Padnos College of Engineering restructures academic programs to create more innovation, flexibility

June 10, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 19)

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Restructuring the academic programs in the Padnos College of Engineering will provide students with a flexible, individualized approach to engineering education.

Dean Adebayo "Bayo" Ogundipe announced the changes along with the faculty who will serve as new unit heads:

• The Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering includes mechanical engineering, and product design and manufacturing. It will be led by Wendy Reffeor, professor of mechanical engineering. Reffeor most recently served as interim associate dean and was a past chair.
• The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering includes those two disciplines and will be led by Heidi Jiao, professor and past chair of electrical engineering.
• The Department of Integrated Engineering includes occupational safety and health, interdisciplinary engineering and biomedical engineering. This department will be led by Ryan Krauss, associate professor and past chair of interdisciplinary engineering.

Ogundipe said the new structure will allow faculty to design innovative programs to showcase a modern engineering education. 

"The new units will be better equipped to respond to industry trends and changes and, over time, develop new badges, courses and programs," he said.

Reffeor said she looks forward to working with the college's faculty and staff in a new capacity.

"I look forward to working with a talented team of educators to help them realize their goals for our students and themselves," she said. "I see new opportunities for collaborations between faculty and improved course selections and pathways for students."

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