Dear Colleagues,
As we prepare for the departure of Dean Ayanna Howard at the end of July, I’m pleased to share that I have appointed Professor Balasubramaniam Shanker as interim dean of the College of Engineering (COE), effective Aug. 1. In addition, we will launch a national search in the weeks ahead to find the college’s next exceptional dean. Details about the search advisory committee will be shared at a later date.
Currently, Shanker, as he’s known to students and colleagues alike, serves as COE’s chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and holds the Elizabeth and John Tinkham Endowed Professorship in Engineering. In addition, he brings to his interim role a wealth of experience in building successful programs, a deep commitment to research, and a collaborative mindset. He began his tenure at COE in 2022 after having served on the Michigan State University (MSU) faculty for two decades. While at MSU, he was named a University Distinguished Professor and recognized both internally and by external peers for his contributions to the field.
Since Shanker’s arrival at COE, he has maintained a focus on designing and scaling programs that emphasize research impact, student success and professional competence, while elevating these outcomes to external stakeholders. As he begins his interim role, he looks to elevate the college’s stature by leveraging strengths at Ohio State, including AI, microelectronics, autonomy and healthcare, while building rigorous academic systems that ensure undergraduate and graduate students achieve elite professional mastery while reducing their financial burden.
I am grateful to Shanker for his eagerness to step in and serve as interim dean, and I look forward to working with him and the college’s leadership team to advance the COE’s academic excellence. I am also grateful to the numerous faculty colleagues who expressed interest in serving as interim dean of COE.
Once again, I want to reiterate my deep appreciation to Dean Ayanna Howard as she prepares to commence her role as the next President of Spelman College in Atlanta. I am confident that the college’s students, faculty and staff will be well served under her leadership. She has been an outstanding colleague, and she leaves our College of Engineering poised for continued success.
Please join me in welcoming Balasubramaniam Shanker to the role of interim dean of the College of Engineering.
Sincerely,
Trevor Brown
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost