Martinez named associate dean for new School of Engineering at Tarleton

New Associate Dean Announced

New Associate Dean Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 21, 2017

STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Dr. Denise Martinez becomes associate dean of Tarleton State University’s new School of Engineering effective Jan. 3.

The new school is part of Tarleton’s College of Science and Technology and will be located in a $54 million engineering building under construction on the Stephenville campus. The School of Engineering will be home to a dozen degree programs, with more than 800 majors.

Expected to be completed by late fall 2018, the 97,800-square-foot engineering building will house the School of Engineering and will bring together many complementary programs, including civil, electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering; computer science; mechanical and manufacturing engineering technology; and construction science and management. Programs currently are located in various facilities across campus.

“The new building and school moves the university’s engineering, engineering technology and computer science courses to the forefront of educational delivery for these disciplines,” said Dr. James R. Pierce, dean of Tarleton’s College of Science and Technology, “bringing together a distinct set of related professional programs, facilitating collaborations and creating synergies for continued growth and development.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Martinez at the helm of this endeavor,” he said. “She has been instrumental in developing new programs in electrical engineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering and brings a wealth of knowledge and institutional leadership to her new role.”

Presently, Martinez leads the Department of Engineering and Computer Sciences, a position she’s had since 2013.

“This is an exciting time for Tarleton and its new School of Engineering,” Martinez said. “The number of Tarleton’s engineering, engineering technology and computer science students has more than doubled over the last seven years, and our graduates are in high demand—a testament to the university’s strong reputation for academic excellence and commitment to its strategic plan. These initiatives will help us meet projected growth in enrollment and the need for highly skilled engineering and technology professionals in Texas and beyond.

“Uniting these departments within the school is going to be very synergistic for all of us,” she said. “Bringing us all together under one roof in a new state-of-the-art facility will enable interdisciplinary opportunities that will enhance the students’ experiences tremendously and facilitate a culture of collaboration among faculty of diverse expertise. I look forward to the exciting things we can accomplish together.”

Martinez has a Ph.D., master’s degree and bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University. She joined the Tarleton faculty in 2001 and has extensive experience with academic assessment and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. Martinez has served on several review teams for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Her scholarly interests include engineering education and innovation as well as mentoring undergraduates in student success and undergraduate research. She is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Tarleton chapter of Sigma Xi.

For more information on Tarleton’s engineering, engineering technology and computer science programs, go to www.tarleton.edu/COST.

Tarleton, celebrating 100 years as founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. As a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, leadership, excellence and service.

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Contact: Cecilia Jacobs, News & Information Director
817-597-6040
[email protected]

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of nearly 17,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. True to Tarleton’s values of excellence, integrity and respect, academic programs emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.
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