Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to update you on the search process for a new director for the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.
Thanks to the search committee’s efforts, four diverse and talented candidates were interviewed for the role. Unfortunately, the committee felt that none of the candidates met the rigorous criteria that this dynamic and challenging leadership position requires.
The Voiland School plays a critical part of our college’s – and our university’s – overall success, and we want to ensure that the chosen candidate is a perfect fit. We will resume a new search for the director position later this year.
I am excited to announce that Associate Professor Alla Kostyukova, the Paul Hohenschuh Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering, has accepted our offer to serve as interim director of the Voiland School.
As many of you already know, Alla has been with WSU since 2011. Her research focus on protein engineering, protein structure, and protein-protein interaction. Alla will begin her duties at the Voiland School beginning of the 2021 Fall academic term.
Outgoing director Jim Petersen has graciously accepted a part-time position to assist Alla with personnel-related activities within the school, including promotion and tenure.
I want to give special thanks to Alla for stepping into this position and to Jim for his willingness to continue to support the Voiland School. Working together, they will ensure that the school continues to operate seamlessly and successfully during this interim period.
I also would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the search process, including the search committee, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are hopeful that in the coming year we will be able to bring exceptional candidates to campus where they will have an opportunity to gain a full understanding of the incredible teaching and research that is taking place in our community.
If you have suggestions for potential candidates, please reach out to members of the search committee or contact me personally.
Please join us me in congratulating Alla and Jim on their new roles!
Go Cougs!
Mary Rezac
Dean, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Email: mary.rezac@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-5593