Martin-Vega named chair of ASEE colloquium

Dr. Louis A. Martin-Vega, dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, has been appointed chair of the Public Policy Colloquium (PPC) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Engineering Deans Council for the 2011-13 term. Martin-Vega will also serve as vice chair of the Engineering Deans Council Executive Board during the 2011-13 term.

The PPC has two goals: strengthen the discussion of engineering education and research issues between the deans of engineering and key public policy makers and enable the deans to refine their public policy agenda. Members of the PPC discuss issues ranging from economic development and the engineering workforce to support of federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Defense.

Objectives of the Engineering Deans Council include assessing and recommending policies affecting the overall administration of ABET accredited engineering colleges and schools; providing a forum for discussion and an information exchange concerning problems and experiences in engineering colleges and schools; and representing and speaking on behalf of member institutions.

Martin-Vega has been dean of engineering at NC State since 2006. Prior to coming to NC State, he spent nearly five years as professor and dean of engineering at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. He has also held several prestigious positions at NSF including acting head of its Engineering Directorate and director of its Division of Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation.

In 2007 Martin-Vega received the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) National Hispanic Scientist Award and was named that same year by Hispanic Business magazine as one of its 100 Most Influential Hispanics. He was recognized in 2008 as the Outstanding Engineer in North Carolina by the North Carolina Society of Engineers.

He received the Industrial and Systems Engineering Alumni Leadership Award from the University of Florida in 2009 and the Institute of Industrial Engineers’ UPS Award for Minority Advancement in Industrial Engineering in 2010. He is currently on the executive board of the National GEM Consortium.

Martin-Vega received his BS in industrial engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, his MS in operations research from New York University, and his ME and PhD degrees in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida.

Founded in 1893, ASEE is a nonprofit member association that strives for the advancement and expansion of engineering and technology education. ASEE members include more than 12,000 deans, professors, instructors, students and industry representatives nationwide.