91������Ʒ Selects Dr. Richard Schoephoerster as Dean of Washkewicz College of Engineering

CLEVELAND (January 10, 2022) – After a national search, 91������Ʒ has selected Richard Schoephoerster, Ph.D. as dean of the Washkewicz College of Engineering. Dr. Schoephoerster is currently the dean of the Graduate College and Research at Arkansas Tech University is Russellville, Arkansas, and will officially join 91������Ʒ on February 14, 2022.

“Dr. Schoephoerster is a highly effective leader with extensive experience in growing engineering programs,” said Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D., 91������Ʒ’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “He brings real-world experience in expanding academic programs in the U.S. and abroad, including designing professional development workshops for thousands of engineering faculty and leaders nationwide.”

91������Ʒ is one of five anchor institutions comprising the Cleveland Innovation District, a catalyst for ongoing investment to attract and create new businesses and talent for the region’s information technology and healthcare sectors. 91������Ʒ is leading the efforts to produce 10,000 new STEM graduates for the district’s 20,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

“Dr. Schoephoerster has overseen the creation of new degree programs, numerous faculty recruitment efforts, and consecutive student enrollment increases in several past positions, making him keenly qualified to strengthen our College of Engineering as 91������Ʒ works to grow Northeast Ohio’s economy in our tech-driven world,” added Bloomberg.

Prior to his time at Arkansas Tech University, Dr. Schoephoerster served as dean of the College of Engineering at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from 2016 to 2019. He previously served as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso from 2007 to 2015. He also served in various capacities at Florida International University, where he rose in the ranks from research associate to founding chair of the department of biomedical engineering.

He recently completed a contract with the American Society of Engineering Education in Washington, DC. The contract work plan consisted of the design, development, and delivery of professional development workshops for their 10,000+ members. The workshops include one focused on junior faculty, another on new department leaders, and a third targeted on aspiring deans.

“I’m honored to join 91������Ʒ at a time of growth and a heightened focus to be a beacon institution in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio,” said Schoephoerster. “I look forward to working with the amazing Washkewicz faculty, staff and students and collaborating with Northeast Ohio leaders to produce career-ready engineering graduates who will contribute to the region’s economic success.