Ryan Adams named interim dean of UND College of Engineering & Mines
Adams has served as associate dean for National Security for the College of Engineering & Mines since 2022
UND Provost Eric Link has selected Ryan Adams, the Terry and Diane Severson Endowed Professor of National Security and associate dean of National Security, as the interim dean for the College of Engineering & Mines. Adams has worked within the College for six years.
“I’m grateful to Dr. Adams for his willingness to serve as interim dean for the College of Engineering & Mines,” Link said. “He brings experience, vision and a desire to serve the students, staff and faculty of the College during this time of transition.
“The College of Engineering & Mines has seen tremendous growth in the past few years. Dr. Adams will provide great leadership as the College conducts a national search for its next dean.”
“I am so excited to step into this role at such a dynamic time,” Adams said. “The College is expanding its collaborations with more of our stakeholders on a variety of initiatives such as the new STEM building, the National Security Initiative, and statewide use of artificial intelligence.
“The College’s new research centers continue to expand their activities with increasing numbers of students and partners, and our academic programs are showing strong growth with increased impact. This is a great time for the College of Engineering & Mines.”
Adams will assume his new duties on Jan. 2, 2025, and will serve until the permanent dean is named and in place. The College of Engineering & Mines dean search committee is being chaired by Brad Rundquist, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and the process will be assisted by executive search firm Academic Search. It is anticipated that the next permanent dean will be named by July 1, or soon thereafter.
About Ryan Adams
Adams has served as associate dean for National Security for the College of Engineering & Mines since 2022. During that time, he established and executed the vision for national security research in the College. In coordination with UND’s Division of Research & Economic Development, Adams has been instrumental in bolstering funding and research outcomes in areas related to national security, including funding from the Department of Defense and the Test Resource Management Center.
During his time at UND, Adams has served as a Grand Challenge Champion for Data & Computational Research where he managed central high performance computing resources on campus and recruited new faculty and staff to strengthen computational research in support of all application areas. Adams also served as the director of the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science where he helped increase enrollment, establish a new doctoral degree in Computer Science, and oversaw changes to doctoral and master’s programs in the School. He helped with the successful accreditation of both the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Adams received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Idaho. He held academic appointments at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as an assistant and associate professor before coming to UND as a professor of Electrical Engineering in 2019. Prior to academia, he served as a program manager and development engineer for the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Adams previously served his country as an active-duty member of the Air Force, where he was a program manager with the Space and Missile Systems Center, as well as an aircraft maintenance technician.
Adams’ research interests include electromagnetic wave propagation in complex media including ferrites, metamaterials, and chiral media; antenna design for both cellular and medical applications; and numerical schemes for the simulation of wave propagation in a variety of scenarios.
About the College of Engineering & Mines
Fueled by immersive learning, hands-on experiences, and award-winning programs, the College of Engineering & Mines ignites students’ careers in engineering and science. With 70-plus degree and certificate programs in engineering, computer science, and geology, students are equipped with personalized curriculums based on their unique goals and interests. The College of Engineering is currently the largest college on the UND campus with enrollment topping 2,600 in Fall 2024. Students can enroll in both on-campus and online ABET-accredited courses.
In 2024, the College of Engineering & Mines received $20.4 million in research grants. In August, it announced the creation of five new Engineering Research Centers: the Artificial Intelligence Research Center, Center for Cyber Security Research, Materials and Manufacturing Research Center, Center for Water Research, and the Center for Process Engineering Research. Supported by grants and external funding, these Centers will help serve as engines of growth for the University and the region. UND was recently designated as a National Center of Excellence in Cyber Research and, in October, the College of Engineering & Mines celebrated the opening of the Mark and Claudia Thompson National Security Corridor, which provides laboratory and classroom space along with hands-on training in fields vital to national security.
Through its commitment to educational excellence, research innovation and regional engagement, the College of Engineering & Mines is a pivotal force in shaping a prosperous future for the local community, the State of North Dakota, and beyond.
