The new College of Engineering dean may have to have some pretty big feet.

The search for the new dean began Tuesday, and Walter Gmelch, dean of the College of Education and chairman of the search committee, said current engineering dean James Melsa will be hard to replace.

“Jim Melsa has left a legacy for the engineering college,” Gmelch said. “No one can fill Melsa’s shoes. Someone will fill the position — but we can’t clone Jim Melsa.”

Melsa, who has been the College of Engineering dean since 1995, announced his retirement from the position in early October.

The new dean is expected to be in office by July 1, 2004.

Wayne Klaiber, member of the search committee and distinguished professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, said Melsa has greatly improved the engineering faculty and facilities at Iowa State.

“I think it’s a big loss for the college,” Klaiber said. “He’s taken us to the next step higher.”

Gmelch said the 23-member search committee met for the first time Tuesday and “hammered out” a job description. Gmelch said he hopes for a “robust and diverse” pool of applicants.

He said the committee will begin reviewing candidates after Jan. 1, campus visits and interviews will be held in March and the candidate will be named in April.

Despite the decision to halt the Family and Consumer Sciences dean search after the university experienced extensive budget cuts, Gmelch said he is not concerned the cuts will have a similar impact on the College of Engineering.

“I think it’s a strong college. The entire country is going through budget cuts,” he said. “The College of Engineering is one of our cornerstones of the university — a well-respected college.”

Dean searches for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine are also still in progress, despite recent budget cuts.