Matsumoto, who started his new post on April 1, is a professor of environmental engineering and associate dean of the Bourns College of Engineering at the University of California, Riverside. His UC Merced appointment will be for one year, during which he will take a leave of absence from his UC Riverside duties. UC Merced's search for a permanent dean is under way, and an appointment is expected later this year.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Matsumoto to UC Merced," said Steve Kang, UC Merced chancellor. "We will benefit enormously from his many years of experience and insights as we continue to expand and enhance our engineering programs to serve the critical needs of the state, the nation and the world."
Matsumoto joined the faculty of UC Riverside as professor of environmental engineering in 1994, following 11 years as a professor or program director in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the State University of New York in Buffalo. At UC Riverside, he has served at various times as chair of the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department; as chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department; and twice as associate dean of the Bourns College of Engineering (once for student affairs and once for research and graduate affairs). He also served as interim dean of the Bourns College of Engineering during 2004 and 2005.
In his new position, Matsumoto replaces Dr. Thomas Harmon, who served as acting dean for three months following the resignation in December 2009 of Dr. Jeff Wright, who was founding dean of the UC Merced School of Engineering. Harmon, one of UC Merced's founding faculty members, returns to his position as professor of engineering.
"As the first research university established in the 21st century, UC Merced is poised to take a leadership role in higher education," said Matsumoto. "I hope to lend my experience to the School of Engineering and its outstanding faculty as it continues its growth toward prominence.
"Having been a part of the startup of the Bourns College of Engineering at UC Riverside in a variety of roles, I see many parallels to the situation at UC Merced. I am looking forward to working together with everyone at this important stage of its growth and development."
Matsumoto holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from UC Irvine and master's and Ph. D. degrees in civil engineering from UC Davis. He has authored or co-authored numerous scholarly articles on environmental engineering and serves as an expert reviewer or consultant for more than two dozen industry publications, professional organizations, government agencies, businesses and publishing companies. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society for Engineering Education, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation.
Matsumoto will be compensated at an annual salary rate of $201,160. The amount of compensation received will be prorated according to the number of months served in the position of interim dean. Per university policy, he also will be eligible for continued regular UC benefits and for reimbursement of travel expenses.
UC Merced opened Sept. 5, 2005, as the 10th campus in the University of California system and the first American research university of the 21st century. The campus significantly expands access to the UC system for students throughout the state, with a special mission to increase college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley. It also serves as a major base of advanced research and as a stimulus to economic growth and diversification throughout the region. Situated near Yosemite National Park, the university is expected to grow rapidly, topping out at about 25,000 students within 30 years.