USA Grad School News - October Update

Kendall T. Harris, formerly associate professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean, has been appointed dean of the College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. Harris officially assumed his post Oct. 1, after being confirmed by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. "Dr. Harris is a distinguished researcher and scholar with a wealth of administrative experience. His record of achievement in aerospace engineering and energy conservation are assets to our university," said President George C. Wright. "Through his established leadership and desire to cultivate students, our College of Engineering will continue to flourish and produce talent and research for Texas, our nation and the world." As Dean of the College of Engineering, Harris will serve as the chief administrative officer of the college in all matters related to academic, faculty and student affairs. He will also be responsible for fund development, policy compliance and student recruitment and retention. Harris, 39, will become the sixth dean of the college, succeeding engineering dean Milton R. Bryant, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Bryant will remain on sabbatical until he returns next spring as a full professor in the College of Business. A licensed professional engineer, Harris began his tenure at Prairie View A&M University in 2005, as associate dean and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Under his leadership, the college implemented the College of Engineering Success Center, which focuses on the retention of engineering students by offering supplemental instruction for freshman and sophomore students enrolled in math, science and engineering courses. He also conceptualized and facilitated a program that partners freshman advisors from each academic department within the college with advisors from the university's freshman residence complex, University College. This collaboration works through a new freshman course within the College that introduces fundamental engineering, computer science and technology concepts to first year students. "As the new dean of the college of engineering, one of my top priorities is to ensure that the college becomes one of the foremost engineering colleges in the nation," states Harris. "My long-term goal is to reach a level of achievement and recognition that places the college among the global leaders in engineering education, research and service." Harris, who has consistently held joint faculty appointments in aerospace and mechanical engineering departments, assumes the helm of a college that is widely known for producing top black engineers. His efforts have garnered more than $3.2 million in research and program funding. Equipped with this expertise, he will now lead a college with more than 900 students. The college recently opened a new electrical engineering building and graduated its first doctoral degree student in electrical engineering. Through collaborations with NASA and several public and private entities, the college houses seven research centers and is comprised of six departments: chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, engineering technology and mechanical engineering. "The College of Engineering is among the most productive and celebrated of our flagship academic programs," states Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. E. Joahanne Thomas-Smith. "Dr. Harris has the passion for ensuring that our students gain a quality education that can be provided only by the first-rate faculty and staff that the College of Engineering is fortunate to have. He, his leadership team, the faculty and the staff are positioned to advance the college to new heights." Prior to joining the faculty at PVAMU, Harris served as associate professor and associate chairman for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In this capacity, he managed the departmental budget, curriculum design, fellowships, scholarships and conducted research concerning heat transfer through porous materials, energy conservation and the cooling of electronic components. While serving at the University of Texas at Arlington, Harris also directed the Loan Star Industrial Assessment Center in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, which provided energy, waste and productivity conservation assessments to various manufactures in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award from the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1993, he graduated from the Naval Aviation Officer School as a U.S. naval officer and aviator. His research has been published in publications such as the Journal of Electronic Packaging, the Journal of Porous Media and the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. Harris received a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas. He holds a master's and doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi. He is married to Shundra Harris, who is also an engineer and interior designer.