Peter Kilpatrick, currently chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State University, has been appointed dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the Universitys president.
Kilpatrick succeeds Frank Incropera, who had served as dean since 1998 and remains at Notre Dame as the Brosey Professor of Mechanical Engineering. James Merz, interim dean of the college for the past year, will continue in that capacity until Kilpatrick begins in January.
Peter Kilpatrick is an accomplished teacher and researcher who is a long-standing chair of one of the top chemical engineering departments in the country,said Thomas G. Burish, the Universitys provost.He has bypassed other deanship opportunities, joining Notre Dame to be part of our ambitious and achievable plan to significantly advance the already high quality of the college. He also has an unwavering commitment to advancing the distinctive Catholic character of Notre Dame. We are fortunate that he will be joining us and look forward to his leadership.
Kilpatrick, who also was appointed a professor of chemical engineering, said he looks forward to his new responsibilities.
What attracted me to Notre Dame was the opportunity to be at an institution that is committed to being not only a great university, but a great Catholic university,he said.That is a unique experiment in higher education.
He added:Im excited about building upon the graduate research component of the college and continuing to create distinctive engineers who are morally grounded in a mission to assist the neediest people in society.
I also know that Notre Dame has a tremendous and well-deserved reputation for excellence in undergraduate education, and Im committed to maintaining and enhancing that aspect of the college.
Kilpatrick has been a member of the North Carolina State faculty for 25 years and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering since 1999. He conducts research in colloidal and interfacial science, with an emphasis on the colloidal and molecular properties of crude oil and on biological membranes. His work is leading to oil production and refining that is both more energy efficient and better for the environment.
Among his accomplishments, Kilpatrick served as founding director of NCSUs Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, an institute that is dedicated to educating students about pilot-scale protein manufacturing, with the aim of providing exceptional training to the next generation of biomanufacturers.Because of his foundational efforts, the university is now poised to have a significant impact on biomanufacturing for years to come.
Kilpatrick earned his bachelors degree in chemistry from Occidental College in Los Angeles and his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Burish expressed his thanks to the search committee and engineering faculty for their efforts in identifying and attracting Kilpatrick to Notre Dame.
The search for the dean was challenging and protracted, and ended successfully because of the extraordinary efforts of the members of the search committee and other faculty members of the college,he said.Peter was recommended to the search committee by one of the endowed professors of the college. The members of the search committee then worked tirelessly and effectively to evaluate Peters fit with Notre Dame and recruit him to the University.The engineering faculty, and especially the members of the search committee, deserve enormous credit for a search that continually adhered to the highest standards, required significant time and effort, and was ultimately most successful.
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