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SEAS Interim Dean Appointed

August 15, 2008

Spaepen is Franklin professor of applied physics and director of the Rowland Institute at Harvard. He previously….

Materials scientist Frans Spaepen will serve as interim dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) starting September 15, Michael D. Smith, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, announced today.

Spaepen is Franklin professor of applied physics and director of the Rowland Institute at Harvard. (Read more about that institution here.) He previously directed the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at Harvard. He received a Ph.D. in applied physics from Harvard in 1975 and has been a faculty member since 1977.

“What’s always impressed me about Frans is his almost innate ability to meld leadership with partnership,” Smith said in the news release. ”Moreover, Frans’ work in materials science is part of a long tradition of world-class research at Harvard that spans not only engineering, but physics, chemistry, and biology. His ability to understand and appreciate such intellectual breadth makes him ideally suited to support SEAS’ continuing mission to foster links at Harvard and connect with the wider world.”

Outgoing dean Venkatesh Narayanamurti, who guided the new school through its first year, previously headed the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He will return to teaching after a sabbatical year.

Read the official news release announcing Spaepen’s appointment here. Read more about SEAS here.