University of Colorado Boulder Provost Russell L. Moore today announced the appointment of Robert D. Braun as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Braun, who currently is the David and Andrew Lewis Professor of Space Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, will arrive on the CU Boulder campus and join the faculty in October 2016. His role as the dean will begin in January 2017.
Braun’s appointment concludes a national search carried out by a campus search committee that garnered a large pool of candidates, many of whom were exceptionally qualified, said Moore.
Prior to joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 2003, Braun worked at the NASA Langley Research Center for 16 years.
“From helping lead the team that put the first rover on Mars, to heading up large engineering organizations in the federal government, to growing Georgia Tech’s space science and space technology focus, Bobby has successfully led diverse teams through periods of dynamic growth in a manner that builds community, enhances quality and yields tangible results,” said Moore. “He is an outstanding scholar whose technical and organizational leadership skills will be an asset as we continue to strive for increasing our student success, creating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and elevating our reputation. We are very excited to have Bobby join the CU Boulder leadership team.”
Among his numerous accomplishments, Braun served in 2010 and 2011 as the NASA chief technologist, creating and leading the initial implementation of a spectrum of NASA technology programs designed to bolster the nation’s capabilities in future space expeditions.
In 2012, Braun founded a Georgia Tech interdisciplinary research center, bringing together space science and space technology faculty, staff and students across the colleges of science, engineering, computing and liberal arts.
"I could not be more excited to join CU Boulder, an institution that is transforming young lives and creating positive societal impact," said Braun. "Working hand-in-hand with its talented faculty, staff and students, I look forward to tackling the challenges ahead of us and fully realizing the potential of the College of Engineering and Applied Science as a global leader in engineering research, innovation and education.”
Braun is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, vice chair of the National Academies Space Studies Board, an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) fellow, editor-in-chief of the AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and the author or co-author of over 300 technical publications.
He received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State, a master’s degree in astronautics from the George Washington University and a doctoral degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University.
Robert Davis has been the dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science since 2002 and a CU Boulder faculty member for 34 years. Under his leadership, annual research grants in the college more than doubled, graduate and undergraduate enrollments increased by about 70 percent and the percentages of women and underrepresented students in the freshman class more than doubled and tripled, respectively. In January, Davis will return to the chemical and biological engineering faculty.
“I cannot overstate my appreciation for the job that Dean Davis has done to improve the College of Engineering and Applied Science,” said Moore. “His leadership, vision and work ethic not only have improved the student experience, but also increased the national and international reputation of the college. I wish him the best in his return to the faculty and look forward to working with him in the future.”
