College of Engineering Dean Kim Needy has announced plans to conduct a national leadership search to replace Darin Nutter, professor and department head for mechanical engineering, who returned to the faculty after eight years leading the department.

Nutter, the Twenty-First Century Leadership Chair in Engineering, joined the college in 1994 as an assistant professor and has been promoted twice during his 30-year tenure. Nutter's teaching, research and outreach interests are focused within the broad area of thermal or energy systems. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University.

"I'm tremendously grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the Mechanical Engineering Department head for the last eight years," he said. "During that time, we've graduated over 1,300 students who are out there changing the world, and the department has grown in many ways. We are at record or near-record numbers for students, faculty and staff, and our research continues to expand with the many abilities of our existing and incoming faculty."

Needy said transitions such as this are bittersweet because she's sad to lose Nutter's experience and expertise.

"He has been a valued adviser to me during my own transition as dean, and I and the college have benefited greatly from his seasoned, measured approach to leading the department," Needy said.

Mechanical engineering professor Steve Tung, who serves as associate department head, agreed to lead the department as an interim while the national search is ongoing. Chase Rainwater, department head for industrial engineering, will lead the search committee, to be convened this fall.

Needy said, "I'm grateful to Dr. Tung and Dr. Rainwater for their willingness to take on additional duties as we search for a leader to continue this department's tremendous level of success."

In addition to serving as associate department head, Tung is the graduate programs coordinator for mechanical engineering. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from National Taiwan University and earned his master's and Ph.D. from the University of Houston.

Tung's teaching and research interests include mechanics of fluids in addition to micro-electromechanical systems.