Dr. Rich Wlezien, vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, announced on June 21 changes and updates for several departments.

Chemical and biochemical engineering

Dr. Muthanna Al-Dahhan will step down as chair of chemical and biochemical engineering on June 30. Dr. Joseph Smith will serve as the interim department chair. An external search for a permanent chair will begin in the fall.

Al-Dahhan is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor and has served as chair since 2009. Under his leadership, the department moved into Bertelsmeyer Hall and increased collaboration within and outside the university.

Smith is a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, and the Wayne and Gayle Laufer Chair of Energy. He joined S&T in 2011.

Computer science

Dr. Bruce McMillin will continue to serve as interim chair of computer science. An external search for a permanent chair will begin in the fall. McMillin is a professor of computer science and has served as interim chair since August 2018. He joined S&T’s faculty in 1988.

Mechanical and aerospace engineering

Dr. James Drallmeier will step down as chair on June 30, and will be succeeded by Dr. Keith Nisbett as the acting department chair. Nisbett will serve pending the completion of an ongoing external search.

Drallmeier is a Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor and has served on S&T’s faculty since 1989. He was named chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering in January 2011, leading the department through an unprecedented period of growth in students, faculty and research.

Nisbett is an associate professor and associate chair of mechanical engineering. He joined Missouri S&T in 1989.

Mining and nuclear engineering

Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei will continue to serve as interim director of mining and explosives engineering. The program will pursue departmental status. Pending establishment of a department, an external search will be held for a permanent chair.

Awuah-Offei is an associate professor of mining engineering. He has served as interim director of the mining and explosives engineering program since July 2018.

Dr. Hyoung-Koo Lee will step down as interim director of nuclear engineering on June 30 and will be succeeded by Dr. Ayodeji Alajo. The program will pursue departmental status. Pending establishment of a department, an external search will be held for a permanent chair.

Lee is an associate professor of nuclear engineering. He joined S&T in 2009 and has served as interim director of the program since July 2018.

Alajo is an associate professor and graduate program coordinator for nuclear engineering. He joined S&T in 2011.