Dear UCF Community:
I am writing to inform you that Dean Bahaa E. A. Saleh of UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics (COP) recently announced his plans to step down as dean and return to the faculty at the end of the fall 2019 semester.
Since 2009, Dr. Saleh has served as dean of the college that houses the renowned Center of Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL). Under his thoughtful leadership, the COP has bolstered its status as a world leader in education, research, and industry partnerships. I thank Dean Saleh for his service and commitment to UCF and for helping to make the COP a pacesetter in optics and lasers.
This transition provides an important opportunity for our university community to reflect upon the ideal experiences and attributes for the next COP leader, who will provide vision and guidance that are integral to UCF’s advancement as a major metropolitan research university of global influence and impact.
The process leading to this selection is underway. I have named a search committee that is chaired by Dr. Michael Georgiopoulos, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Our goal is to announce the new dean by the end of the fall 2019 semester. Click here for more about this key position or view the flyer. Also, learn more about the college through its annual reports for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
The search committee includes individuals from various colleges who are highly regarded for their academic expertise and as thought leaders among their peers. Committee members are:
⢠Michael Georgiopoulos, Search Committee Chair and Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science;
⢠Rodrigo Amezcua Correa, Assistant Professor, Optics and Photonics, COP;
⢠Peter Delfyett, Pegasus Professor and Trustee Chair, Professor of Optics, EE and Physics, Director, Townes Laser Institute, COP;
⢠Aristide Dogariu, University Trustee Chair, Pegasus Professor, COP;
⢠Mercedeh Khajavikhan, Associate Professor, Optics and Photonics, COP;
⢠Mike McKee, Associate Director, Undergraduate Program, COP;
⢠Rachel Sampson, graduate student, Optical Fiber Communications Group, COP;
⢠Seetha Raghavan, Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science; and
⢠Talat S. Rahman, Pegasus Professor and Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics, College of Sciences.
This is an exciting time for our university. Building on CREOL’s tremendous accomplishments to date, the next dean will be well positioned to advance the college and the university in excellence, distinction, and impact.
I look forward to working with the search committee to expeditiously identify an outstanding leader for the College of Optics and Photonics.
Elizabeth A. Dooley
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
