Important Updates from Academic Affairs

As we move into the last quarter of the academic year, I write to provide important updates across a range of areas in Academic Affairs: leadership transitions, faculty development opportunities and upcoming events, a name change for the TLC and sabbatical proposal guidance. I also write to thank all of you who worked on your school’s tenure and promotion criteria and on reviewing your curriculum. Your work in both areas has been impressive. 

Leadership transitions

It is with both respect and gratitude that I share the news that Dr. Raj Katti, founding Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, plans to retire from that position at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year, and return to faculty in the Electrical and Computer Engineering program. 

Dr. Katti joined the University of Washington Tacoma in 2014 as Chair of the program in Computer Engineering. He went on to serve as Interim Director of the then-titled Institute of Technology, led a proposal to create the School of Engineering and Technology, and, following a national search, was appointed its founding Dean. 

During his highly productive time here, he initiated three new undergraduate B.S. programs, in Electrical, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, and three new graduate programs: the M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, the M.S. in Information Technology, and our first Ph.D. program in Computer Science. He wrote two successful legislative proviso proposals to advance these programs, played a central role in fundraising for critical scholarship support for Ph.D. students, and guided SET’s growth into one of the largest schools on campus. His impact here, on SET and on our campus, has been profound. Please join me in appreciation for his many years of leadership and contributions.

Dr. Katti’s gracious advance notice gives us time as a campus to plan for a full and comprehensive search process, and in the coming months we will hold listening sessions for the SET community to help structure the position description for the next Dean.  We plan to formally launch the search by fall 2026.

As we have previously shared, Dr. Cheryl Greengrove has concluded her position as AVC of Research after six years, and Dr. Heather Dillon has taken on the role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Success. Heather will share upcoming opportunities in the coming weeks, including the search for a Faculty Fellow to work with the Office of Teaching Excellence to better support faculty development, as well as the application process for this summer’s Undergraduate Research faculty mentoring cohort. We plan to celebrate Cheryl and her considerable accomplishments as a faculty member and institution builder at the June 9 Think and Drink; more information to come.

The searches for both the Director of Faculty Affairs and Academic Human Resources and the Executive Director of the Office of Undergraduate Education have been launched, and will bring candidates to campus in the coming months. 

Upcoming events

The Elevate Teaching Development Showcase, highlighting faculty creativity in teaching, takes place Friday, April 24, from 2-5 pm in MLG 110. 

This spring’s celebration of faculty achievement in research, teaching and community engagement takes place Friday, May 8 from 3-6 pm in MLG 110. 

Academic Human Resources, the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee and my office will host tenure and promotion preparation workshops on May 12, 9:30-11 am (Zoom only) and May 13, 1-2:30 pm (PNK 212 and Zoom). Specific links and further details to follow.

The Global Engagement Conference, open to presentations by undergraduate and graduate students, takes place Wednesday, May 20, from 9 am - 5 pm in William Philip Hall. 

And finally…

In consultation with the School Deans, Faculty Assembly Faculty Affairs Committee, and Academic Affairs leadership, we have developed guidance for the development of sabbatical proposals and posted it to the Academic Human Resources website. 

The Teaching and Learning Center is changing its name later this year to the Writing Center and the Quantitative Tutoring Center, collectively known as the Tutoring and Learning Centers.  More information on this coming soon. 

Wishing you all a productive spring!