March 25, 2010

Marquette names new engineering dean

Prolific researcher/teacher from University of Texas will succeed Jaskolski

MILWAUKEE – Dr. Robert H. Bishop, P.E., Joe J. King Professor of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named Opus Dean of Marquette’s College of Engineering, Provost John Pauly announced today (March 25, 2010). Bishop will succeed Dr. Stan Jaskolski, who announced in August 2009 his intent to retire at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Bishop, 52, who earned his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Rice University, has served as chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at UT. In addition to 10 years of experience in private industry, he has published more than 100 journal articles and conference proceedings, authored/co-authored four textbooks and edited five books. His research in systems and controls has drawn more than $6.5 million in grants from NASA, the U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin, National Instruments and numerous other agencies.

Pauly said the university drew “exceptionally strong candidates” for the Opus deanship that “reflected what was special about this opportunity.” On March 5 Marquette broke ground for the Discovery Learning Complex, a $100 million new home for the College of Engineering. Bishop said the discovery learning concept fit well with his vision for the future of engineering education. “Engineering education and research are in transition,” he said. “We must address the world’s problems more directly. As we move from an information age to a creative age, we must educate engineers to think with both the left and right sides of their brains, to be problem solvers who understand the consequences of their work.”

Attracted to Marquette by the university’s concern for educating the whole person, Bishop said while engineering education must “remain firmly founded on basic principles of science and mathematics, students need more than technical know-how. This requires a strong program balanced with an emphasis on the liberal arts,” which is exactly what Marquette requires of all students, regardless of major, through its core curriculum.

Bishop said he supports the interdisciplinary design of the Discovery Learning Complex and applauds the inter-institutional cooperation between Marquette and other higher education institutions, as well as businesses and industries. He cited the recently announced Industry & University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) in Milwaukee focused on advancing freshwater research and the Southeastern Wisconsin Energy Research Technology Council as examples.  

“Stan Jaskolski has provided a marvelous foundation for the new dean,” Pauly said. “I believe Dr. Bishop has the professional and academic experience, the administrative and fundraising expertise and the enthusiasm to build discovery learning into a permanent, sustainable concept in the College of Engineering – with the new building, endowed faculty chairs and an increasingly talented and diverse student body.”

Jaskolski said Bishop will inherit a talented and dedicated faculty committed to the concept of discovery learning. “I expect we’ll have a seamless transition,” he said. “We have great momentum at this point in time, and Dr. Bishop will bring fresh ideas and great enthusiasm for the work we have begun.”

Bishop said he expects to draw upon Jaskolski’s passion and experience. “Dean Jaskolski has offered to introduce me and to open doors as we continue to raise funds to complete the Discovery Learning Complex, to attract more endowed faculty chairs and to provide more scholarships for students. I’m going to welcome that,” he said.

Bishop said he also expects to increase research funding within the College of Engineering. However, he emphatically rejected the idea that research comes at the expense of teaching. An award-winning teacher himself, he said, “Teaching and research are one and the same. Even during my years as chairman, I maintained an active research program while continuing to be a successful teacher, including teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It’s also important for our students to be involved in research.”

Bishop will officially take office on July 1, 2010. He and his wife, Lynda, have two sons, a junior at the University of Chicago and a high school senior.

A CV and photo of Dr. Bishop are available online.