One Woman Among Three Finalists for Dean of the College of Engineering at Iowa State University

Iowa State University has announced three finalists for dean of its College of Engineering. All of the three candidates will visit the Iowa State University campus in Ames over the next several weeks for interviews and public forums. One of the three finalists is a woman.

Sarah A. Rajala is currently dean of the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University in Starkville. She joined the faculty in 2006 and was named dean in 2008. She has served as chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering. Prior to joining the faculty at Mississippi State, she was a member of the faculty at North Carolina State University in Raleigh for 27 years. She is a past president of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Dr. Rajala is a graduate of Michigan Technological University in Houghton. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Rice University in Houston.

Update: On December 20, Dr. Rajala was chosen as the new dean. She will take office on April 1, 2013.