Jeff R. Wright, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Engineering at Purdue University and Director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, has been appointed as the founding Dean of Engineering at the University of California, Merced campus, it was announced today by UC Merced Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey.

“I am delighted Jeff Wright has agreed to lend his considerable talents to the establishment of UC Merced’s Engineering Division,� said Chancellor Tomlinson-Keasey. “His record in teaching, research, public service and administration is exceptional, and his work has brought about important advances in the engineering profession. The leadership, initiative and innovative approach Dr. Wright brings will benefit both the Engineering Division and the entire campus in their development.�

The first dean to be named for the 10th UC campus, Wright will assume his new position on September 1.

“To help create a new university is a tremendous opportunity: a chance of a lifetime. I am honored to have been asked to serve as dean of engineering at this exciting new institution, and proud to be joining such a remarkable and dedicated team,� Wright said. “This university will grow quickly, and will provide engineering research and education programs of the highest quality. Our focus will be on disciplines that are important to the people of the San Joaquin Valley region – its schools, governments, businesses and residents, all of whom will embrace UC Merced as their university.�

“With this new campus we have the opportunity— indeed, an obligation—to build an engineering school that values diversity of thought and culture throughout every dimension of its program, thereby attracting the very best faculty and students from all populations,� he said. “Our strength and comparative advantage will be our people.�

Beginning his academic career as a research assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington, Wright joined the Purdue University faculty as an assistant professor in the School of Civil Engineering in 1982. He held the position of associate professor from 1987 to 1991, at which time he was promoted to full professorship in the School of Civil Engineering. Appointed as assistant dean of Engineering in 1997 with responsibilities for Information Technologies and Diversity, Wright was named associate dean of Engineering for Research in January.

Since 1989, Wright has served as director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and maintains an active research program focusing on the use of advanced modeling and information technologies to improve water resources and environmental management.

His current research projects reflect Wright’s interest and success in the design and implementation of computer-based spatial decision support systems for civil infrastructure, transportation, water resources, and land resources engineering and management. He has developed a number of important modeling systems that are actively being used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public resources utilization, and was recently recognized with an award from the National Institutes for Water Resources for innovation in the design and development of a national water resources information system for administering the research program of that organization.

A longtime advocate for cultural and gender diversity in engineering, Wright serves on the National Academy of Engineering’s Action Forum on Diversity in the Engineering Workforce, an initiative to create a network of leaders from industry, government and academe working together to improve diversity throughout engineering. Wright also has championed a series of forward-thinking diversity programs at Purdue University and has helped bring about an improved environment for diversity on campus.

“Purdue has long been a leader in promoting diversity within engineering,� Wright explained. “But the approach has been programmatic, relying on the dedication of a few committed individuals. Recently, we’ve instituted a number of activities aimed at changing attitudes about diversity and its importance for our program. As attitudes and awareness change, our culture changes, and diversity becomes a core value of our program.�

To date, more than 40 percent of the engineering faculty has voluntarily participated in these initiatives. “I’m impressed that at UC Merced, diversity is already very clearly a top priority,� said Wright. “This is one of the main reasons I took the job.�

In recent years, Wright has taught in the areas of information management systems, Internet resources design and development, advanced Internetworking, engineering economic analysis, civil infrastructure systems engineering, and civil and environmental systems engineering. He also teaches graduate-level distance courses on the design and development of Internet resources. The extensive list of his scholarly and technical publications includes the popular textbook “Civil and Environmental Systems Engineering,� which he co-authored.

Wright earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, as well as a bachelor’s degree in social psychology, at the University of Washington. He also holds a doctoral degree from The Johns Hopkins University through the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering.

Wright has been the recipient of several awards and honors for his scholarly achievements. Most recently he was presented with the State-of-the-Art Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers for his groudbreaking work in information systems design and implementation. He has received the CYBERSTAR Finalist Award from the Indiana Information Technologies Association, and the Service to the Profession Award, also from the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has been elected to Purdue’s Teaching Academy, and is a fellow of the Big Ten Consortium for Institutional Cooperation Academic Leadership Program.

His American Society of Civil Engineers activities include service as the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Infrastructure Systems and membership on the Board Communications Committee, the Task Committee on Diversity, the Environmental and Water Resources Institute, the Water Resources Planning and Management Division and the Technical Council on Computer Practices.

UC Merced currently employs approximately 70 educators and professionals. Scheduled to open in fall 2004 to serve 1,000 students, the University's main campus in Merced is currently being planned. The campus will grow over coming decades to serve 25,000 students. UC Merced contributes to educational access through the entire San Joaquin region via special educational and outreach centers in Fresno and Bakersfield. A new UC Merced center will open in Modesto later this year.