WOODALL NAMED NEW COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS DEAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 1999

Fairbanks, Alaska - The ink on his contract was barely dry before nuclear engineer and nationally known physicist Dave Woodall was at work today, Oct. 6, as the University of Alaska Fairbanks' newest dean. But Woodall's instant fusion with College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics faculty and staff came as no surprise to UAF Provost Paul Reichardt.

"Dave is known by his colleagues as someone who carefully defines what needs to be done, develops a plan and gets to work," said Reichardt, who was the college's dean before being appointed provost at UAF last year.

Getting to work as the CSEM dean means Woodall will oversee a vast array of programs that range from the study of soils beneath to the study of the skies overhead. The college's courses and curriculum are as diverse as Woodall's own experience in the science and engineering fields.

Last spring semester Woodall headed the University of Idaho College of Engineering as acting dean, after spending eight years teaching mechanical engineering. Woodall was active in shaping the academic future of UI's engineering programs, chairing both the nuclear engineering and the system engineering program committees.

He also served as associate dean of engineering and director of research for the College of Engineering.

Prior to teaching at University of Idaho in Moscow, Woodall spent five years working at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory as director of the Center for Nuclear Engineering and Technology, where he oversaw an annual $5 million research budget.

Woodall's areas of expertise include aerospace nuclear power and propulsion and engineering education. His technical assistance has been used by the International Atomic Energy Agency and as a consultant for international nuclear engineering education and accreditation.

Woodall's work has spanned international boarders and global boundaries. He has taught at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico and evaluated programs and plans for space missions at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Space.

"His involvement in distance education, research administration, energy issues and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology will also make him a valuable addition to the overall UAF administrative team, " Reichardt said.

One of Woodall's specialties– managing professional engineering registration and accreditation– will be put to use quickly as the college develops a plan for the ten-year reaccreditation review scheduled for UAF in 2002.

UAF has been continually reaccredited since 1934 and its engineering curriculum is among the longest-running specialized and nationally accredited programs in the state.

"The future holds both challenges and opportunities for all doctoral, land-grant universities in the country," Woodall said. "I know that UAF will continue to grow in stature in the international community as it responds to the needs of Alaskan citizens and contributes to national missions in research education and service."

Woodall graduated with a bachelor's degree from Hendrix College in physics before completing his master's degree in nuclear engineering at Columbia University. He holds a doctorate in engineering physics from Cornell University.

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CONTACT: CSEM Dean Dave Woodall at (907) 474-7608.

JCS/10-6-99/00-018