UH Cullen College of Engineering students should expect a permanent dean once spring semester starts, but until then, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Computer Facilities Fritz Claydon will be greeting students for the fall semester.
"The college is in good hands," electrical and computer engineering professor Stuart Long said. "(Claydon) will keep us on track until a new permanent dean is appointed."
Joseph Tedesco has been appointed to become the next dean and is expected to take the position in January 2008, Claydon said.
No additional information is available at this time regarding Tedesco’s appointment.
Claydon said he hopes his tenure will be "short and sweet" and has set several goals for the semester.
"We are working with the changes that have come about with PeopleSoft and putting our best foot forward and making sure the disruption or any disruption is minimized to students and faculty and staff," Claydon said.
Other changes to the college will also be effective immediately.
Ramanan Krishnamoorti, a chemical and biomolecular professor and associate dean for research, will direct the college’s Information Technology staff, and Long will lead the recruiting and retention efforts.
Claydon, appointed at the end of July, has been at the University for eight years as a computer engineering professor.
Claydon replaced former Dean Ray Flumerfelt, who announced his retirement in Fall 2006. Flumerfelt will remain at UH as an engineering faculty member.
Prior to his arrival at UH in 1999 as department chair of electrical and computer engineering, Claydon began working at the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Medical Center from 1987 to 1999.
Since earning his bachelor’s of science in bioengineering at Texas A’M University and his master’s and doctorate in biomedical engineering at Duke University, Claydon’s interests have been focused mainly on cardiac mapping and defibrillation.
"I enjoy solving problems. I liked math, and I liked science so that’s what got me interested (in engineering)," Claydon said.
Claydon’s role is different from his past experiences, as he is now focusing on engineering education and providing outreach opportunities for students.
Claydon is involved with the college’s well-known programs, Women in Engineering and the Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies, which focuses on student retention and assistance outside of the classroom.
He also works with the Honors College to recruit high school students for the college of engineering.
"Once they have visited us on campus, we get a high percentage of those students that ultimately enroll at UH," Claydon said.
