UTAH STATE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING HIRES ASSOCIATE DEAN
Christine Hailey was named associate dean for the Utah State University College of Engineering this July. A licensed professional engineer, Hailey comes to Utah State with experience in industry and academia.
Hailey most recently served as the department head of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Tyler. Hailey worked with the faculty at UT Tyler to develop its new mechanical engineering program and also worked to strengthen the research program in the department. She said she understands the demands placed on faculty time while supporting an educational mission of a university.
“While I was at UT Tyler, faculty were able to secure funding from NASA and NSF, in addition to supporting our primary mission of undergraduate education,” said Hailey.
College of Engineering Dean Scott Hinton said Hailey will be an asset to the college. Hailey will have the responsibility to lead the college‚s new engineering education initiative and to strengthen the college‚s research infrastructure.
“I would like to establish a stronger research culture in the college that is complemented by a strong educational component,” said Hailey.
Hailey will work with Hinton and fellow Associate Dean Wynn Walker to improve the research conducted in their college. Because of experience working in academia as well as experience working in the private sector, particularly at Sandia National Laboratories, Hailey understands how organizations with strong research cultures operate. At Sandia, Hailey worked as department manager of the parachute technology and unsteady aerodynamics department, working on several research projects including one to develop a technology transfer program that allowed weapons parachutes to be useful in civilian applications. Other projects at the lab included working closely with NASA on the redesign of the Space Shuttle Orbiter parachute system.
As associate dean, Hailey will also work to develop an exciting freshmen experience for students just entering the college.
“We would like to attract the best and brightest students in Utah and the region to our college and then retain them in our programs,” said Hailey.
Hailey earned her bachelor‚s degree in mathematics from Colorado State University and a master‚s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
“Dr. Hailey’s background includes both industrial and academic leadership experience,” said Hinton. “This is an ideal mix to help move the College of Engineering into next century.”
For more information on the Utah State College of Engineering, visit http://www.engineering.usu.edu/.