Syracuse University has selected a new dean for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the university announced Monday.

J. Cole Smith, who served as associate provost for academic initiatives at Clemson University, will start as dean on Oct. 1, according to an SU News release. SU’s Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees approved the appointment. He previously led Clemson’s Department of Industrial Engineering.

“The reason that Syracuse appeals to me so much is you can tell the sincerity of the people, just from a quick visit,” Smith told The Daily Orange on Monday. “You can see it not only in the university but in the surrounding town and the community. There’s a real sincere desire to not only excel academically but also to improve society.”

During Smith’s tenure at Clemson, the Department of Industrial Engineering grew by 50% over four years, and its ranking moved from the mid-30s nationally to No. 24, according to the release. Smith identified new sources of revenue for Clemson’s Department of Industrial Engineering and opened a new building that was funded by online revenue, per the release. 

Smith applied for the job around early July and visited SU around the end of July to early August, he said. They agreed to basic terms on the agreement “not too long ago,” Smith said, and the faculty approved of the hire last week.

Chancellor Kent Syverud presented Smith’s case to the Board of Trustees last Friday, Smith added.

Smith’s appointment comes after a months-long search for a permanent replacement after former dean Teresa Dahlberg stepped down from her role and became vice chancellor and provost at Texas Christian University. Dahlberg had led the College of Engineering and Computer Science since May 2015.

Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly formed a search committee in February 2019 to find Dahlberg’s permanent replacement, per the release. Can Isik served as interim dean when Dahlberg stepped down. 

SU was searching for a dean with “outstanding” ideas to advance the college and who had previous leadership in academia, Isik told The Daily Orange. He added the college had room to grow in faculty research and accomplishments of students and graduates.

“There’s a lot of prestige (at SU), there’s a lot of strength, there’s a lot of excellent achievement but that doesn’t seem to be the underlying driver,” Smith said. “The underlying driver says ‘how do we make our society better, how do we improve a lot of people.’”

Smith has previously worked as a professor of industrial and systems engineering at the University of Florida and the University of Arizona. His research areas include network flows and facility location and integer programming, among others, according to his Clemson University faculty profile.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematical sciences from Clemson University and a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.

Published on September 16, 2019 at 1:14 pm

Contact Gabe: gkstern@syr.edu | @gabestern326