Brenner to serve as interim head of MSE

Dr. Donald Brenner, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at North Carolina State University, will lead the department on an interim basis as the College of Engineering conducts a search for a new department head.

Dr. Justin Schwartz, Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor and department head since 2009, will be the new dean of the College of Engineering at Penn State University effective August 15, 2017.

The College of Engineering plans a national search for the next MSE department head beginning in fall 2017 with an eye toward having someone in place by fall 2018 if possible, said Dr. Louis Martin-Vega, dean of the college.

“I believe the department is in a great position to continue to move forward in growing its reputation and extending its impact very significantly at international and national levels,” Martin-Vega said. “I look forward to working with Don over the next year to keep this positive momentum moving forward and to continuing to support all of the department’s efforts.”

Brenner, who currently serves as associate department head, joined the NC State faculty in 1994 after holding a position as a research chemist in the Theoretical Chemistry section of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the State University of New York and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Penn State University.