Spring 1998

Veteran engineering educator named academic VP and dean

Barry Benedict, dean of the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech University, will become the new vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on July 1. Benedict has served for the past 10 years as dean at Louisiana Tech. Prior to joining the Louisiana Tech faculty in 1986, he taught at the University of Florida, the University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Tulane universities.

Benedict was chosen following a nationwide search, according to Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert.

“It’s an indication of Rose-Hulman’s national reputation that we attracted someone as talented as Barry Benedict to this important position,” Hulbert said.

“His record of academic success, innovative ideas and administrative experience will be vital to Rose-Hulman’s continued development into the next century,” Hulbert remarked.

At Louisiana Tech, Benedict created the Institute for Effective Engineering Teaching, the internationally recognized Trenchless Technology Center, and co-founded the Institute for Micromanufacturing and the Rural Development Center. He also served as the university’s director of the Institute for Micromanufacturing.

Benedict’s areas of academic expertise include hydraulic and water resources engineering, and environmental engineering.
Benedict has been involved in numerous national and state programs to enhance engineering education, and to study water resources and other environmental issues.

He said the national reputation Rose-Hulman has earned and the commitment of the entire campus community to strive for excellence were among the reasons he sought the position.

“There’s a sense of shared commitment at Rose-Hulman where everyone is working to ensure the college’s leadership role in the practice and the study of undergraduate engineering, mathematics and science education.

“Our challenge is not only to maintain that leadership position, but to improve upon it. I look forward to working with all members of the Rose-Hulman community to make that collaborative spirit as productive and successful as possible,” he said.
Benedict earned the bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Florida.

He and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of Mark (28), Beau (20), Erin (26) and Brooke (10).