Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

David Ford, dean of the Central Michigan University College of Science and Engineering, has announced plans to step down from his role, effective March 31, to become dean of the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University.

Ford has been the CSE dean since June 2021 and has overseen a period of innovation and growth, both in the college’s programming and reputation. 

“Dr. Ford has contributed greatly to the success of the College of Science and Engineering and CMU,” said CMU President Neil MacKinnon. “Both have benefited enormously from his vision, leadership and enthusiasm. We are grateful for his dedication and service.”

Some of the highlights of his tenure include:

• Increases in faculty research and grant funding, reaching $11.8 million in the last fiscal year, including major awards from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.
• Growth and national recognition of the InSciTE program, which promotes inclusivity and team-based learning in STEM.
• New and expanding relationships with organizations including a meteorology partnership with NASA and an on-campus partnership with the Girls in Engineering Academy of the Engineering Society of Detroit. 
• Launch of new certificate and degree programs to meet student and employer demands, including a new biotechnology major.
• Achieving ABET accreditation of the Computer Science, Product Design Engineering Technology and Environmental Engineering programs.
• National and international recognition of student and faculty excellence, including numerous Goldwater scholarships and awards for teaching and research.
• Hands-on learning and professional development events, such as the FIRST Robotics Competition and the IEEE International Conference on Computing and Machine Learning.
• Expansion of the Institute for Great Lakes Research.

Interim Provost Paula Lancaster noted Ford’s emphasis on faculty research and hands-on learning for students.

“Dr. Ford has elevated the scholarly reputation of the college and put programs into place to support student success, both in class and after graduation,” she said.

Prior to joining the CMU community, Ford was a professor and the Kevin W. and Marie L. Brown Department Chair in the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. His areas of research focus include statistical thermodynamics, simulations of molecular and colloidal systems, and membrane-based separations. Ford holds three degrees in chemical engineering: a bachelor’s degree from the University at Buffalo in New York, and a Master of Science in Engineering and doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In the months ahead, Ford will work with Interim Provost Lancaster to identify an interim leadership team for the college and prepare the university for a national search for the next CSE dean.