UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 37, Page 1
July 23, 1992
Michael L. Vaughan selected to head engineering program

     Michael L. Vaughan, 32, assistant to the dean in the School of
Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University, has been named
director of the University of Delaware RISE (Resources to Insure
Successful Engineers) Program and assistant dean of the College of
Engineering, University Provost R. Byron Pipes announced July 14. His
appointment is effective Aug. 17.
     "Michael Vaughan brings a valuable mixture of industrial and
academic experience to this important position," Pipes said. "He has
practical knowledge of the private sector as an electronics engineer,
as well as understanding of the world of higher education. I look
forward to his leadership in this important post."
     Vaughan replaces Ronald F. Whittington, who has served as interim
director of the program since the resignation of Frank A. Wells Jr. in
February. Whittington returns to his duties as the assistant to the
president.
     "I particularly appreciate the assistance of Ron Whittington
during this transition," Pipes said. "His enthusiasm and dedication
have kept the RISE Program at the top of its form."
     "Ron Whittington's leadership has been invaluable," Costel
Denson, who served as interim dean of the College of Engineering
during the search period, said. "Ron has enabled us to maintain the
high standards that have characterized the RISE Program."
     The RISE Program was established to identify and recruit
academically prepared minority students for the College of Engineering
and to assist them in meeting the college's demanding curriculum
through graduation.
     In 1991-92, the 20-year-old program had 133 African-American and
Hispanic students enrolled in engineering- approximately 14.5 percent
of undergraduate engineering students at the University, which is
among the highest proportions of black undergraduates of any
historically white American university.
     In the last six years, some 101 RISE students have graduated. Of
the 24 1992 RISE graduates, 11 have been accepted to graduate school.
Two recent graduates received national recognition by being named GEM
Master's Engineering Fellows by the National Consortium for Graduate
Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science Inc.
     At North Carolina, Vaughan also serves as adjunct assistant
professor of electrical engineering and as program manager for the
School of Engineering Summer Enrichment Program.
     He chairs the University of North Carolina System Subcommittee on
Engineering Transfer and is an appointee on the school's Committee on
Student Financial Aid and the Planning Committee for the Chancellor's
Executive Seminar.
     A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, with
bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, he was
affiliated with the Naval Underseas Warfare Center (NUWC) from
1978-90.
     His appointment concludes a national search, which yielded more
than 120 applications. Peter J. Warter, chairperson of the Department
of Electrical Engineering, chaired the search committee. Other members
were T.W. Fraser Russell, Allan P. Colburn Professor of Chemical
Engineering; Shantel M. Conquest, an undergraduate mechanical
engineering student; Stephanie Y. Horton, an undergraduate chemical
engineering student; William D. Reynolds Jr., who received his
master's degree in electrical engineering in May; alumnus John C.
Kelley Jr.; Janice M. Jordan, associate director of the Center for
Counseling and Student Development; and Judy Reynolds Smith, a RISE
parent.