Janis Terpenny of Pennsylvania State University has been announced as the first of five candidates in consideration to be the next James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Dean of Iowa State’s College of Engineering.

According to a press release, Terpenny is the Peter & Angela Dal Pezzo Chair and Head of the Harold & Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Pennsylvania State. Terpenny is also the director of the NSF Center for e-Design.

Terpenny will be visiting Iowa State’s campus Sunday through Tuesday. She will also be hosting an open forum Monday to answer questions from students, faculty, staff, community members and stakeholders. Terpenny’s forum will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday in the Alliant Energy-Lee Liu Auditorium in Howe Hall.

Terpenny earned her doctorate and masters’ degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University.

There will be five finalists coming to Ames in March for campus visits and to host open forums. The next candidate will visit Iowa State March 10 through 12. Each candidate will be announced one business day before their visit. 

More information on the dean search can be found on the Office of the Senior Vice President and the Provost’s website, along with Terpenny’s itinerary, Vita and other information.