiser,” said Diane Rover, associate dean of the College of Engineering.

Rover said the next dean needs to continue to build on the college’s current path.

“We believe we’re a good trajectory,” Rover said. “We want a dean to be able to come in and carry that momentum forward.”

Faculty and staff at Tuesday’s portion of the dean search filled out comment sheets that will be reviewed by the provost and president. Their comments will be taken into consideration once a decision on the new dean is made.

Meet the other candidates competing for the position:

There will be three other open forums with candidates for the new dean of engineering position. All forums start at 3:45 p.m. in the Alliant Energy – Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall.

March 5: Jonathan Wickert, Larry and Pam Pithan Professor of Mechanical Engineering and chair of mechanical engineering, Iowa State University

March 9: David Rosowsky, A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair Professor and department head, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station

March 12: Ishwar Puri, professor and department head, engineering science and mechanics, Virginia Tech

Get to know Theodore

Bergman:

1978: Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas

1978-1980: Worked as a design engineer with Black & Veatch Engineers, Kansas City, Mo.

1981: Master’s in mechanical engineering from Purdue University

1985: Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University

1995: Named an ASME Fellow

1996: Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut

1998-2004: Department head of mechanical engineering at the University of Connecticut

2004-2006: Associate dean for research and outreach in the School of Engineering at the University of Connecticut

2005-2006: Interim department head of materials science and engineering at the University of Connecticut

2008-present: Program director of the National Science Foundation’s Thermal Transport Processes Program

He has received numerous honors, including a “Presidential Young Investigator” award from the National Science Foundation and a Melville Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has served as associate technical editor of the ASME Journal of Heat Transfer.