Alan Zehnder will become the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering

Alan Zehnder, Professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will succeed Mike Thompson as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Engineering starting July 1st, 2020. "Professor Zehnder brings experience to the position, having previously served as associate dean for diversity and faculty development and director of MAE," said Lance Collins, Dean of the College of Engineering. 

Zehnder joined the faculty at Cornell in 1988 after completing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Materials Science from the California Institute of Technology. 

During his time at Cornell, Zehnder has served in a number of leadership roles for both the Sibley School and the College of Engineering. Zehnder served as the Director of Graduate Studies, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM), Chair of TAM, Associate Director for Undergraduate Affairs, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), Interim Director of MAE, and Associate Dean for Diversity and Faculty Development, College of Engineering.

Zehnder has won many notable awards during his tenure including becoming a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and winning the Rudolf Kingslake Medal and Prize. He was also named a Carles Lee Powell Fellow and TRW Advanced Technologies Fellow.