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The University of Texas-Pan American has announced the newly appointed deans of the recently split College of Science and Engineering. Both deans begin their tenure at UTPA on Aug 1, replacing Edwin Lemaster, who is in his 40th year at the college.
John M. Trant, associate vice president of academic affairs at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute in Baltimore, has been selected as the new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. David H. Allen, currently the dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will take the position as the leader of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Allen, who describes himself a “guy always building things,” attained his doctorate in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University in 1980.
“I was the guy building models, I was the guy in the backyard building a tree house, I was making a sled in the winter,” Allen said. “It was second nature to me.”
UTPA President Robert Nelsen also noted the Dallas native was anxious to return to the Lone Star State.
“Dr. Allen has had tremendous success at Nebraska-Lincoln moving the university 61 places up in ranking,” the president said. “I know he is definitely looking forward to moving back to Texas.”
Allen has been active in implementing new international engineering education programs for students at Nebraska, including an international engineering minor. Undergraduate enrollment in the college increased by seven percent under his watch.
Trant significantly impacted UMBI’s diversity efforts as co-principle investigator for the Living Marine Resources Cooperative Research Center grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while also enhancing the research capacity of four Minority-Serving Institutes to conduct fundable research in the study of marine sciences. He has supported minority student achievement of doctoral degrees congruent with the role of the National Marine Fisheries Service.
“Our biology department is one of our largest with well over 2,000 students. With his experience [Trant], he’ll be able to come in and work well with our field biologists,” Nelsen said.
The biologist earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, his master’s in biology from Texas A&M University, and his Ph.D. in zoology from The University of Texas at Austin.
“I grew up right on the water and my interests started there with aquariums, scuba diving and it kept on going,” the Virginia Beach native said.
Nelsen also mentioned Trant’s aquatic tendencies, noting the biologist is very familiar with fish and will be interested in the work of UTPA’s Coastal Lab studies.
As head of a new college, Trant’s immediate goal is to work with faculty, chairs and others to determine what direction it should move in.
Allen also noted that having the opportunity to build a new college is what first attracted him to UTPA. The newly appointed dean is interested in fashioning a college “that fits the needs of the community.”
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