UM-Dearborn recently announced a transition in leadership of its College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) with Tony England joining the college as interim dean.
England’s two-year appointment began May 1 and was approved by the Board of Regents on April 19. Outgoing dean Subrata Sengupta rejoined the CECS faculty.
“Tony England is an innovative researcher and educational leader with a special interest in undergraduate and interdisciplinary education,” says Kate Davy, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, UM-Dearborn. “I am confident that he will apply his experience and leadership to the stewardship of the college and will continue to advance the mission of CECS and its contributions to the region.”
England is a scientist and former astronaut with NASA, where he served as mission scientist for Apollo’ 13 and Apollo 16, mission specialist crewman on the Spacelab 2 flight in 1985 and space station program scientist in 1986-87.
Most recently he served as a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and atmospheric, oceanic and space sciences in the College of Engineering at the Ann Arbor campus. England also was associate dean for academic affairs in the college for five years.
“UM-Dearborn serves the region in many important ways, and with the increased recognition of the significance of an educated work force, that impact will only continue to grow,” England says. “Throughout my tenure, I look forward to working with colleagues within CECS to insure that the college supports the growth of the university by providing an excellent engineering education, producing innovative research and seeking opportunities to inspire youth to pursue careers in engineering and technology.”
England earned his doctorate in geophysics and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in geology and geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
England’s work has been honored within the university and his discipline, with 130 peer reviewed publications. He has vigorously supported faculty and student diversity, as recognized by the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award in 2002, as well as the university’s NCID Exemplary Diversity Engagement and Scholarship Award in 2009.
England has been a research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, a visiting professor at Rice University, an associate editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research, a member of the National Research Councils Space Studies Board and chair of several federal committees concerned with science and technology policy. He is a fellow of IEEE.
