The College of Engineering completed the interviewing process for the remaining four dean candidates last week after they visited campus for a two-day interview.Richard Koubek, Jerome Gilbert, Gretar Tryggvason and John Farr were individually brought to campus from Oct. 5 to Oct. 17. The interviews gave the candidates a chance to interact with faculty, students and University officials before the search committee presents their information to the provost. “The search committee will be meeting in seven to 14 days to put together the information we have gathered,” said Peter Haynes, dean of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and co-chair of the College of Engineering dean search committee. “We’ll then present the information to the provost.”Haynes said after the committee presents the information to Provost Astrid Merget, she will meet with Chancellor Michael Martin, who will ultimately decide on the new dean. Koubek is a professor and head of the Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State, a position he’s held since July 2001. “LSU has really high quality students and an excellent administration in place,” Koubek said. “There was such desire and energy for LSU to become one of the truly preeminent land grant institutions. It struck me that perhaps I could play a role in making that come to pass.”Koubek said he was impressed by the quality of LSU’s engineering program.”The commitment of the community and students was more than I had even anticipated,” Koubek said. “I could just sense the spirit and feel for LSU as I walked around campus. I could just see the dedication.”Gilbert is the associate provost and associate vice president for academic affairs of Mississippi State. He has been employed by Mississippi State since 1988 and has served various roles, both in teaching and in leadership.”I am in a position where I’m looking for a leadership role,” he said. “When I look at all the college has to offer, I think it has the potential to go forward.”Gilbert said he was impressed with the “fabulously beautiful” campus and “top-notch” faculty and employees.”I am excited to possibly be in on a college that is poised for real greatness,” Gilbert said.Tryggvason is a professor and head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. He has held various teaching and research roles at numerous institutions and universities.”I think very highly of the engineering college,” he said. “There is great potential to move it forward.”Tryggvason said he has been to LSU’s campus before, and the interviewing process only re-enforced his positive feelings toward the University and its employees. Farr is the associate dean for academics, School of Systems and Enterprises, of the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. Farr was an engineering professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point before moving to the Stevens Institute of Technology in 2000.”I’ve built organizations my entire career,” Farr said. “LSU provides tremendous opportunity to build programs. I enjoy that so much more than just teaching.”During the two-day interview process, candidates met individually with the provost and chancellor. They also met with deans from other colleges, department chairs from the College of Engineering and held forums and presentations to interact with the faculty and students, Haynes said. “It was a great process,” Gilbert said. “I was treated very well, and everyone that I met with was very welcoming.”Haynes said there was an “administrative slice” to the two-day visit, but it was based heavily on interaction with students, faculty and the campus community. “I had the opportunity to interact with a student on the search committee,” Koubek said. “It was very stylish, and I thought that was a credit to LSU. That meant something to me.”Haynes said the candidates walked away from the interview process with an appreciation for LSU and the College of Engineering.—-Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]