Kent State Names New Dean of College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology

Shin-Min “Simon” Song, Ph.D., will become the new dean of the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology at Kent State University. The new dean appointment was announced today by Robert G. Frank, Kent State’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Song begins his position at Kent State on July 1, 2012. He succeeds John “Jack” Graham, Ph.D., who will be completing his one-year appointment as interim dean of the college that will be formerly known as the College of Technology when it changes its name this summer.

As dean, Song will be responsible for such matters as the development and supervision of the program budget, recommendations regarding the appointment and retention of all staff, recommending and implementing program and course offerings, establishing course assignments and workloads, assisting in the administration of the university’s personnel and affirmative action policies, and enforcing all university regulations, policies and procedures.

Song comes to Kent State from Northern Illinois University where he currently is a professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering as well as the coordinator of international programs. In this capacity, Song oversees the day-to-day administration of the department, student advising, faculty development and funded research, fundraising and research projects. Song also has an in-depth understanding of teaching, having served in faculty positions at Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Ohio State University. His accomplished academic record includes the development or delivery of more than a dozen courses, the expansion of laboratory equipment and design, the supervision of more than 50 graduate students, multiple inventions and publications, and the securing of multiple grants worth more than $1,000,000.

In addition to his academic experience, Song brings to Kent State a professional perspective, having served as the associate manager and project leader for Tatung Company in Taipei, Taiwan, which develops and creates many industry and electronic consumer products, including machinery, power transformers, computers, televisions, media players and home appliances.

Song holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Tatung Institute of Technology, a master’s in mechanical engineering from Ohio State and a doctor of philosophy in mechanical engineering from Ohio State.

For more information about Kent State’s College of Technology, visit www.kent.edu/technology.

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Media Contact:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595