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A summary of the personnel and roles pertinent to the Department of Biomedical Engineering is as follows:
DrMark J. Marvin L. Hackert, Interim T. Smith, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies (appointed 20142017) – the graduate dean oversees a graduate education program that includes approximately 100 fields of study and is one of the largest doctoral degree-granting schools in the country. Her role as a senior vice provost reinforces the vital connections between graduate education with undergraduate education and research. The Provost’s Office coordinates the academic mission of the university, managing all aspects of the academic experience for students, as well as policies and procedures related to the faculty and administration of the departments, colleges, and schools and other academic units.
Dr. Sharon Wood, PhD, Dean of Engineering (appointed 2014) – the dean is responsible for administering the school's budget; day-to-day management of funds for the school is done by the assistant dean for business affairs. Faculty hiring priorities are set by the dean, and hiring by individual departments is approved only after departments have submitted strategic plans identifying hiring needs. Overall management of the faculty hiring process is done by the associate dean for academic affairs. Final decisions regarding faculty hiring at the assistant professor level rests with the dean. The dean also provides the departments with general guidelines on faculty promotion and tenure, and recommendations for promotion and tenure are made by the departments to the dean through the associate dean for academic affairs. After thorough review of the candidates, the dean's recommendations are forwarded to the provost for action. Recommended salary adjustments are brought to the dean by the department chairs following guidance from the dean, and those recommendations along with additional salary adjustments made by the dean are passed on to the provost.
Dr. Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, PhD, Department Chair (appointed 2016) – the department chair is the chief administrative officer, provides overall leadership, and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the department. The chair ensures compliance with accreditation criteria, is responsible for overseeing the department’s budget, curriculum issues, and staff issues. The department chair serves as a liaison between the department faculty, and the dean and provost.
Dr. Michael SacksTim (Hsin-Chih) Yen, PhD, GSC Chair (appointed 20152017) – The graduate studies committee chair is responsible for the oversight of graduate program policy decisions and the Qualifying Exam conducted at the conclusion of the students’ first year of study. The graduate studies committee meets on a monthly basis to review, revise, and implement new graduate program policy, vote on cases of extenuating circumstance, and evaluate the progress of students through the graduate program.
Dr. Andrew Dunn, PhD, Graduate Advisor (appointed 2017) – The graduate advisor is responsible for the oversight of academic aspects of the graduate program. As such, the advisor sets program policies in conjunction with the GSC, oversees student welfare issues, advises student on coursework, serves as signature authority for the department on graduate student progress, and fulfills other departmental requirements as needed. In addition, the graduate advisor is also instructor for the 1st year seminar, reports on the program to the External Advisory Council and other entities as required, and serves as a liaison between the department faculty/students and the Graduate School.
Andrea DavisLacy White, MS, Graduate Program Coordinator (hired 20162017) – The Graduate Program Coordinator administers the day-to-day functioning of the program. She communicates milestone and registration requirements to students, and organizes student recruitment activities, orientation, supervisor selection, and qualifying exams. She is the first point of contact for all student inquiries, from dissertation requirements to personal welfare issues. She is also responsible for maintaining student records for the department, produces the majority of reports about the program, ensures new policies are put into place and properly enforced, and processes Teaching Assistant tuition and stipend payments.
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