As Iowa State continues to search for a new dean of the College of Engineering, five candidates will be speaking at Howe Hall throughout March to their plans for the college, their experiences and goals if they were to become Dean.

Robert Frosch, senior associate dean of facilities and operations and professor of civil engineering at Purdue University, spoke at Howe Hall on Monday afternoon to discuss his plans if he were to become the next Dean of the College of Engineering at Iowa State.

His topic question for the lecture was “What does he see as the next level for Iowa State?” He began by discussing Iowa State’s past successes. Frosch discussed his goals for Iowa State graduates and the need to have an education that sets them apart as a leader in the field. In his open forum, Frosch covered team building, management and business skills and knowledge integration.

“We need students to be prepared for the changing future of work and become the leaders that shape the future,” Frosch said.

Some of the concepts Frosch said he felt were important to moving forward are hands on experience, real world projects and virtual reality. Frosch discussed how vital having virtual reality laboratories are because they can expose students to scenarios involving virtual reality and expand teaching capabilities.

Frosch also talked about expanding frontiers of knowledge and developing partnerships for research. He discussed the need for partnerships on multiple levels across campus and with corporations.

One of Frosch’s main focuses was the need to enhance education by working on real world problems. Frosch said with the future of research such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, voice interface and energy, it is important students can take on these experiences hands on. One of his ideas for creating a space for students to handle real world problems was with the idea of virtual reality labs.

Frosch focused on how important the work graduate students do is. He touched on the need to continue to attract and recruit the best such as continuing undergrad summer experiences that bring students to Iowa State.

“Overall what do we do as engineers? We improve the quality of life,” Frosch said.

Additionally, Frosch discussed faculty leadership, guidance and creating standards as well as expanding Iowa State’s reputation. Frosch spoke on the importance of needing to invest and keep up with old facilities as well as build new ones.

Topics covered were enhancing diversity and inclusion and economic development. As well as imbedding companies within the campus and having a space for them. Frosch discussed how important it is to recruit and continue to bring people to Iowa State.

“A dean can’t do this alone we need everyone to move the college forward,” Frosch said. “I will help you create that vision to move ahead. I believe passion drives success. We will work together to create the future.”