Â鶹ֱ²¥ has announced that Binh Q. Tran, Ph.D., has been named founding dean of the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering, following an extensive national search. Dr. Tran is nationally recognized for his research and academic areas of focus in telehealth/telemedicine, health information technologies, biomedical instrumentation, and imaging and cardio-pulmonary biomechanics, in addition to serving on the editorial board of several engineering journals. He will begin his new role at Â鶹ֱ²¥ on June 1, 2021.
Dr. Tran is also the director of the HomeCare and Telerehabilitation Technology center, developing innovative solutions for health care service delivery, especially to improve access to care for underserved and minority populations. He most recently served as Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Tran has served in numerous academic appointments at The Catholic University of America School of Engineering since 1999, including Assistant Professor, Chairman, Assistant Dean, Associate Director and Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives. In addition, he has held engineering positions at Puritan-Bennett, now owned by Medtronic, and has served in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
“We are extremely fortunate to welcome Dr. Tran and his family to the Â鶹ֱ²¥ community and Indianapolis,” Daniel J. Elsener, president of Â鶹ֱ²¥, said. “His vast experience in engineering education and leadership are qualities that made him the ideal candidate to lead this bold vision to build another outstanding engineering school in Indiana. His commitment to Catholic higher education, academic excellence and his exhilarating energy, align with our vision to lead the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering as a front runner in attracting diverse and talented students, and graduating transformational leaders for service to others.”
In his new role, Dr. Tran will be responsible for hiring outstanding faculty capable of creating programs in biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering that are ensconced in the strong liberal arts curriculum of Â鶹ֱ²¥.
“I am thrilled to join Â鶹ֱ²¥ as the founding dean of the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering. Â鶹ֱ²¥ has a long history of developing skilled and ethical leaders. The new Witchger School will offer high caliber engineering educational programs to students in Indiana, the region, and attract national and international students. I am thankful to President Elsener, Provost Silva, Dr. Enneking and the search committee, and especially, the Witchger family for this opportunity to lead the new engineering school. I am extremely excited to get started.”
Opening to its first class of students in fall 2022, the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering will expand Â鶹ֱ²¥’s vision at a Catholic university to offer Bachelor of Engineering degrees rooted in the liberal arts tradition with the goal of graduating a diverse pipeline of talented leaders. The School will offer degrees in in biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
Faculty interested in being a part of this dynamic venture and students interested in learning more or enrolling in the E. S. Witchger School of Engineering may visit marian.edu.