June 16, 2009

University of Minnesota distinguished professor and department head named dean of Purdue College of Science

Jeffrey Roberts
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The appointment, effective at the start of the fall semester in August, was announced Tuesday (June 16) by Randy Woodson, Purdue's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and is subject to approval by the university's board of trustees.

"Jeff Roberts is a distinguished scientist and outstanding academic leader who emerged as the top candidate in our national search," Woodson said. "His vision for science research and education, and his tremendous capabilities as a leader will ensure the continued national prominence of the College of Science at Purdue University."

Roberts said he is excited to bring the college's resources and expertise to bear on accomplishing the university's goals and positioning the college for the future.

"Purdue has so much to be proud of in the College of Science, which will play an essential role in achieving the goals put forth by President France A. Córdova and the Purdue board of trustees in the strategic plan," Roberts said. "I look forward to working with the Purdue community in this leadership position to build on the college's already formidable research portfolio, to support its many innovative teaching initiatives, and to foster new collaborations and partnerships within and outside of the university."

Leah Jamieson, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering, chaired the committee that led a national candidate search.

"Committee members were impressed by Dr. Roberts' strong record as both a scientist and a leader," Jamieson said. "His career has demonstrated this balance through his outstanding reputation as a researcher, his numerous awards, the significant administrative roles he has played and his commitment to improving education."

Roberts is Minnesota's Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Chemistry and holds a graduate faculty appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He joined the University of Minnesota in 1990 and has served as chair of the Department of Chemistry since 2005. Roberts was a member of the Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He was awarded the Special Creativity Award from the National Science Foundation in 2003 and was awarded a Sloan Fellowship in 1996. He was selected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2008.

Roberts received his doctoral degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1988 and performed postdoctoral research in chemical engineering at Stanford University. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1982.

From 2001-2007 Roberts directed the University of Minnesota Research Site for Educators in Chemistry, a National Science Foundation-supported initiative to increase the research capacity of chemistry faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions. He also was co-director of the National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Traineeship program in Nanoparticle Science and Engineering and was a member of the strategic positioning task force on discipline evolution and interdisciplinary research at the University of Minnesota.

Roberts specializes in the fields of physical and materials chemistry. His research interests focus on aerosol surface chemistry.

Roberts will succeed Jeffrey Vitter, who was dean of the College of Science from 2002-2008 before being named provost and executive vice president for academics at Texas A&M University.

"I also would like to thank Jon Harbor for his outstanding leadership as interim dean," Woodson said.

The College of Science has 328 faculty members, and it enrolls more than 1,000 graduate students and almost 3,000 undergraduates. It is made up of seven departments: biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, physics and statistics. All seven departments are ranked nationally in the most recent U.S.News and World Report rankings and the analytical chemistry program is ranked second in the nation.

Writer: Elizabeth Gardner, (765) 494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu

Sources:   Randy Woodson, 765494-9709, woodson@purdue.edu

Leah Jamieson, 765-494-5346, lhj@purdue.edu

Jeffrey Roberts, 612-624-1880, jtrob@umn.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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