Tulane University has appointed Indian AmericanAmercican professor Hridesh Rajan as the new dean of its School of Science and Engineering (SSE), effective July 1.
This appointment follows an extensive national search, which was praised by Tulane president Michael A. Fitts and Provost Robin Forman. “A distinguished scholar and innovative leader, Hridesh brings an impressive breadth of knowledge and experience to this vital role. Bringing Hridesh to Tulane will elevate the School of Science and Engineering to new levels of excellence,” they wrote in a message to the Tulane community.
Rajan succeeds Kimberly Foster, who has led the SSE through transformative growth and development over the past six years.
Currently the Kingland professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at Iowa State University, Rajan, has been instrumental in developing new degree programs in artificial intelligence and computer science. His initiatives helped in fostering cross-campus transdisciplinary research in data science and boosting faculty collaboration, leading to a 45 percent increase in female student enrollment and significant growth in faculty, staff, and research funding.
At Iowa State, Rajan's efforts in instructional innovation have enhanced student success rates and secured the successful reaccreditation of the computer science program. His commitment to diversity and inclusion resulted in a 643 percent increase in philanthropic support and the development of a comprehensive plan to promote inclusivity through 2032.
Rajan holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in computer science from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Technology in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. A Fulbright scholar, ACM Distinguished Scientist, and fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Rajan’s research focuses on data science, software engineering, and programming languages, notably his work on the Boa programming language.
Rajan expressed his enthusiasm for joining Tulane, citing the university's strengths in health, energy, climate science, AI, and data science. “Joining Tulane SSE represents a unique opportunity for me to contribute to an institution that aligns with my values and to lead a school poised to make significant contributions to solving the pressing challenges of our time."
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