Brian Tande named dean of College of Engineering & Mines

New leader has served as department chair and interim dean as well as in private sector

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Tom DiLorenzo has announced that Brian Tande has been appointed dean of the UND College of Engineering & Mines (CEM). He was one of three finalists who interviewed for the position after a nationally competitive search that began last fall.

Tande, who has served as interim dean of the College since last April, will begin his new duties immediately.    

“I’m delighted that Dr. Tande has accepted the deanship, and will continue to lead the College of Engineering & Mines,” DiLorenzo said. “He’s an innovative collaborator and natural entrepreneur who brings a wide array of academic and private-sector experience in the science of engineering, research and commercialization. And much of that experience was honed right here at UND.”

“Being selected as the dean of the College is an incredible honor,” Tande said.  “I welcome the opportunity to lead the college I love and have been a part of for 13 years.”

Tande, a Stanley, N.D., native who holds chemistry and chemical engineering degrees from the University of Minnesota and the University of Delaware, where he earned his Ph.D., served as associate dean of the College until he was appointed interim dean. He’s also director of CEM’s Grand Challenge Scholars program, and served as interim director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 2018.

Tande served in UND’s chemical engineering department from 2006 to 2017, and was named Outstanding CEM Professor of the Year in 2010. In 2017, he briefly left UND for a stint at Kansas State University, where he was the graduate programs director and an associate professor of chemical engineering. He returned to UND in June 2018. His time at UND also has included posts as a faculty fellow in the School of Entrepreneurship, a director of the Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship and a department chair in chemical engineering from 2013-17.

In the private sector, Tande has been a product developer working with high-performance polymers for GE Plastics in Mt. Vernon, Ind.; and a director of operations and quality improvement manager with Fargo-based Tecton Products, LLC, a fiberglass composites manufacturer for the window and door industry. He’s also a co-founder of two companies that have developed UV-reflective coating materials for the hunting products and healthcare industries. One of those, Lumacept, Inc., has commercialized a patented coating technology that is used in the disinfection of hospital rooms.  Tande has also worked as an independent consultant in materials development and has delivered workshops on engineering statistics and experimental design. In addition to his teaching and administrative work, Tande is the author or co-author of at least 25 peer-reviewed research studies, and holds 10 separate U.S. patents.

Tande said that in his new role as dean, he wants to ensure the College fully supports UND’s strategic plan by growing quality online programs, improving retention and graduation rates and expanding research. He’s also committed to ensuring the college continues to support the Grand Forks region and the State of North Dakota, including in fast-growing areas like computer science, data science and cybersecurity.  “We contribute significantly to the workforce needs of North Dakota industry and I’m excited to expand our relationships with North Dakota companies even further,” he said.

“Dr. Tande is the right person to lead the College of Engineering & Mines,” said Senior Vice Provost Debbie Storrs. “He understands that now more than ever, the College must be nimble and responsive to workforce needs, the changing student demographic, and student interests. And, importantly, he can work effectively with his committed faculty to create innovative and high-quality curriculum to meet such demands.”

“The College cannot afford to take its foot off the gas,” Tande said. “I intend to keep us moving full speed ahead.”