Dear Colleagues,

Keya Sadeghipour, the longtime dean of Temple University’s College of Engineering, has decided to step down as dean and return to the faculty at the end of this academic year.

Keya’s influence on Temple University and the College of Engineering has been profound. He joined the College in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1987 as an assistant professor. He rose to associate professor and later professor and chair of the department in 1997. He was selected as acting dean beginning in 1998 and was appointed dean in 2003. In addition to his leadership at the College of Engineering, he also served as acting dean of the College of Science and Technology from 2005-2007.

At the College of Engineering, Keya elevated the intellectual environment, promoting a culture of research and scholarship. During his tenure, external research funding has tripled, and in the past five years, junior faculty members have received eight National Science Foundation CAREER Awards. He created the nationally ranked Bioengineering program, and a new department of Engineering, Technology, and Management.

Keya’s commitment to student access has been significant, including the joint program with Heights Philadelphia, which brings Philadelphia high school students to Temple for a six-week STEM research program over the summer.

Keya has been a key leader on Temple’s campus over the last two decades. His focus on providing an excellent, future-focused education for students has produced strong results. He is well-positioned to continue his research and teaching when he returns to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where his work will further benefit Temple and the community.

Please join me in thanking Keya for his leadership and service. Personally, I will miss having him as a colleague in the Council of Deans and I thank him for his friendship and guidance.

We will be conducting a national search for Keya’s replacement, and will share more information about that soon.

Sincerely,

David Boardman
Interim Provost