Professor Harry Dankowicz
MechSE Professor Harry Dankowicz has been announced as the new Associate Dean for Graduate, Professional, and Online Education for the College of Engineering.
Dean Andreas Cangellaris made the following announcement today:
"After full consideration, I am pleased to announce that the College of Engineering is appointing Professor Harry Dankowicz to the Associate Dean for Graduate, Professional and Online Education position effective August 16, 2016. Professor Dankowicz is a tenured Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (MechSE).
"A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Harry graduated from KTH Royal Institute of Technology with an MS in Engineering Physics in ‘91 and, subsequently, from Cornell University with a PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in ‘95. Following a post-doctoral and research associate appointment at KTH between ‘95 and ‘99, he held a faculty position in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he remained until joining the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in ‘05 as a Cannon Faculty Scholar. Harry held an Associate position with the Center for Advanced Study in AY ‘11/12 to pursue research on nonlinear dynamics of complex systems.
"Harry is a recipient of a Junior Investigator Grant from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, a CAREER and PECASE award from the US National Science Foundation, and the Fred Merryfield Design Award from the American Society for Engineering Education, and is a Fellow of the ASME. He is a co-author of a graduate-level textbook on computational nonlinear analysis, an inventor of a patented self-calibration technology for harvest combine mass-flow sensors, a recipient of the College of Engineering Collins Award for Innovative Teaching, and the Editor of ASME Applied Mechanics Reviews. Harry’s past service to the university includes as co-initiator and founding Faculty co-Liaison for the Illinois-Sweden Program for Educational and Research Exchange, recognized in 2016 by the Institute for International Education’s Andrew Heiskell Award in the category of Best International Partnership.
"An outstanding teacher and a renowned researcher, Harry has been recognized by his students and his colleagues for the excellence and the innovation of his teaching, and by his peers for his contributions to the advancement of the fields of nonlinear dynamics and multibody systems. In his interview for this position and as evident in the above list of strengths, his conviction for the importance of graduate education as a catalyst for innovation and renewal in higher education left a very strong impression. His ideas on how our College can improve its success with increasing the diversity of our graduate student body and how to build stronger and deeper engagements with industry partners resonated strongly with our expectations of the leadership of this office. His experience with promoting and establishing successful international educational and research collaborations is yet another important asset we count upon as our College continues to explore global educational partnership opportunities.
"I also would like to recognize the work of the search committee members for their dedication to this important process. Thank you for all of your efforts!
"All in all, Professor Dankowicz brings strong skills, enthusiasm and energy to the position of Associate Dean for Graduate, Professional, and Online Education. Please join me in welcoming Harry to this very important position within our College."