Provost Russell Moore today announced he has named Keith Molenaar interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), effective in January 2020.听
Molenaar, who currently serves as associate dean for research in the college, will succeed Bobby Braun,听who announced last month听his plan to leave 抖阴旅行射 Boulder in January to accept an executive post at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located at the California Institute of Technology.听
鈥淜eith鈥檚 leadership of CEAS鈥檚 research mission, his excellence as a scholar and teacher, and his long association with the college鈥攇oing back to his undergraduate days at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥攅nsure the continued course of distinction that Bobby Braun has set for the college,鈥� Moore said.听
Moore said that course includes 鈥渁 strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusive excellence for the student body, faculty and staff.鈥澨�
Moore added that Molenaar鈥檚 administrative service under Braun and his predecessor, Rob Davis, give him a 鈥渇irm anchoring in the strategic relationships the college will need to maintain, and the processes we need to continue within the college, while we seek a new dean.鈥澨�
鈥淚 have complete confidence in Keith Molenaar鈥檚 ability to lead our college forward in the coming months,鈥� Braun said. 鈥淜eith has been an active and effective leader in establishing and advancing our college鈥檚 strategic vision over these past three years. I will begin working with him immediately to implement a seamless transition.鈥�
Moore also announced that he had named E. Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for Graduate Affairs, as chair of the committee that will conduct a national search for Braun鈥檚 successor. Moore said he is accepting nominations for the search committee until 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28. Those interested in volunteering or recommending a search committee member can do so by sending an email to听vcaa@colorado.edu.
Moore said he would, in the coming weeks, 鈥渁nnounce to the campus the membership of the search committee and a timeline for the delivery of finalists.鈥�
Molenaar said that as interim dean, he would 鈥渕ake the continued strengthening of our college community the focus of our work and of my decisions as interim dean.鈥澨�
鈥淚 believe that the college is extraordinary because our community provides a unique environment for learning,鈥� Molenaar said. 鈥淎s interim dean, I will listen to the aspirations and concerns of our faculty, staff and students and support them in achieving their goals, while continuing to build on the vision Bobby established.鈥�
Molenaar is the K. Stanton Lewis Professor of Construction Engineering and Management in CEAS. He received his doctoral and master鈥檚 degrees in civil engineering from 抖阴旅行射 Boulder, and his bachelor鈥檚 degree in architectural engineering also from 抖阴旅行射 Boulder. After a brief but successful appointment as an assistant professor at The Georgia Institute of Technology, Keith returned to 抖阴旅行射 Boulder in 1999 as assistant professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering.
Among his many awards are a Fulbright Scholarship in 2006鈥�07 and the Toulmin Medal, awarded by the Society of American Military Engineers in 2003. He was named to the Pan-American Academy of Engineering in 2012 and the National Academy of Construction in 2017. He will be recognized as a fellow of the Design-Build Institute of America this November.
Some of his 抖阴旅行射 Boulder awards include campus Global Citizen of the Year in 2017; Excellence in Leadership Fellow in 2010鈥�11; the Provost鈥檚 Faculty Achievement Award in 2006; and the CEAE Young Researcher Award in 2002.
