FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- Otto J. Loewer, dean of the University of Arkansas College of Engineering since 1996, will vacate that post on July 1 to become the founding director of the University of Arkansas’ new Economic Development Institute.

Established to promote economic development across the entire state, the Economic Development Institute will spearhead University of Arkansas outreach efforts by developing linkages with business and industry, education, community organizations, local and state government, and other partners.

"Because of his academic background and his leadership in many economic development initiatives, Otto Loewer is the perfect candidate to take the University’s economic development outreach programs to a much higher level of effectiveness," said UA Chancellor John A. White. "Basically, the Economic Development Institute will coordinate efforts by the University of Arkansas to realize the promise of the 2010 Commission—that strengthening the University of Arkansas increases its capacity to drive economic development across the state of Arkansas.

"As we continue to improve academic quality across the board at the University of Arkansas—particularly in view of the recent $300 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation—we want to extend that quality across the state in novel ways that spur economic development and enhance the quality of life for all Arkansans," White added. "The creation of the new institute and Otto Loewer’s appointment as director will be a major step in making that happen."

Appointed as interim dean to succeed Loewer will be Neil M. Schmitt, University Professor of electrical engineering. Schmitt, who has been on the UA faculty since 1969, served as dean of engineering from 1983 to 1996. He is co-author of three books and more than 50 publications, and has received over $3 million in external funding for research during his career.

In the meantime, a national search will get under way immediately for a permanent dean of engineering. Appointed by Provost Bob Smith, the 18-member search committee will be chaired by Doyle Williams, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

"I am grateful for the faculty, staff and students who have enthusiastically agreed to serve on the search committee, and I am especially grateful that Neil Schmitt has agreed to serve as interim dean," Smith said. "His prior experience as dean and his commitment to excellence in engineering teaching, research and outreach will serve the college and University well, particularly as we prepare for the accreditation visit this coming fall by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology."

The new Economic Development Institute will work to improve Arkansas’ preparedness to thrive in the "new economy" based on knowledge and advanced technology.

"The Milken Institute’s Report, which the 2010 Commission used in preparing its recommendations last year, ranked Arkansas as the least prepared of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to thrive in the new economy," White said. "Otto Loewer and the new Economic Development Institute will work to improve the situation by tapping into the various programs already offered by the University that could be better used to promote economic development and community enhancement. In addition, the institute will find ways to create new ideas and programs harnessing all of the academic resources the University offers."

White noted that economic development is a major thrust of a land-grant institution such as the University of Arkansas.

"What Otto Loewer brings to the table in this new University-wide leadership capacity is an extensive background in agriculture and engineering," White said. "In addition, during his tenure as dean, he placed strong emphasis on economic development initiatives, which have enjoyed great success."

Among Loewer’s accomplishments:

• A six-fold increase in rental space at GENESIS, the University’s business incubator on the Engineering South Campus.
• The rapid growth and development of the Engineering Research Center, also on the Engineering South Campus, including the construction of a new Innovation/Research Building slated to begin in July 2003.
• Leadership that captured the attention of the public on the emerging Arkansas Research and Technology Park, of which the Engineering South Campus will be the nucleus. Loewer was the University’s point person in working with business, government, and the community to move the research and technology park forward.

"The time is ripe to take this success to a higher level, and make sure the economic development resources of the University are distributed to every corner of the state," White said." I am excited about the new institute and Otto Loewer’s new position, and look forward to seeing great things come out of his leadership."

Loewer said that he was grateful for the opportunity to move into a position of university-wide leadership in such a vital area as economic development.

"All of the University’s schools and colleges have strong outreach programs, yet we have not nearly reached our potential for service as a University," Loewer noted. "My challenge will be to enable us to reach our potential and in the process improve life across the state, especially in the Delta where the economic challenges are greatest."

The first step, Loewer said, will be to move forward with a project in the Delta for which a proposal has been submitted to the National Science Foundation in the amount of $600,000.

"In this initiative, the College of Engineering will use three of its programs—the Logistics Institute, the Mack-Blackwell Rural Transportation Center, and the GENESIS Technology Incubator—in partnership with the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, East Arkansas Community College, Arkansas Capital, the Cross County Economic Development Corporation, the three high schools in Cross County, the Foundation for the Mid-South, and the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta.

"The idea is to form a broad-based group effort to promote economic development by attracting new business and industry, retaining those already in place, strengthening the educational programs and tailoring them to meet the needs of employers, and doing a variety of related activities designed to improve the standard of living in Cross County," Loewer said.

The Economic Development Institute will help to extend the University of Arkansas’ programs across the state in partnership with other communities having similar interests.

Loewer earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in agricultural engineering from Louisiana State University. He earned his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Purdue, and along the way picked up an M.S. in agricultural economics from Michigan State.

Loewer was born in Arkansas and raised near Wynne, a farming community in the eastern part of the state, where he graduated from high school. After earning his degrees, he began his career as a faculty member at the University of Kentucky (1973-85). He moved to the University of Arkansas where he served as professor and head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (1985-92). Following that, he was professor and chairman of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida (1992-96) before returning the U of A as dean.

He has authored more than 275 publications during his career. As dean, he individually generated $3.8 million in external research funding for the College, while the College proper generated a total of $47 million. Likewise under his leadership, the College raised more than $25 million in private gift support. By 2001, the College of Engineering had grown into a $27 million-per-year enterprise.

SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP:

Chaired by Dean Doyle Williams, the search committee for the new dean of the College of Engineering consists of:

• Aicha Elshabini, head of electrical engineering & acting chair, computer science & computer engineering
• John English, head of industrial engineering
• Thomas Carter, III, assistant dean, College of Engineering
• Susan Vanneman, director of development, College of Engineering
• Jack Buffington, research professor of civil engineering
• Dennis Brewer, professor of computer science and computer engineering, and chair, Faculty Senate
• Kevin D. Hall, professor of civil engineering and member, UA Diversity Task Force
• Ing-Chang Jong, professor of mechanical engineering
• Alan Mantooth, professor of electrical engineering
• Jim L. Turpin, professor of chemical engineering and co-director, Teaching & Faculty Support Center
• D. Julie Carrier, associate professor of biological & agricultural engineering
• Ajay Malshe, associate professor of mechanical engineering
• Heather Nachtmann, assistant professor of industrial engineering
• Janet Bowlin, administrative assistant, Chemical Engineering
• Phil Stafford, program development officer, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
• Shakti Gauriar, engineering senior, Orientation leader, student director of Transition magazine
• Fernando Tovia, doctoral student, industrial engineering

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