A new dean has been selected for the Washkewicz College of Engineering. Dr. Richard Schoephoerster (pronounced “shop-oyster”) will assume the role on Feb. 14, 2022. He is currently the dean of the Graduate College and Research at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas.
“Dr. Schoephoerster is a highly effective leader with extensive experience in growing engineering programs. He brings real-world experience in expanding academic programs in the U.S. and abroad, including designing professional development workshops for thousands of engineering faculty and leaders nationwide,” shared Provost Laura Bloomberg in an email to the campus community.
Recent experience of Dr. Schoephoerster’s includes dean of the College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso. He most recently completed work with the American Society of Engineering Education consisting of the “design, development and delivery of professional development workshops for their 10,000+ members.”
Dr. Schoephoerster will replace Dr. Joanne Belovich, interim dean since 2019 and professor in the department of chemical and biomedical engineering.
Diana Schoder 
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