Engineering Dean John Walz Elected President of Milwaukee School of Engineering

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 10, 2016) – John Y. Walz, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering, has been elected president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His term will begin July 1, 2016.

MSOE is an independent, non-profit university with about 2,900 students that was founded in 1903. The institution offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business and nursing.

"Dean Walz has been a tremendous leader - growing enrollment and private support of the college, while at the same time enhancing the quality of education for every engineering student at UK,” said UK Provost Tim Tracy. “He has been instrumental in increasing the number of engineers directly impacting the Commonwealth, and I have no doubt he will bring the same vision to MSOE.”

Walz has been in his current position since 2012. Previously, he was professor and department head of chemical engineering at Virginia Polytechnic and State University.

During his time here, the UK College of Engineering's enrollment has reached record levels, increasing the number of engineers released into Kentucky's workforce each year. In the fall of 2015, the college welcomed more than 800 students in the incoming freshman class and more than 3,000 students in the college for the first time. At the same time, the Engineering Residential College has grown to 700 students and a freshman design lab has been introduced to meet the demand.

Under Dean Walz's leadership, the college has also seen a significant increase in gifts investing in students, faculty and facilities, including the $7 million gift made by F. Joseph and Joani Halcomb this year to transform biomedical engineering at UK.

“I am deeply grateful to have served as dean of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering," Walz said. "The enthusiasm of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the college have created momentum that will take the college forward for many years. I am thankful for the friendships and partnerships I experienced here at UK, and look forward to embracing new challenges at Milwaukee School of Engineering."

Walz earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Walz began his career as a support engineer for Shell Oil Company and later returned to Tulane as assistant professor after earning his Ph.D. In 1997, Walz joined Yale University’s faculty as an associate professor of chemical engineering, becoming the department’s chairman in 2002. He remained at Yale until 2005 when he assumed his position at Virginia Tech.

 

 

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky

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MEDIA CONTACT:  Whitney Harder, 859-323-2396, whitney.harder@uky.edu