"The combination of academic and industry knowledge that Robert brings to this role will be invaluable to the department and the entire school," said Russomanno. "We are looking forward to his many contributions in the near future."
Weissbach has been an associate professor of engineering at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College since 1998. He also was employed by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division as an engineer and then senior engineer from 1988 to 1994. Weissbach was responsible for engineering analysis as well as design and construction support for Seawolf- and Virginia-class nuclear submarines.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to work with the faculty, staff and administration at IUPUI to help the Department of Engineering Technology achieve its strategic goals," Weissbach said. "The department's commitment to providing an academic environment with a strong experiential component for students was what attracted me to this position.
Weissbach earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Florida, a M.S. in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford Graduate Center; and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Arizona State University. He spent the 2007-08 academic year at Aalborg University in Denmark, researching energy-storage technologies for a redesigned power-distribution system on the island of Bornholm.
Professor Elaine Cooney, chair of the Department of Engineering Technology since 2009, will step down June 30 to focus on her scholarship in engineering technology education and assessment, with particular focus on electrical and computer engineering technology.
About the School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI:
The mission of the School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI is to be one of the best urban university leaders in the disciplines of engineering and technology recognized locally, nationally and internationally. The school's goal is to provide students an education that will give them the leverage to be leaders in their communities, industry and society.
