Winter 1997

Eifert resigns as vp; Farbrother serves interim position

James Eifert, who has served as vice president and dean of the faculty at Rose-Hulman for the past 16 years, has announced his resignation from that post after he completes a sabbatical leave that ends June 30, 1998.

During the sabbatical, Eifert is assisting the F.W. Olin Foundation of New York City with its plans to create a new engineering college in Needham, Mass. He is also visiting vice president for academic affairs at Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) in Japan until January.

The F.W. Olin Foundation announced in June that it was committing $200 million to create a new state-of-the-art engineering college. The Foundation has funded the construction of the Olin Building and the Olin Advanced Learning Center at Rose-Hulman.

Eifert helped create an exchange program involving KIT and Rose-Hulman faculty and students.

Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert has appointed Prof. Barry Farbrother to serve as interim vice president and dean of the faculty until a new vice president and dean is selected.

A national search to select Eifert's permanent replacement is under way. Farbrother has been head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He joined the Rose-Hulman faculty 15 years ago.

Fred Berry, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, will serve as interim head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"I've enjoyed being part of a tremendous team of faculty and staff whose innovative ideas have earned Rose-Hulman a national reputation for excellence," said Eifert, who joined the Institute's mechanical engineering faculty in 1972.

Hulbert praised Eifert as an educational visionary and pioneer. "These two opportunities are an indication of his reputation as an innovator. The assignments are great opportunities for him to be involved in a once-in-a-lifetime project to create a new institution, and to increase his knowledge about global education," Hulbert said.

"Rose-Hulman's selection this year for recognition in the prestigious Hesburgh Award competition that honored our faculty programs to enhance undergraduate education is an example of the outstanding contributions he has made as dean of the Rose-Hulman faculty," he stated.

Eifert has served on the executive committee of the Engineering Dean's Council of the American Society for Engineering Education, as a member of the Society's Faculty Professional Development Committee, and was chairman of the Society's National Conference Program Committee.