Dean of Engineering announces retirement plans
Photo Courtesy of Iowa State University
Sarah Rajala, Dean of the James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Dean of Engineering, announced that she is retiring at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.
August 21, 2018
Sarah Rajala, the James L. and Katherine S. Melsa Dean of Engineering, announced she will be retiring at the end of the academic year.
Rajala is the 12th dean of the College of Engineering and has served in the position since April 2013. Last year it was announced that she would be reappointed to a five-year term.
“I greatly appreciate the excellent job [Rajala] has done, and continues to do, to lead Iowa State’s engineering college,” said Jonathan Wickert, senior vice president and provost.
Throughout her tenure, Rajala has received multiple awards for her contributions to Iowa State.
In 2015, she received the National Harriett B. Rigas Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Education Society. She was also awarded the National Engineer of the Year Award by the American Association of Engineering Societies in 2016.
Luis Rico-Gutierrez, dean of the College of Design, and Gary Mirka, John Ryder professor of engineering and former associate dean, will co-chair the search committee. A national search is to start immediately and the committee will be aided by a search firm.
January and February of 2019 is the current aim for finalists to have on-campus interviews. The committee will be evaluating applications and nominations for the position this fall.
