Dean of Engineering Placement

Indiana Tech names Dr. Lucy Yang as Dean of the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences

Indiana Tech has named Dr. Xiaoli (Lucy) Yang as its new dean of the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences. Dr. Yang will begin her service at the university on Sept. 1, 2024.

Dr. Yang comes to Indiana Tech from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she serves as professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. During her tenure as chair at Fairfield, she led the development of new academic programs and established the university’s new AI lab, serving faculty, students and community partners. Dr. Yang developed the first computer science study abroad program in partnership with the University of Galway, Scotland, secured ABET accreditation for the computer science program, enhanced both the undergraduate and graduate curricula, and worked to develop new corporate and community partnerships. Collaborating with community partners and faculty both within and outside the university, she secured grant funding and led various project funded by the National Science Foundation, NASA, state funding agencies and private foundations.

Prior to her work at Fairfield, Dr. Yang spent seven years at Purdue University Northwest, serving as professor and director of graduate programs in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2015 to 2022. Dr. Yang’s prior experience also includes roles as assistant professor (2005 to 2009) and associate professor (2009 to 2015) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University Calumet; assistant professor in the Department of Software Engineering at Lakehead University in Canada (2003 to 2005); and postdoctoral fellow in the School of Information Technology and Engineering University in Canada (2002 to 2005).

Dr. Yang earned her B.S. in Electronic and Information Engineering and her M.S. in Mechanical and Mining Engineering from Taiyuan University of Technology in China; her M.A.Sc. in Systems and Computer Engineering from Carleton University in Canada; and her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from China University of Mining and Technology. Dr. Yang’s research expertise includes virtual/augmented reality, visualization, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity education, and software engineering. She is professional member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

Indiana Tech President Dr. Karl Einolf commented, “All of us at Indiana Tech are excited to welcome Dr. Yang to our university. Her experience, leadership abilities and commitment to student success stood out amongst the many excellent candidates who were part of our search process. Here at Indiana Tech, Dr. Yang will lead an outstanding faculty and staff team in our Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences as we develop innovative new programs that will serve our students, partners and community well into the future. Her experience in developing and leading partnerships will also make her a highly effective leader for our Northeast Indiana Center for Engineering, helping us further leverage Indiana Tech’s expertise, equipment and laboratories to benefit regional engineering firms, advanced manufacturing operations, entrepreneurs and others. This will benefit not just Indiana Tech, but all of Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. I’m confident that Dr. Yang will help our university continue building on the tradition of excellence we’ve established in the Talwar College.”

Dr. Yang commented, “The forward-thinking vision, strategic direction, innovative academic programs, and exceptional individuals at Indiana Tech left an unforgettable impression on me. With numerous exciting initiatives underway in The Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, I am genuinely honored to become part of the Indiana Tech community at this exciting time. I look forward to working with the faculty, students, and staff in the near future.” Dr. Yang’s appointment as dean of the Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences at Indiana Tech was the culmination of a nationwide search that began in the winter of 2024. The search was led by higher education search firm RH Perry & Associates, working with an internal search committee of Indiana Tech faculty and staff members.

Indiana Tech Names Dr. Ying Shang New Dean of College of Engineering

February 9, 2021

Dr. Ying Shang

Indiana Tech has named Dr. Ying Shang as its new dean of the College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences. Dr. Shang will begin her service at the university on June 28, 2021. She succeeds David Aschliman, who is retiring as dean after an 18-year tenure at Indiana Tech.

Dr. Shang comes to Indiana Tech from the University of Evansville, where she has served as dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and professor since 2018. During her tenure as dean, she has built strong industry and community partnerships, developed new academic programs, established numerous articulation agreements with international institutions, built alternative revenue models for the college through industry-sponsored research and projects, launched a technology transfer and commercialization engine, improved philanthropy and fundraising, and worked to enhance diversity and inclusion at the university.

Prior to her work at Evansville, Dr. Shang spent 12 years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, starting as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and ultimately rising to become chair of the department during her time there. As the department chair, she fostered faculty growth in teaching and research, secured ABET accreditation, spearheaded the launch of the university accelerator, and improved industry partnerships. Dr. Shang also served as the faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers Student Chapter at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 2007 to 2015, and initiated the first annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering event, which has grown to attract hundreds of middle school girls each year.

Dr. Shang earned her B.S. in Control Science from Shandong University in Jinan, China, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Shang’s research expertise includes discrete-event control systems and hybrid systems with applications in communication networks, transportation systems, and manufacturing systems. She is professional member of the American Society of Engineering Education, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers.

Indiana Tech’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Tom Kaplan, commented, “All of us at Indiana Tech are tremendously excited to welcome Dr. Shang to our university. Her experience, knowledge and leadership abilities stood out amongst many fine candidates who were part of our search process for this vital position. I’m confident that her extensive experience in program development, faculty support, corporate partnerships and international initiatives will help us continue building on a tradition of excellence in our College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences.”

Dr. Shang commented, “I was so impressed by the innovative vision, strategic direction, ‘can-do’ culture, and, most importantly, the people at Indiana Tech. With many new initiatives happening in the College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences, it is my tremendous honor to join Indiana Tech at this exciting time. I look forward to working together with the faculty, students, and staff at Indiana Tech in the near future.”

Dr. Shang’s appointment as dean of the College of Engineering and School of Computer Sciences at Indiana Tech was the culmination of a nationwide search that began in the summer of 2020. The search was led by higher education search firm RH Perry & Associates, working with an internal search committee of Indiana Tech faculty and staff members.

Christian Brother’s University Names Dr. Faris Malhas As Dean of Gadomski School of Engineering

Dr. Faris A. Malhas has joined Christian Brothers University as the new dean of the Gadomski School of Engineering, effective June 1. He assumes the position from Dr. Siripong Malasri, who has served as dean since 2014 and is returning to the classroom as a professor in the Packaging Department.

Dr. Malhas is a seasoned engineering educator and administrator. He comes to CBU from the Kuwait College of Science & Technology, where he served as the Dean of Faculty. He was previously the Dean of the School of Engineering, Science & Technology at Central Connecticut State University. Before that, he was the Dean of the College of Architecture, Applied Engineering, and Technology at Bowling Green State University, and prior to that the Dean of the Leonard C. Nelson College

of Engineering & Sciences at West Virginia University Institute of Technology. He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Florida and has been a practicing consultant structural engineer for over three decades.

Dr. Malhas’ research interests include durability of concrete structures, repair of concrete structures, seismic behavior of precast concrete structures, hollow core slabs, and structural health monitoring. He is an active member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Institute of Steel Construction, and the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. He is the past chair of ACI Committee 444-Structural Health Monitoring of Concrete Structures. For his long service and contribution to ACI, he was elected as an ACI Fellow in 2009. He is also the recipient of the of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Martin P. Korn Award for the best journal paper, in recognition of his work on the Earthquake Resistance of Large Precast Panel Walls. Over his academic career, he has led a number of experimental and analytical research projects related to structural concrete and has taught a wide variety of structural engineering courses. He is the coauthor of the bestselling textbook titled Steel Structures: Design and Behavior.

Dr. Malhas received a BSE and MSE in Civil Engineering from the University of Mic

higan-Ann Arbor. He also holds an MSc in Engineering Mechanics and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Malhas is also an avid reader and a passionate cook. He and his wife Vicky have four children — Ameen, a marketing director at Facebook; Sami, a civil engineer with Witting-Turner; Tamara, a senior at UMass Amhurst majoring in Architecture; and Layla, who recently graduated from high school (and achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT).