New associate deans of academic affairs and research named

Steve Ceccio, associate dean for research and the Vincent T. and Gloria M. Gorguze Professor of Engineering, will become associate dean for academic affairs at the College, pending Regental approval. Ceccio will replace Michael Wellman, the Lynn A. Conway Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, who, as previously announced, will become chair of the Computer Science and Engineering division, pending Regental approval.

Ceccio’s contributions include overseeing the research pillar of Michigan Engineering’s 2020 strategic vision, including launching the successful Blue Sky research funding program, and managing the effective ramp-down and ramp-up of our research operations during the pandemic.

Ceccio earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan in 1985 and a master of science and doctorate degrees from the California Institute of Technology in 1986 and 1990, respectively, all in mechanical engineering. After serving as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty at U-M in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1996 and to professor in 2003. In January 2017, Ceccio was appointed associate dean for research at the College.

Pending Regental approval, Eric Michielssen, the Louise Ganiard Johnson Professor of Engineering in the Electrical and Computer Engineering division of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will follow Ceccio as associate dean for research.

In addition to his role in the College, Michielssen has served as the University’s associate vice president for advanced research computing and as co-director of precision health.  As associate vice president for advanced research computing, Michielssen helped develop several new degree programs in computational and data science, and brought together faculty from disparate disciplines to tackle interdisciplinary problems using advanced computational methods.

“I am confident Steve’s and Eric’s leadership will contribute to the College’s continued progress,” said Alec D. Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, the Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and a professor of aerospace engineering.