Eric F. Spina was named today as the new dean of Syracuse University's L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Spina, who has served as the associate dean of ECS since January 2000, will begin his deanship Dec. 15.
"Eric is no newcomer to the SU administrative scene, having served as ECS associate dean with great distinction," says Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah A. Freund. "In addition, he has ably served the campus overall on a number of important University-wide committees, including two Middle States accreditation committees, the Agenda Committee of the University Senate and as director of the University Assessment Committee. I have every confidence that he will do an absolutely outstanding job."
Spina succeeds Edward Bogucz, who was named in August as the executive director of the New York State Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems.
Spina has been a member of the SU community for 15 years. He is a faculty member in ECS' Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Manufacturing Engineering and was chair of the department from 1995 to 1998. Additionally, he served as the head of the Division of Mechanical, Civil and Chemical Systems (1996-2000) and as deputy director of the New York State Strategically Targeted Academic Research (STAR) Center in Environmental Quality Systems.
He has nearly two decades of research experience in experimental fluid mechanics, ranging from fundamentals of simple canonical flows to advanced flow control methods. His most important work has been on the physics of high-speed turbulent boundary layers, which culminated in a widely cited paper in the Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics.
Spina holds two U.S. patents, has published more than 30 refereed archival and conference papers, has edited one book and one conference proceeding, and has been responsible for $2 million in fluid mechanics research funding at SU.
Spina has also been deeply involved in service, research and administrative activities focused on the improvement of engineering education. He has been the principal or co-principal investigator of several grants focused on engineering education, including two National Science Foundation (NSF) REU site awards, an NSF Leadership in Laboratory Development grant, and several projects that created innovative educational partnerships with industry.
Spina has played a key role in the development and implementation of SU's and the State of New York's initiatives in indoor environmental quality and environmental quality systems. These efforts are the foundation of more than $40 million in federal and state research and technology transfer funding in the past three years.
In recognition of his many achievements, Spina has been awarded the SU Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to the University's Academic Programs; the 40 Under 40 Leadership Award by the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Greater Syracuse; and several department, college and University teaching awards.
Spina holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's degree and Ph.D. from Princeton University.
