College Leadership

Dean

Tonya L. Peeples

Tonya L. Peeples
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering

dean@engr.psu.edu

Learn more: Peeples named dean of Penn State's College of Engineering

Dean Peeples oversees the College of Engineering and leads the efforts to implement and execute the college’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on four cornerstones: excellence, equity, sustainability, and social mobility, as well as the capstone of impact.

Associate Deans

Eric Donnell

Eric Donnell
Associate Dean for Research

etd104@psu.edu

Learn more: Eric Donnell named college’s associate dean for research

Associate Dean Donnell promotes and coordinates support for  research —from identifying opportunities to managing projects—including pre- and post-award research administration, cost share, IP, export control, data security, and other issues. Associate Dean Donnell is also responsible for those aspects of  graduate student affairs and programs  which are closely aligned with research, including recruiting and graduate faculty membership.


Enrique Gomez


Enrique Gomez
Interim Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion

edg12@psu.edu

Learn more: Enrique Gomez named interim engineering associate dean for equity and inclusion

Interim Associate Dean Gomez  leads the college’s Equity Action Plan and provides oversight and guidance for the college’s Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion. He works collaboratively with the dean, other associate deans, academic departments, and programs to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the college. 


Vijaykrishnan Narayanan


Vijaykrishnan Narayanan
Associate Dean for Innovation

vxn9@psu.edu

Learn more: Vijaykrishnan Narayanan named college’s associate dean for innovation

Associate Dean Narayan leads major initiatives focused on faculty/team development and resource planning for research and entrepreneurship opportunities. This includes coordinating faculty and proposal development to increase extramural research funding, as well as developing seed grant programs, new faculty mentorship programs, and research centers. 


Robert Rabb


Robert Rabb
Associate Dean for Education

rzr5557@psu.edu

Learn more: Associate dean of education for the College of Engineering named

Associate Dean Rabb supports the college’s resident and online   undergraduate and graduate educational programs and associated student academic support. Associate Dean Rabb is also responsible for charting strategic initiatives in the college around academic program development and assessment, innovative and inclusive pedagogies, initiatives to enhance curricular and co-curricular experiences, academic advising, interdisciplinary curricula, student success, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement of academic programs.


Shelley Stoffels


Shelley Stoffels
Associate Dean for Faculty

sms26@psu.edu

Learn more: Shelley Stoffels named associate dean of faculty

Associate Dean Stoffels has primary responsibility for tenure-line and professional track faculty affairs in the College of Engineering. Associate Dean Stoffels provides collaborative leadership for faculty development, assessment, support of faculty governance, and for proposing innovative and inclusive initiatives to advance faculty experiences. 

Assistant Deans

Ivan Esparragoza

Ivan Esparragoza
Assistant Dean for Curricular Innovation and Program Assessment

iee1@psu.edu

Learn more: College of Engineering names newly established assistant dean

Assistant Dean Esparragoza identifies opportunities and supports curricular innovations at the undergraduate and graduate levels through an in-depth assessment of current programs, coordinates and evaluates first-year seminars across the college, as well as assists departments in delivering high-quality first and second-year education to College of Engineering students. Assistant Dean Esparragoza also coordinates accreditation processes for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering and serves as the institutional representative during accreditation reviews.


headshot of a woman


Christine Masters
Assistant Dean for Academic Support and Global Programs

cbm100@psu.edu

Learn more: Christine Masters named assistant dean

Assistant Dean Masters leads the College of Engineering teams supporting academic advising, global engineering engagement, academic integrity, and undergraduate student records. Assistant Dean Masters guides collaboration among these teams and other units across the college to provide a comprehensive array of student support and engagement, with a focus on increasing equitable access and promoting an inclusive culture of belonging.


Sarah Zappe


Sarah Zappe
Assistant Dean for Teaching & Learning

ser163@psu.edu

Learn more: New Leonhard Center director, assistant dean in engineering named

Assistant Dean Zappe serves as director of the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education and leads the efforts to maintain excellence and chart innovative directions in the educational experiences of undergraduate and graduate students and in professional development programs for faculty.

School, Department, and Program Heads

Acoustics

Andrew Branard

Andrew R. Barnard
Director and Professor

arb279@psu.edu

Learn more: New director of Penn State's Graduate Program in Acoustics named

Aerospace Engineering

Amy Pritchett

Amy Pritchett
Department Head and Professor

arp78@psu.edu

Learn more: Amy Pritchett appointed head of aerospace engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Suat Irmak

Suat Irmak
Department Head and Professor

sfi5068@psu.edu

Learn more: Irmak to lead Penn State Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 

Architectural Engineering

James Freihaut 

James Freihaut
Interim Department Head

jdf11@psu.edu

Learn more: James Freihaut named interim head of architectural engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Daniel Hayes

Daniel Hayes
Department Head and Professor

djh195@psu.edu

Learn more: Alumnus and professor named new head of biomedical engineering

Chemical Engineering

Phillip Savage

Phillip Savage
Department Head and Walter L. Robb Family Chair
PES15@psu.edu

Learn more: Interim associate vice president for research named

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Farshad Rajabipour

Farshad Rajabipour
Interim Department Head

fxr10@psu.edu  

Learn more: Farshad Rajabipour named interim head of civil and environmental engineering

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Thomas La Porta

Thomas La Porta
Evan Pugh Professor, William E. Leonhard Endowed Chair and Director of EECS

tfl12@psu.edu

Learn more: La Porta named director of School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science


Madhavan Swaminathan


Madhavan Swaminathan
Electrical Engineering Department Head and William E. Leonhard Professor

mvs7249@psu.edu 

Learn more: Madhavan Swaminathan named new head of electrical engineering


Chitaranjan Das


Chitaranjan Das
Computer Science Department Head and Distinguished Professor

cxd12@psu.edu 

Engineering Design and Innovation

David Mazyck

David Mazyck
School Head and Professor

dwm110@psu.edu

Learn more: Penn State engineering alumnus named head of SEDTAPP

Engineering Science and Mechanics

Vincent Meunier

Vincent Meunier
P.B. Breneman Chair and Department Head

vfm5153@psu.edu

Learn more: Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics welcomes new head

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Steven Landry

Steven Landry
Department Head and Professor

sjl6144@psu.edu

Learn more: New department head named to lead industrial engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Mary Frecker

Mary Frecker
Riess Chair of Engineering and Department Head

mxf36@psu.edu

Learn more: New department head to lead mechanical engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Jon Schwantes

Jon Schwantes
Acting Department Head of Nuclear Engineering

jon.schwantes@psu.edu

Learn more: Jon Schwantes named acting nuclear engineering department head