College of Engineering Announces Final Candidate for Dean

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David Cordes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – David W. Cordes, head of the department of computer science at the University of Alabama, has been selected as the fourth candidate for the position of dean of the University of Arkansas College of Engineering.

Cordes will visit campus next week and make an open forum presentation at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in room 2273 of the Bell Engineering Center.

Cordes received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree from Purdue University and a doctorate from Louisiana State. He started his career at the University of Alabama as an assistant professor in 1993, and is currently head of the department of computer science and director of the Freshman Engineering Program there. Cordes has numerous publications in the fields of computer science and science education. In 1998, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

“We are very pleased to announce our final candidate for dean,” said Jim Rankin, vice provost for research and economic development and head of the engineering dean search committee. “The search committee is very pleased with all of our candidates, and we look forward to continuing the selection process.”

The other three candidates for dean include Kim Needy, head of the department of industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas; Mohammad Kiani, chair of the department of mechanical engineering at Temple University; and John English, dean of the College of Engineering at Kansas State University. John English will be presenting an open forum at 4 p.m. today in Bell Engineering Center, room 2273.