Leadership Transition – College of Engineering
On June 16, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Patricia Prelock sent a message to faculty, staff and students in the College of Engineering announcing that David W. Hahn has been named the sole finalist to serve as president of Boise State University. His last day at the University of Arizona will be June 30.
An interim dean will be appointed in the coming weeks. Nominations, including self-nominations from qualified leaders, may be submitted by June 24.
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 a prestigious opportunity for one of our academic leaders. The Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering, David W. Hahn, has been named the sole finalist to serve as president of Boise State University. His last day at the University of Arizona will be June 30.
Dr. Hahn joined the U of A in 2019 to lead the college and has been a remarkable leader and champion for the entire university throughout his tenure. His legacy is marked by a significant rise in student enrollment, strong retention and graduation rates, and an expansion of faculty and staff in support of the college’s academic and research missions.
He expanded academic offerings through the establishment of the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program, a four-year experiential curriculum in which students complete hands-on projects every year. He also helped create Software Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering programs, an engineering track in the Bachelor’s in Applied Humanities, and a degree collaboration with Eller College of Management for the Bachelor of Science in Integrated Business and Engineering.
Under Dr. Hahn’s leadership, the College of Engineering tripled its research expenditures and sharpened its focus on pressing challenges in food, water, energy, healthcare and national security. Dr. Hahn helped secure more than $45 million in state legislative funding to support key initiatives, including the new Cancer Engineering program developed in collaboration with the Arizona Cancer Center and College of Medicine – Tucson, the establishment of the School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources, and advancements in hypersonic technologies. He also oversaw the launch of a partnership with the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, leading to the creation of the Arizona Near Space Studies Institute.
Read more about this organizational announcement on the Office of the Provost website.