“It has been a pleasure to work with Michael Chajes over the past year, and I have been impressed by his leadership of the college,” President Pat Harker said. “I look forward to working with him to propel the College of Engineering and the University along the Path to Prominence."
"As a member of our engineering faculty since 1990, Michael Chajes has a wealth of knowledge about UD and the college," Rich said. " In addition, Michael has impressive credentials in teaching, research and professional activity in the engineering profession. He is highly respected in the college, on the campus and around the country. He has done an outstanding job as interim dean and there is no question that the college will continue to flourish under his leadership.”
"My thanks to Tom Apple, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who chaired the national search and to the other members of the search committee for their dedication and diligent work," Rich said.
"As UD embarks on the Path to Prominence, it opens the door for many exciting opportunities," Chajes said. "Our college is blessed with some of the most talented faculty in the nation, including six members of the National Academy of Engineering, and 23 NSF Career Award recipients. I am eager to work with my colleagues in the college and across campus to elevate us to an even higher level of achievement."
Chajes was named interim dean of the college last year, when the previous dean, Eric Kaler, resigned to become provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Stony Brook University.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Chajes completed his master's and doctoral degrees at the University of California at Davis, where he was twice awarded that university's outstanding graduate student teaching award.
Chajes joined UD's faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. He was promoted to associate professor in 1996 and to professor in 2002. He served as acting associate chairperson in 1996 and as associate chairperson from 1998-2001. In 2001, Chajes was appointed chairperson of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In addition, he has served on UD's Chairs Caucus Steering Committee and on the University's Task Force on Oral and Written Communication.
Chajes conducts research in bridge evaluation and rehabilitation, including the use of nondestructive evaluation techniques and the application of advanced materials, primarily fiber-reinforced polymers. He is an affiliated faculty member of the Center for Innovative Bridge Engineering, the Center for Composite Materials and the Delaware Transportation Center. He has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for research grants funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, the Delaware Department of Transportation and several industrial groups and foundations. Based on his research, he has published more than 100 papers and presented more than 70 talks.
A registered Professional Engineer in Delaware, he served on the state's Professional Engineering Registration Board from 1995 to 2000. He is an active member of the ASCE and currently serves as the chair of the Department Heads Council Executive Committee (DHCEC). He is on ASCE's Educational Activities Committee and Government Affairs Committee and served as a member of the Task Committee that planned the summit on the “Future of the Civil Engineering in 2025,” held in 2006. Chajes is a member of the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Engineering Education, and he also serves on several national committees, including TRB committees AFF40, Dynamics and Field Testing of Bridges and AHD30, Structures Maintenance.
The College of Engineering has undergraduate and graduate programs across five departments: chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering. Enrollment, as of September 2007, is 1,286 undergraduates and 508 graduate students.
