College of Engineering appoints first ever associate dean of academic programs

Utah State University’s College of Engineering is expanding its administrative leadership by appointing Deepak Keshwani as its first associate dean of academic programs — a position designed to oversee curriculum, accreditation and statewide delivery.

The role was created to support growing enrollment and new program offerings, according to David Jones, the dean of the college.

Jones said the college is under pressure to reduce credit hours, reallocate funding and partner with other campuses — all of which he hopes Keshwani can help with.

“There’s not a shortage of areas we need to work on,” Jones said. “I’ve got more on my list than he can do.”

Jones said one of Keshwani’s top priorities will be expanding the energy engineering program to the Price and Vernal campuses. This effort aligns with funding approved during the 2024 General Session of the Utah Legislature, which appropriated money for Utah State to develop a rural-focused energy engineering program to support the state’s energy workforce needs.

Keshwani is expected to begin this role on Feb. 1. He previously worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, or UNL, for 16 years, where he was an associate professor of biological systems engineering and an interim associate dean.

While at UNL, Keshwani spent several years working with Jones.

“Keshwani is not a stranger to me at all. When I knew we needed additional help, he was one of the people on my mind,” Jones said. “Fortunately, through the process of a national search, he applied, and he emerged as the best candidate.”

Keshwani said he spent several years working in the classroom, teaching a range of courses from first-year orientation to capstone classes.

“My career has been really grounded in teaching, advising and student success,” Keshwani said.

Keshwani plans to focus not only on increasing enrollment in the College of Engineering but also on increasing its student involvement and graduation rates.

“We admit students because we think they can succeed,” Keshwani said. “That means we have to create the environment for students to succeed.”

Keshwani applied for the new dean position because he felt ready to serve in a larger role at the college level.

“When this opportunity came up, it really resonated with me and what my goals are professionally — to help students co-create their learning,” Keshwani said.

Keshwani was also drawn to Utah State because it is a land-grant university.

“I was really looking for an environment where there was a deep commitment to the land-grant mission,” Keshwani said. “As I was talking to folks who had worked at Utah State, they talked a lot about that commitment and emphasis on working with communities and students.”

In addition to this position, Keshwani hopes to eventually get back in the classroom as a professor for the Biological Engineering Department in coming semesters.

“My job will initially be 100% in the College of Engineering office in an administrative role, but that was a tough decision for me,” Keshwani said. “I worked with students regularly, and I just finished teaching three classes last semester, so this will be an interesting change.”

Even though he won’t be teaching initially, Keshwani intends to stay involved with students through working with engineering student club leaders and the college’s ambassadors.

“My first official meeting on the calendar for the day I start is with a student, which is exactly how I would like it to be,” Keshwani said.