Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies

Warrington to Lead New Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies

Dean Robert Warrington has agreed to serve as director of the new Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Provost David Reed has announced.

The institute’s mission will be “to create, grow and nurture interdisciplinary educational programs, research and scholarship that transcend school and college administrative lines. IIS will support interdisciplinary activities that promote the active, discovery-based learning that is a hallmark of Michigan Tech.”

According to its vision, “Michigan Tech will be recognized as a leader in creating new knowledge and in developing outstanding programs at the intersection of existing and emerging disciplines.”

Warrington said he looking forward to his new post. “I’m really pleased,” he said. “Interdisciplinary programs are an interest of mine, and we’ve been talking with the provost and deans about how to better support them. The Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies will do that.”

The Enterprise program, formerly housed in the College of Engineering, will now be under the auspices of the institute. “We’ve wanted broaden the Enterprise program, to make it more institutionalized, particularly since it involves students and faculty from the entire campus,” Warrington said. “We’ll also have the new Pavlis Leadership Program, which will fit nicely under the IIS umbrella.”

In addition, IIS will work cooperatively with CenTILE, the Center for Technological Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship. "The educational programs in IIS will complement the research activities in CenTILE, and I am looking forward to working with Bob to increase cooperation across campus," said Jim Frendeway, director of CenTILE and associate dean of business and economics. (For more on CenTILE, see http://www.centile.mtu.edu .)

The IIS will enhance research and education throughout the university, said SBE Dean Christa Walck. "The future of cutting edge research and programs lies at the intersection of multiple disciplines, and yet university structures often impede rather than promote interdisciplinary activities,” she said. “By establishing an interdisciplinary institute, Michigan Tech will create more opportunities for new programs that cross disciplinary boundaries as well as provide a home for programs such as Enterprise that benefit the university as whole."

Scott Amos, dean of the School of Technology, said the IIS will strengthen interdisciplinary ties that are already in place between the school and the College of Engineering. “Bob has worked extremely well with me on initiatives that cut across institutional barriers,” Amos said. “Crossing boundaries has been his vision, and I’m looking forward to continuing that cooperative relationship through the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies.”

In addition to directing the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Warrington will continue as dean until the search for his successor is completed.

“We’re fortunate to have someone of Bob’s caliber leading the IIS, and I’m grateful that he’s agreed to serve as dean beyond his current appointment,” Reed said. “"IIS will increase the commitment to interdisciplinary education, scholarship, and research throughout the university. With his experience and knowledge of Michigan Tech, I am very pleased that Bob will the inaugural director of IIS."

Warrington’s tenure as dean has been marked by an expansion of interdisciplinary work, said Margaret Gale, dean of forest resources and environmental science. “He’s had an ambitious vision for the college, and he helped realize it through the development of cooperative programs such as Pavlis that ramp up our visibility,” she said. “His service with national engineering societies and his efforts to build ties with China, India, Taiwan and Puerto Rico have also enhanced Michigan Tech’s reputation.”

Warrington is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Within ASME, he has served on numerous committees and held several offices. He is currently ASME’s vice president for education.