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February
27, 2003
Contacts: Denine Hagen (858) 534-2920, dhagen@ucsd.edu
Pat JaCoby (858) 534-7404
International
Structural Engineering Expert Named Dean of UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering
 Frieder
Seible, an internationally acclaimed expert in bridge design, structural
systems and earthquake engineering, has been appointed, pending the approval
of the University of California Board of Regents, Dean of the University
of California, San Diego (UCSD) Jacobs School of Engineering, Chancellor
Robert C. Dynes announced today.
“Dr. Seible is a visionary leader, an internationally acclaimed
engineer, and a teacher who is deeply committed to students and education.
He exemplifies the extraordinary credentials we seek in our academic leaders,
and has the strategic talent to lead the Jacobs School during a pivotal
period of growth,” Dynes said.
Professor Seible joined the UCSD faculty in 1983, and served as the founding
Chair of the Department of Structural Engineering from 1995 to 2001. As
chair, he oversaw the development of the first nationally accredited program
in structural engineering. He also developed the Charles Lee Powell Structural
Research Laboratories, which have become a worldwide resource for large-scale
structural testing. Many of the technologies used to retrofit California
bridges and highways for earthquake safety were designed and tested in
the Powell Labs. Seible has served as Interim Dean of the Jacobs School
since July 1, 2002, and holds the Eric and Johanna Reissner Endowed Chair
in Applied Mechanics and Structural Engineering.
“At a major research university, such as UCSD, the role of Engineering
is to provide leadership and new ideas that will shape our future,”
said Seible. “The Jacobs School faculty are internationally recognized
in their fields, and are committed to providing an educational experience
and research leadership that will respond to 21st century educational
needs and the engineering challenges facing this nation.”
US News and World
Report ranks the Jacobs School as among the top 15 engineering schools
in the nation, and the youngest institution in that ranking. With 160
faculty and 5,300 students enrolled through five academic departments,
the Jacobs School is midway through a growth phase, with plans to reach
steady-state of 250 faculty and 6,000 students by 2010.
“Frieder has been enormously effective as Interim Dean. Under his
leadership the Jacobs School has gained remarkable momentum in terms of
educational innovations, research leadership, and in forging corporate
and community partnerships,” said Marsha Chandler, Senior Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs.
In the past year Seible helped recruit 15 faculty members, oversaw the
development of the William J. von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurism and
Technology Advancement, managed a $130 million research enterprise, and
launched several advising and professional development services for engineering
students.
“Our mission and our passion are to turn out the best qualified
engineers. In addition to the engineering fundamentals, our goal is to
teach our students to be life-long learners who can apply those fundamentals
to ever-changing technology,” said Seible. “In the end, the
quality of the education we provide, and the achievements of our alumni,
will be the metric that will sustain the Jacobs School’s position
as one of the best engineering schools in the nation.”
Seible is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, has received
numerous awards for his research, and has published more than 500 papers
primarily focused on the seismic design of bridges and buildings. He is
known for the development of large-scale structural testing techniques,
the seismic assessment and retrofit of bridges, and the application of
Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) materials in civil engineering structures.
Seible is a member of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Seismic Advisory Board and has contributed to the Caltrans bridge seismic
safety program through his large scale testing and retrofit research.
He has served on or led many Caltrans committees on bridge reconstruction
and retrofit.
Seible received a Dpl. Ing. from the University of Stuttgart, a M.Sc.
from the University of Calgary, and a Ph.D. from the University of California,
Berkeley, all in civil engineering.
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About the
UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering
The UCSD Jacobs School is the largest provider of engineering education
in San Diego. The School’s five academic departments are Bioengineering,
Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Structural Engineering. With
$130 million in research support, the Jacobs School ranks second in the
nation among engineering schools for research expenditures per faculty
member. Bioengineering, communications, networking, information technology,
earthquake engineering, materials and nanotechnology, and energy and the
environment are among the School’s research strengths. Approximately
150 companies partner with the Jacobs School through its research initiatives
and Corporate Affiliates Program. Its von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurism
and Technology Advancement proactively works to facilitate the commercialization
of Jacobs School discoveries.
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