CORVALLIS, Ore. - Scott Ashford, professor and head of the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University, has been selected as interim dean of OSU's College of Engineering.

Ashford takes over for Ron Adams, who stepped down as dean in September after 13 years to become OSU's first executive associate vice president for research.

Sabah Randhawa, OSU provost and executive vice president, said the university will launch a search for the dean's position and that he expects Ashford to serve as interim dean for the next year. "Scott's leadership in the School of Civil and Construction Engineering has been exemplary," Randhawa said, "and we expect a smooth transition with a continued focus on advancing the college and its educational programs, and ensuring success in the Campaign for OSU."

As interim dean, Ashford also will work closely with the College of Business and its dean, Ilene Kleinsorge, to advance priorities for the Division of Business and Engineering, Randhawa said.

Ashford, who is an alumnus of OSU, joined the engineering faculty in 2007. His research focus has been on enhancing public safety and reducing economic loss from earthquakes, tsunamis and coastal hazards. Ashford traveled to Japan this spring to study the impacts of that country's devastating tsunami and earthquake in work funded by the National Science Foundation.

After working in private industry for seven years - mostly with CH2M-HILL - Ashford earned his Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley. He was on the faculties of the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand for two years, and the University of California-San Diego for 11 years, before returning to OSU.

The School of Civil and Construction Engineering at OSU has nearly 1,000 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students. The school's faculty members are involved in millions of dollars of sponsored research each year, with projects involving construction engineering, transportation, water resources, geomatics, geotechnical engineering, coastal and ocean engineering, structural engineering and others.

Source: 

Sabah Randhawa, 541-737-2111

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