Dr. Steve Watkins, professor of electrical engineering, will become interim chair of electrical and computer engineering on Monday, June 1. Watkins succeeds Dr. Daryl Beetner, who has served as chair since 2014.

“We congratulate Dr. Beetner on the excellent job he has done in leading the department and growing both the research and academic programs,” says Dr. Rich Wlezien, vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “We wish Dr. Beetner well on his return to the general faculty and his very active research program.”

Watkins earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1983 and 1985, respectively. He also holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Watkins joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 1989 as an assistant professor of electrical engineering. He was named associate professor in 1996 and professor in 2004.