The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announces that Dr. Philip Parker will become the acting dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, effective June 15, 2021. Dr. Molly Gribb, who has been the dean since 2015, is retiring from the university.
Parker is a faculty member of environmental engineering and Associate Dean in the College of EMS. He joined the university in 1998 as a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering, served as environmental engineering program coordinator for 12 years, Master of Engineering coordinator for three years, and Assistant or Associate Dean in the College for the past seven years. He is a previous recipient of the Alliant Energy Underkofler Award for Teaching Excellence and is a long-time supporter of undergraduate research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL). He is an accomplished grant-writer, a licensed professional engineer and a certified Strategic Doing workshop leader.
“Thanks to Dr. Gribb, she elevated Dr. Parker into a leadership role in engineering,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “He’s been instrumental in student success and in the physical possibilities of our new Sesquicentennial Hall. He will be an inspiring leader, and we are excited to be moving forward with him as the acting dean.”
Gribb helped the university secure the $55 million funding for the new engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall, that will open in fall 2022. She also led the college efforts to achieve ABET reaccreditation of its engineering programs in 2018, strengthen ties with business and industry and secured over $1M in infrastructure and curriculum development grants from the UW-System, the WiSys Technology Foundation and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Gribb has been a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by the College of EMS’ recent award by the American Society of Engineering Education Diversity Recognition Program.
“Dr. Gribb has been a transformational leader at the UW-Platteville and in the College of EMS,” said Chancellor Shields. “She came in at a difficult time, when we were going through a transitional stage in the college. She added new programs, brought in talented faculty and led us through the process that eventually gave us Sesquicentennial Hall. We thank her and wish her the best in the next part of her journey.”
With roots in the original Wisconsin Mining Trade School, UW-Platteville has been educating STEM students for more than 100 years. Today, the College of EMS has approximately 2,500 undergraduate students in high-demand fields and a dedicated faculty and staff of 172.
“I thank Dean Molly Gribb for her commitment to UW-Platteville over the last six years and look forward to helping Dr. Parker build upon the strategic vision that she created for the college and its programs,” said Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “In these uncertain times I am grateful to have a seasoned leader such as Dr. Parker, who is able to step into the role of dean for EMS with certainty, experience, and energy.”