May 25, 2006
Sevim to head SIUE's engineering school
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Hasan Sevim, associate dean of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's College of Engineering, is the choice to become dean of the School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville effective Aug. 16.
Sevim replaces Paul A. Seaburg, who retired in December after five-and-one-half years. Bernard Waxman, a professor and chair in SIUE's Department of Computer Science, delayed his own retirement to serve as interim dean. Waxman will retire from SIUE after nearly 17 years when Sevim takes over.
Sevim's appointment is subject to ratification by the SIU Board of Trustees.
Sevim, 55, became associate dean in the University's College of Engineering in July 2000. He joined SIUC's teaching ranks in 1983 as an assistant professor in the Department of Mining Engineering. He became an associate professor in 1988 and a full professor in 1995. He received the department's outstanding teacher award five times. Sevim served as acting associate dean from August 1998 to June 2000.
It was a difficult decision to leave SIUC after 23 years, Sevim said, noting he likes SIUC's campus, faculty, staff and his job.
"It's not easy to leave 23 years behind, although I'm going to a sister institution which I think makes it a little easier," he said.
SIUE is "a really vibrant campus," he said.
"In all aspects the campus is really improving and making great progress in different areas. I would like to be part of that process," he said.
SIUC Provost and Vice Chancellor John M. Dunn said Sevim "is highly respected for his commitment to students in engineering."
"He has been very innovative in recruiting and helping students achieve academic success. His loss to our campus is significant, but we are very pleased that Dr. Sevim will remain a key academic leader in the Southern Illinois University system," Dunn said.
William P. Osborne, dean of SIUC's College of Engineering, said he sees Sevim's appointment as an opportunity for collaboration between the two engineering schools.
"I think it's a great opportunity for SIUC and SIUE to work together and we are definitely going to pursue that," Osborne said. "Hasan is a very, very capable person who is going to make a great dean. We are very sorry to lose him."
Osborne expects to have an interim associate dean appointed in Sevim's place by September. The associate dean will oversee the college's preparation for a 2008 accreditation visit. In addition, Sevim is the leader in the college's recruitment and retention efforts.
Sevim earned a bachelor's degree in mining engineering from Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey, in 1974, a master's degree in mining engineering from Columbia University in 1978 and a doctorate in mining engineering from Columbia University in 1984.
He is the father of two sons: Ulas, a materials engineer who works for Intel in Portland, and Baris, who earned a bachelor's degree in finance from SIUC earlier this month.
Shaping cooperative ventures is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.
Hasan Sevim
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