Interim Dean Appointed for the College of Engineering

On June 30, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Patricia Prelock sent a message to faculty, staff and students in the College of Engineering announcing the new interim dean of the College of Engineering.

The beginning of the message is below and the full message is posted on the Office of the Provost website.

Dear students and colleagues,

I am pleased to share that Dr. Kimberly L. Ogden has been named interim dean for the position of Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering, effective July 1, 2026. 

On June 16, I announced that David W. Hahn would be leaving the U of A as of June 30, and invited nominations to fill the interim dean role. Thank you to the many colleagues who stepped forward to serve, and to the advisory committee that helped inform this decision.

Dr. Ogden holds a doctorate in Chemical Engineering and has been a faculty member in the department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering since 1992, where she has maintained a robustly funded research program in bioreactor design to produce alternative fuels from algae and bioproducts from guayule.

As department chair of Chemical and Environmental Engineering since 2020 – and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Department Head Award – she has led the department through a period of growth and achievement with a clear focus on student success. Her leadership style emphasizes mentoring faculty, fostering collaborative environments, and strengthening programs that support retention, graduation, and post-graduate outcomes. She has supported the college’s accreditation processes through the ABET and has extensive experience with the engineering accrediting body, which is particularly important as the college prepares for its next accreditation review in fall 2028.

Read more about this organizational announcement on the Office of the Provost website.